Honourable Mark Vanterpool Answers Questions About Biwater

Statement

Ministry of Communications and Works
Water and Sewerage
Topics: 
Water and Sewerage
Release Date:
Friday, 10 March 2017 - 3:09pm

ANWSERS TO QUESTIONS ASKED BY
THE THIRD DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE TO
THE HONOURABLE MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKS
AT THE FIFTH SITTING OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE THIRD
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
9TH MARCH, 2017

The Member for the Third District to ask the Honourable Minister for Communications and Works the following questions:

Question 1

Madam Speaker, could the Minister for Communications and Works please tell this Honourable House whether BiWater (BVI) Holdings Limited had any other assets besides the BiWater Plant at Paraquita Bay at the time its shares were sold to Aqua Ventures Water Cooperation?

Answer 1

Madam Speaker, I am not aware of BiWater’s list of assets.

Question 2

Madam Speaker, if the answer to question 1 is yes, could the Minister for Communications and Works please tell this Honourable House what those assets were? And if the answer is no, could he tell us what was the intent of the purchase?

Answer 2

Madam Speaker, the answer is no and I am unable to say what was the intent of the purchase.

Question 3

Madam Speaker, if the answer to question 1 is yes, could the Minister for Communications and Works please provide this Honourable House with a copy of the Supplemental Agreement No: 1 dated August 29th 2013 between BiWater and the Government of the Virgin Islands.

Answer 3

Madam Speaker, I am unaware of BiWater’s list of assets as stated in the answer to Question 1.  Supplemental Agreement No. 1 is hereby submitted as requested.

Question 4

Madam Speaker, could the Minister for Communications and Works please tell this Honourable House which company the Government of the Virgin Islands went into Agreement with for the Purchase of Water at the Paraquita Bay Plant in 2010?

Answer 4

Madam Speaker, the Government of the Virgin Islands signed a Water Purchase Agreement with BiWater S.A.

Question 5

Madam Speaker, could the Minister for Communications and Works please tell this Honourable House whether:

  1. his government varied that Agreement of 2010? And
  2. if yes, could he present that varied Agreement?

Answer 5

  1. Madam Speaker, Yes.  The Agreement of 2010 has been varied over the years.
  1. Madam Speaker, copies of the amendment which has been captured in four (4) Supplemental Agreements are hereby submitted to this Honourable House.