Development

Lawmakers Seek Stronger Penalties for Construction Delays Amid Paul E. Joseph Stadium Setbacks

Continued delays associated with the construction of the Paul E. Joseph Stadium in St. Croix have led Senator Angel Bolques to suggest strengthening the territory’s existing laws governing liquidated damages – the sum the employing party in a construction contract is able to collect in the event of delays that are the fault of the contractor.  He made the remarks during Monday’s meeting of the Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs, and Consumer Protection, to which the Department of Property and Procurement’s leadership was invited to testify. As they have done previously, several lawmakers referred to the sluggish pace of construction at the site and wondered what options the government has. Senator Franklin Johnson, again, stated that he has no intention of acquiescing to the developer’s request for additional funding via a delay claim.  Senator Bolques, in his line of questioning, noted that “every contract that is administered by the Department of Property and Proc...