By HARLYNE JOKU
MORE than K90 million is spent on government office rentals to accommodate public servants annually.
This was revealed by Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari during the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) between the Government and Nambawan Super for the renovation of the Pineapple building and Central Government Offices at Waigani yesterday.
Mr Lupari said public servants needed to be based at a central location so they may be able to perform efficiently.
He added it was costly to maintain rentals of government offices which cost the Government about K90 million annually.
Mr Lupari said the Government had finally agreed after seven years of negotiation to rehabilitate and renovate the two buildings that had stood idle for years to save costs.
Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, who was present at the signing ceremony supported the MoA saying that it was his Government’s original idea before and after independence to make Waigani the hub of government administration activities.
He said he was happy to see that Nambawan Super had taken an interest to assist the Government in ensuring rehabilitation work on the two buildings.
Sir Michael said the Department of Agriculture and Livestock located at Konedobu and other departments including Department of Labour that were located in town (Port Moresby) and other parts of the city to be accommodated at Waigani.
Managing director of Nambawan Super Leon Buskens said it would take no more than a year for renovations to be completed.
Mr Buskens said Nambawan Super would be securing investment for the project under a build, own, operate and transfer arrangement.
He added it was important that integrity and transparency was upheld in the tendering, scope of work and maintenance process.
It would be a win-win solution for all stakeholders, Mr Buskens said.
Both Mr Lupari and Mr Buskens were not able to name a cost as yet to the rehabilitation work when asked.