Contract going off-island a ‘scandal’
Thursday 24th September 2009, 2:29PM BST.
AWARDING a major building contract to a Guernsey firm was described as ‘a scandal’ at yesterday’s Alderney States meeting.
Peter Allen (pictured) said allowing JW Rihoy to build the New Connaught Care Home proved the States was ‘naive’, ‘gullible’ and ‘out of touch’.
‘I am actually shaking because I am so angry about this,’ said Mr Allen.
‘It is a scandal when the rest of Europe is pouring money into their own economies to help their own people that we are helping to stimulate Guernsey’s economy and not our own.
‘The States is out of touch and naive. I cannot believe the gullibility.’
John Beaman claimed that awarding the Connaught contract to the lowest local tender, submitted by JFW Main, would have boosted Alderney’s economy to the tune of £3.5m. over five years. He also said employing a local firm would have secured 20 jobs and sent a message to islanders that the States was doing all it could to support them.
Colin Williams said the decision to choose Rihoy’s – which submitted a tender of £2.11m. as opposed to Main’s £2.29m. – was simply good government.
He went on to say that a large percentage of the contract would be spent off-island anyway and that whoever won the business was obliged to use local labour wherever possible.
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I applaud Mr.Peter Allen and Mr.John Beaman for voting against this contract. Bravo…… but, what a shame that the other States Members didn’t have the courage to do so.
Could one of the reasons be that one of our States Member with his own plant/haulage/building firm has already “hopped into bed with” the prefered tender from Rihoy’s. Surely, this member should have stood down from voting !!.
Anyway it’s all decided now so, let’s hope that Rihoy’s bring major employment to the island when the builers here will almost certainly need it !!.
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Are these two guys for real?
Do they not know or appreciate that Alderney wouldn’t have an economy to speak of without Guernsey?
I’ve seen more political and economic insight from Bob the Builder than from this pair of Toytown politicians.
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So Mr Allen is shaking at the states decision to award this contract to a Guernsey firm rather than an Alderney firm.
I agree that there is little work at the moment for local builders and some firms are already at reduced working hours. This isn’t because people don’t want any work done. This is because the building and development committee are hardly passing any building permits at the moment. Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe Mr Allen is a member of the fore mentioned committee. If the BDC was to actually pass some permits for a change maybe there would be enough work to keep everyone happy.
The question the people of Alderney should be asking before complaining about this decision is, ‘How can a firm from Guernsey come in with a price £185,000 cheaper than a local firm?’
I believe another local firm put in a bid larger than that! Maybe building firms on Alderney are charging too much in the first place. If they priced themselves a bit lower then maybe there would be some smaller jobs offered which currently home owners ‘do it themselves’ as they can’t afford the luxury of having the builders in.
JW Rihoy will have to find accommodation for its workforce; probably have to pay extra for being away from home and some kind of food allowance. They can do all this quicker & cheaper than any firm on the island.
I’m not normally one for praising the states for doing what they are elected for but in this case I think the states should be congratulated for saving us the tax payers £185,000.
Some may say that it’s taking work away from local labour but a guest house owner may be pleased they’ve got someone staying in an otherwise empty room. The pubs may be glad of a few extra punters enjoying the ‘freedom’ of working away from home.
No-one seems to complain when Ronez come over to re tarmac roads, I don’t see why this should be any different.
Mr Allen also says that we shouldn’t be pouring money into Guernsey’s economy. Is this not where my tax & insurance goes to. Is this the same economy that funds our airport, hospital, & breakwater? Now who’s being naïve?
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Island Girl, I think you’ll find that the States Member you are referring to actually abstained from voting on this item.
States Members are elected to act in the best interests of the electorate – the members who voted to save £185k were doing just that.
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Well done to Peter and John for standing up against the majority. Lets hope the States set aside the £185k they have saved to look after the local builders when their work dries up!
I agree with Ollie though when he says that the States should be passing building permits to stimulate the building industry. They are clearly doing NOTHING to help……no change there then!
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I bet they could get cheaper quotes from Polish contractors why not tender out EU wide?
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Don’t worry Andy. Alderney will see plenty of Polish (and English) construction workers once JWR get the project underway. That’s how they run their sites here in Guernsey. Big scheme for GHA at Victoria Avenue is a prime example – as have been their previous GHA projects. That’s the GUERNSEY Housing Association bear in mind! Supporting the Bailiwick?
Your local boys might get a look in as labourers but little else. And as for them putting in the lowest price and shortest contract period, just ask a few of their less-politically fettered clients for testimonials. Your local boys’ tenders are probably more indicative of the probable outturn cost.
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