Apec committee to fix school fence, remove bus

APEC Coordination Authority chief executive Christopher Hawkins says the Carr Memorial School fence that was damaged by a bus from the Apec fleet will be repaired before the bus is taken out.
He said they had been communicating with the school management and would be settling the matter.
“There was an accident, we respect the school. We know that they have it locked it up as their bill. When it is paid, they will release it,” Hawkins said.
“We have to respect people. The bus bumped into their school fence so we will get the fence fixed. We talk to them all the time and we know they are looking after it.”
The bus had damaged the school fence in November and was being held at the school with the understanding that on payment for the damage the bus would be released.
Hawkins said Apec was over and there were other pressing concerns for the Government, including healthcare and education.
“Our bills are being paid on time and it just takes the process to get that through,” he said.
“We don’t want to heavy handedly go and remove the bus away, we want to make sure that the school feels that they are respected and that their fence would be repaid.
“It’s a case of just finalising the payment and that takes time.”
Meanwhile, Finance Minister James Marape said he and Apec Minister Justin Tkatchenko would be working with the Apec Authority, the Finance Department and the national procurement commission to bring the whole Apec process to conclusion and present a report to Parliament in the May session.