Awesa: Contractor will be investigated

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Friday 14th of February, 2014

CONTRACTORS who fail to carry out road works and maintenance properly will be investigated, Works Minister Francis Awesa says.
He was responding to a question by Anglimp-South Waghi MP Joe Koim as to why a certain contractor did not complete the Anglimp section of the Highlands Highway which cost more than K17 million.
Awesa said: “This particular contractor will be investigated and I will report to your office (Koim’s) by the end of this week. My ministry is making sure we are getting value for money.”
Nuku MP Joe Sungi asked Awesa if the Department of Works had a standard rate to value a kilometer of road and the cost per kilometre because most contractors were charging districts and provincial governments unreasonably expensive amounts.
Awesa said the currents rates and charges were all under review. The department will use the former Provincial Transport Board system of charging work per kilometre at a reasonable cost.
“We are reviewing rates and charges which will be consistent and applied by all boards nationwide,” he said.