The acquisition of a new boat for the Royal Montserrat Police Service (RMPS) has been delayed.
According to Her Excellency the Governor Elizabeth Carriere, “a full tendering exercise, conducted against a very challenging statement of requirement and delivery deadline of 31 March, did not result in the selection of a preferred bidder or solution.
The governor had annouced September 2016 that the UK Government, through its Conflict, Security and Stability Fund (CSSF), would fund the provision of a new patrol vessel for the RMPS Marine Unit and that we hoped it would be delivered by 31 March.
“I am sorry to say that we will not now be able to meet that deadline.
“The tendering exercise will be repeated against a modified specification and an extended deadline which will mean that we now expect delivery of the vessel by the end of this calendar year. While this is disappointing, I am confident that the vessel that Montserrat will get will fully meet its law enforcement, safety and search and rescue needs and international obligations.
“Given the urgent need for the RMPS to have a vessel that can meet minimum search and rescue needs, the FCO is exploring options to provide an immediate and short term solution until the new vessel is delivered and the RMPS capacity and capability are increased to be able to operate it. This is still in its early stages and I cannot yet say whether this will prove viable and, if so, when it will arrive.”
The marine vessel was taken out of commission early last year due to a compromised hull.
