Fletcher Morobe has proven track record

 I REFER to your news story, “Poyle to refer Pala to OC” (The National, Jan 28) with regard to the Waigani National Court Complex tender.

The political interference allegations was also circulated in the social media showing the letter from the Chief Justice to Attorney General Ano Pala and a copy of part of the Central Supply and Tenders Board TEC (technical evaluation committee) report.

The tender for the Waigani NCC court is a public tender put out by CSTB and there was public opening. Tenders were in two parts, technical and financial and the tender budget given after tender opening by CSTB was K409 mil. 

The CJ in his letter circulated in the social media he stated that he “wish to see the project constructed and completed by a contractor supportive of the local industry, who will deliver the project on time, within budget and to a high-quality standard of finish required.”

 From copy of CSTB TEC report also circulated in the social media, the contractor who scored very high in both the technical and financial was Fletcher Morobe Constructions (FMC).

FMC was ranked No. 1 with CRCE ranked No. 2 and L&A ranked No. 3.   

This was because on the technical submissions, FMC was No. 1 – 85.9%, L&A No. 2 – 72.4% and the two Chinese companies CRCE No. 3 – 67.14 % and  CRGC No. 4 – 67.9%. On financial submission CRCE was No. 1 – K427 mil., Fletcher Morobe was No. 2 – K431 mil., L&A was No. 3 – K459 mil. and CRCG was No. 4 – K494 mil. 

CSTB TEC on its final report removed FMC and recommended CRCE now elevated to No. 1, L&A down to No. 2 and CRCG brought into No. 3 to balance it out. 

FMC was removed because on the copy of CSTB TEC report circulated on social media, Item 14 reads: “The CSTB’s reason for removing Fletcher Morobe 

Constructions is because of past experience with CSTB for numerous variations in the South Pacific Games Contracts that was awarded to them.” 

This statement implies that FMC was involved in some sort of corruption involving the multi-million kina Pacific Games projects.

I concluded that FMC is now ruled out because of additional variations it claimed for the SP Games. 

Variations have become a sinful word associated with corruption in the civil and building construction industry and the PNG Opposition has been very vocal about this subject.

Fletcher Morobe built the two main projects for the Games – Taurama Aquatic Centre and Sir John Guise Stadium. 

These projects were completed in time and on schedule with very high standard and PNG delivered a very high standard of game to the pacific in 2015. There were a lot of praises for these projects. 

For the two FMC projects, one of the main reason for these variations was because the design of the both projects were only 70% complete when CSTB put these projects out for tender, hence by there was a lot of unknowns. 

There was additional works added to the projects such as the floodlights, temporary stands, and seismic upgrade of Sir John Guise Stadium and the splash and play area of the Taurama Aquatic Centre. 

Obviously, you expect variations because these things were not included in the original tender price and are being added to the completed design. 

Instructions for these variations came from the project managers who were engaged by the PNG Games Committee to make sure these projects had in place everything that is required to meet the very high standards expected of them. 

Fletcher Morobe currently employs over 95% Papua New Guineans, who are a very experienced workforce involved in building many notable projects such as the Parliament House, Jacksons Airport, Bank of PNG and Papua Hotel to name a few. 

L. Mathias 

Boroko, NCD