invalid syntax: should be "try body ?catch {type-list ?ecvar? ?msgvar? ?infovar?} body ...? ?finally body?"

[richard.t.lloyd@…]

I'm trying to install RVM on Maverick using the pre-release of Xcode - command line tools installed. Specifics on the system are:

OS X Version 10.9 Build 13AS24d

Xcode 5.0 Build 5A11386k

Apple LLVM version 5.0 (clang-500.1.74) (based on LLVM 3.3svn)
Target: x86_64-apple-darwin13.0.0
Thread model: posix

The problem occurs when trying to install a dependencie, expat. I've installed a fresh version of MacPort2.2.0 from source on my system which I then run via sudo.

Screen output is:

128 > sudo port
Password:
MacPorts 2.2.0
Entering interactive mode... ("help" for help, "quit" to quit)

[Users/richardlloyd] > install expat

invalid syntax:  should be "try body ?catch {type-list ?ecvar? ?msgvar? ?infovar?} body ...? ?finally body?"

Please see the log file for port expat for details:
    /opt/local/var/macports/logs/_opt_local_var_macports_sources_rsync.macports.org_release_tarballs_ports_textproc_expat/expat/main.log

To report a bug, follow the instructions in the guide:
    http://guide.macports.org/#project.tickets
Error: Processing of port expat failed

[Users/richardlloyd] >

I'm attaching the expat logfile mentioned above.

I understand the caveats re mac developer / non-disclosure / limited-availability. I hit this problem while trying to install rvm in order to limp past the dreaded certificate verify failed (OpenSSL::SSL::SSLError) bug. Any guidance would be appreciated. Most surely bleeding edge technology here...