Feds Suspend Main Street Revitalization Project Citing Breach Of Contract; Gustav James Responds

ST. THOMAS -- A letter obtained by The Consortium, written to Public Works Commissioner Gustav Jame and Property and Procurement Commissioner Randolph Bennett from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (F.H.W.A.), says that the contract awarded to Tip Top Construction for the Main Street Revitalization Project in Charlotte Amalie -- some $8.4 million of federal monies -- is invalid and therefore F.H.W.A. has suspended the contract until the issues are corrected. The feds gave Mr. James and Mr. Bennett until November 21 to respond. According to the letter, seen here, federal regulation requires that all contracts exceeding $10,000 shall contain suitable provisions for termination by the state/territory, including the manner by which the termination will be effected and the basis for the settlement. The payment and performance bond provides suitable provisions to meet this requirement. The contract executed for the Main Street project required a paym...