Contractors waiting for payments

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By JUNIOR UKAHA
DISGRUNTLED Morobe Government contractors camping at the administration building have removed their tent after they were promised that payments would be made soon.
Spokesperson Aki Sama said they removed the “haus sel” (make shift shelter) on Nov 15 after negotiations with the acting administrator.
“The administration had assured us that they will find some money and pay us,” Sama said.
“Last Thursday we came and saw the acting administrator and she said she was waiting for the list of the contractors to be finalised.
“Her deputies have worked on the list and handed it to her last Friday.
“She told us that on Tuesday there would be a provincial executive council meeting but no meeting was held, instead they went to National Agricultural Research Institute for the provincial management team meeting.
“This made the contractors angry and some of them wanted to destroy the place but I managed to stop them and control the situation.”
Sama said between 70 and 100 contractors who provided their services to the provincial government from 2013 to 2016 were claiming a total of K7.9 million in outstanding payments.
The services provided included civil works, plumbing, electrical, and building construction and maintenance.
“We have delivered services to the government and we have all the documents at hand to prove it,” Sama said.