Puerto Rico gov seeks to cancel $300M Whitefish contract

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/puerto-rico-gov-seeks-to-cancel-dollar300m-whitefish-contract/ar-AAuc7k1

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico's governor on Sunday demanded that the board of the island's power company cancel the $300M contract with Whitefish Energy Holdings amid increased scrutiny of the Montana company's role in Hurricane Maria recovery efforts.

The announcement by Gov. Ricardo Rossello comes as federal legislators seek to investigate the contract awarded to the small company from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's hometown.

"There cannot be any kind of distraction that alters the commitment to restore electrical power as soon as possible in Puerto Rico," Rossello said, adding that at least $8 million has been paid to Whitefish so far.

[jg121783 3,921]

Letting politics get in the way of restoring power to Puerto Rico. Just like politics got in the way of distributing food that had arrived in Puerto Rico. Unbelievable.

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

Just now, jg121783 said:

Letting politics get in the way of restoring power to Puerto Rico. Just like politics got in the way of distributing food that had arrived in Puerto Rico. Unbelievable.

you don't see any problem with the Interior Secretary pushing a contract from his hometown that directly prohibits Federal audit of the contract?  # draintheswamp

[Dashinka 24,864]

14 hours ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

you don't see any problem with the Interior Secretary pushing a contract from his hometown that directly prohibits Federal audit of the contract?  # draintheswamp

Do you have proof that the SoI influenced the PREPA in this contract?  If we are talking about an apparent conflict of interest, then this will have to get in line with all the other Washington apparent conflicts of interest.  However, based on my reading, this had more to do with the PREPA not wanting to put up a lot of upfront money to get the work done.  Whitefish itself will most likely get screwed in the end since it is pretty clear that PR doesn't pay its bills.

[natty bumppo 297]

26 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Do you have proof that the SoI influenced the PREPA in this contract?  If we are talking about an apparent conflict of interest, then this will have to get in line with all the other Washington apparent conflicts of interest.  However, based on my reading, this had more to do with the PREPA not wanting to put up a lot of upfront money to get the work done.  Whitefish itself will most likely get screwed in the end since it is pretty clear that PR doesn't pay its bills.

There will still be a nice bill for the PR to pay WF. Lots of people, contracts, and even material has already been set into motion. Wonder what the cancellation charges will be?

Will this financial wreck called PR pay or not is a huge question.

Meanwhile ... the residents of PR will continue to be in the dark until the political apparatus gets their portion and another contract is let.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 30, 2017 by natty bumppo

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

15 hours ago, natty bumppo said:

There will still be a nice bill for the PR to pay WF. Lots of people, contracts, and even material has already been set into motion. Wonder what the cancellation charges will be?

Will this financial wreck called PR pay or not is a huge question.

Meanwhile ... the residents of PR will continue to be in the dark until the political apparatus gets their portion and another contract is let.

 

 

 

 

FBI is looking into it, may not be a legal contract.  I know that there was a lot of graft after Katrina.

[Dashinka 24,864]

4 hours ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

FBI is looking into it, may not be a legal contract.  I know that there was a lot of graft after Katrina.

That may be the case as established politicians are known for being less than honest and the PREPA is a government run entity.

[natty bumppo 297]

17 hours ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

FBI is looking into it, may not be a legal contract.  I know that there was a lot of graft after Katrina.

So who will pull cable and turn on lights while the FBI looks into this?

Bankrupt PREPA?

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

2 hours ago, natty bumppo said:

So who will pull cable and turn on lights while the FBI looks into this?

Bankrupt PREPA?

Probably a lot of firms that are willing to do it the right way with full oversight that are more than two years old   that are not chums of the Interior Secretary

Edited October 31, 2017 by Il Mango Dulce

[natty bumppo 297]

29 minutes ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

Probably a lot of firms that are willing to do it the right way with full oversight that are more than two years old   that are not chums of the Interior Secretary

You mean the firms that wanted up front money from a bankrupt PREPA?

Or wanted some assurance that the customer would pay?

 

It's not uncommon for companies to not do business with entities that have severe cash flow problems.

Or, if they do business with high risk customers, demand cash up front.

 

 

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

4 hours ago, natty bumppo said:

You mean the firms that wanted up front money from a bankrupt PREPA?

Or wanted some assurance that the customer would pay?

 

It's not uncommon for companies to not do business with entities that have severe cash flow problems.

Or, if they do business with high risk customers, demand cash up front.

 

 

So Puerto Rico is in trouble, so the Federal government will not protect them from fraudulent contracts?  Blame the victim 

[natty bumppo 297]

Who said fraudulent?

Appears you've already convicted WF and the fed hasn't even done so.

Do you know something the feds don't?

 

PREPA signed the contract with WF.

Could it be bankrupt PREPA didn't select a different company ... maybe cause WF wanted $2 MM up front and the next competitor wanted $25 MM up front and PREPA didn't have the additional funds? 

Why didn't PREPA simply not sign the contract if they had doubts?  

Doesn't PR G'ovt or PREPA have a competent person to review something before signing?

 

Aww ... poor pitiful PR ... the victim looking for a place to happen.

Poor local government decisions have placed PR in horrible financial and infrastructure straits. The storm expedited a failing infrastructure (physical & financial).