Port Authority Board Shoots Down Motion For Third-Party Compliance Audit

St. CROIX — A motion raised during a Virgin Islands Port Authority Board meeting at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport here on Wednesday, that would see the authority being audited for compliance by an outside firm that has not been influenced by the board, was voted down, with multiple board members stating that an internal assessment should first be conducted.

The motion, raised by V.I.P.A. board member Marvin Forbes, was needed, Mr. Forbes said, because of V.I.P.A.’s history of noncompliance with its own policies. “When you look at V.I.P.A.’s record over the years, I believe having this external entity would enhance V.I.P.A.’s operations and advance our efficiency,” he said.

Board member Lee Steiner, who seconded the motion, said it was important to have an unbiased review of the authority.

But most of the V.I.P.A. members disagreed. José A. Penn, Economic Development Authority chairman, said while he agreed with Mr. Forbes’s motion, he would prefer that V.I.P.A. staff be given an opportunity to provide staff summaries before an audit. “I think it is important that we task this matter in a way where we own our problems, because sometimes the solution is just looking at what should be done,” Mr. Penn said.

Attorney General and V.I.P.A. board member Claude Walker, said it was his understanding that a firm that V.I.P.A. Executive Director David Mapp had retained, would perform a compliance review. “So how is that different than the motion that is being made to have a third-party do a compliance review. Isn’t it the same?” Mr. Walker asked.

Mr. Forbes said it was his understanding that the firm being retained by Mr. Mapp was to review V.I.P.A.’s insurance policies. Mr. Mapp, however, said the firm, which has worked for V.I.P.A. in the past, had previously done assessments that included rules, regulations and operations. “All I’m saying is that I will speak with the heads of that organization,” Mr. Mapp said, adding that he believed that Mr. Forbes’s motion sought a broader compliance review. “I believe we need to have a discussion with who we’re already under contract with because this may be simply a task order.”

Mr. Steiner, however, continued to advocate for the external review with a new company. “It does seem that many of the issues that we have in some way or another would relate to compliance,” he said. Even so, a majority of the board members present remained against the audit, and the motion was eventually defeated by a 7-2 margin.

Department of Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty, who also sits on the V.I.P.A. board, said V.I.P.A. should first demand accountability before spending additional funds for something that could be taken care of by enforcement of current policies.

“So we’re going to contract out someone to tell us that something should be done that isn’t being done, but is actually within someone’s scope,” Mrs. Nicholson-Doty said rhetorically. “And so I think that first we may want to do an assessment of where the gap is and then maybe strengthen our processes of accountability with evaluation and reporting back to the executive director, and then to the board.”

The commissioner also reminded board members of the costs associated with such actions. “We can’t forget cost because every time we contract out we put another layer in, and at the end of the day, we still need the very same staff members to complete the processes, and so I’m very leery about going to another third party when we should, in fact, be holding individuals accountable.”

Mr. Steiner responded to Mrs. Nicholson-Doty, again pointing to the importance of an outside, uninfluenced audit. “In my short time being on this board I’ve seen a lot of issues, and a lot of issues return back to compliance. And I’m not going to discuss those issues now, but there are many. And to respond to Commissioner [Nicholson]-Doty, I agree with you 100 percent on what you’re saying, and this audit is a way for us to make an unbiased third-party assessment is how I look at it.”

He added, “We can get something from the staff that makes an assessment; the board can make an assessment. But if we have an unbiased party just provide us a status of, this is what’s compliant, this is what’s not compliant, then we can start to do exactly what you said: We can start holding people accountable in-house, and we’ll have a report right there as a roadmap on how to do this.”

Voting against the motion were Mrs. Nicholson-Doty, Mr. Penn, board Chairwoman Laurel Hewitt-Sewer, Acting Public Works Commissioner Nelson Petty, and Yvonne Thraen. Mr. Walker abstained.