Angry contractors lock gate

 A GROUP of frustrated contractors locked the Fincorp building gate yesterday, leaving some Education Department staff locked inside their office and others outside.

The contractors are demanding their outstanding payments and have been camping outside Fincorp Haus for over a month.

They yesterday demanded that Education Secretary Dr Michael Tapo address them.

They wanted Tapo to give them an update of the audit report that was submitted to the National Executive Commission by Education Minister Nick Kuman.

Their action prevented normal traffic flow into the gate, and which prompted the department’s security heads and the police to intervene to calm the situation. 

Gute Security Services country manager George Miki said they were going to make sure the situation did not get out of hand.

The company provides security to the Department of Education.

Miki said the report was already in the hands of the Government and it would be best if the contractors waited for a NEC decision.

The operations manager of Security Plus, the security company responsible for looking after Fincorp Haus, Powel Gorczynski, told the contractors that many people who worked in the building were innocent. 

“I understand your frustrations as I am a service provider like you, but all this yelling won’t get you anywhere. You do what you have to do but do not touch any person or destroy any property,” he told the crowd. 

“Your frustration is with the secretary and the minister and not everyone in the building.” 

Contractors’ spokesman Garry Mamai said they had always been peaceful.

Mamai said they were aware of other innocent people and would not cause a rampage but they wanted an update on their date of payment.

Gorczynski later agreed to take the contractors message to Tapo.

Tapo, through Gorczynski, told the contractors that the issue was now beyond his jurisdiction as it was already with the NEC.

Gorczynski, however, reminded the contractors to be mindful and not take matters into their hands.

Mamai said the contractors had been waiting for so long and many had died while waiting.

He said it would only be fair if they got an immediate response from the relevant people rather than living in the shadows of Fincorp Haus like animals.