The paving of Banak Street is complete, but the lessons the new city council's first civil works contract taught the UDP were only solidified last night. The party leadership and the UDP council met in caucus to iron out differences that emerged with the issuance and administration of the contract. As we'd reported, the contract was granted without the knowledge of the relevant councilor at what that councilor stated was likely an inflated cost to a close associate of a UDP standard bearer who publicly claimed to be volunteering at the city council. A big deal that surely carried the scent of corruption and today the UDP issued a release to expunge that scent and make sure it doesn't happen again.
The release issued today says that the disparity between the three tenders collected by councilor Anthony Michael and the one awarded by Mayor Zenaida Moya to Cuthbert Bailey was because Michael's tenders were only for material and Bailey's one, which was reportedly some $20,000 more, was for material and labor.
Putting a tender spin on what was a thorny difference of opinion, the release states that: "both the UDP and the council are satisfied that the contract awarded to Mr. Bailey gives value for money." It goes on to say, that "the fact of Mr. Bailey's friendship with Edmund Castro has (clouded) the issue, but there is no evidence that Bailey is fronting for Castro."
And while that happy ending betrays deep misgivings about the works contract, the release makes it clear that, as long as the party has its way, the council won't make that kind of mistake again. It makes public proposals that will guarantee transparency, even if it means babysitting the young council.
The release states that no contract will be awarded unless a meeting of at least 9 councilors have agreed to it; all contracts have to be signed by the mayor, her deputy and at least one councilor; a senior party official will attend all council meetings where there are contract deliberation; and a summary statement of the council's activities must be released to the public once monthly.
The undertaking come as the UDP leadership has intervened fairly forcefully to restore order and smooth functioning within City Hall.
