Bird raises question over contractor

National
The temporary bypass being built at Hawain, East Sepik, in May. – Picture courtesy of TASI SEBEPMIN

EAST Sepik Governor Allan Bird questioned in Parliament yesterday why many contracts in the province were awarded by the Government to one contractor only.
These included the K50 million Boram airport terminal and runway extension project and the Hawain Bridge outside Wewak town.
Bird said there had been no communication between the National Airport Corporation, the contractor and the provincial government since the airport projects started in 2019.
He said contracts on the building of roads and bridges were awarded to the same company.
“You will hardly find anyone working at the Boram airport or any of the project sites,” he said.
“The Cadip (Civil Aviation Development Investment Programme) ends in November, which means the Boram airport will be a failed project.”
He questioned what criteria was used by the National Procurement Commission to assess the capability of the contractor.
“In this case, six contracts were awarded to one contractor.
“Who checks the contractor?
“It’s certainly not the province,” Bird said.
Prime Minister James Marape has promised to look into development projects, including the redevelopment of Wewak’s Boram airport.
Marape said he would later provide a report on Boram and the other contracts.