Funding delay holding up work on B’ville roads

the completition of two roads in Central and South Bougainville is being delayed because the funds have not been released, Works Minister Michael Nali says.
South Bougainville MP Timothy Maisu, speaking in Parliament on Tuesday queried the construction of the road from Arawa-Kieta to Toimanibu, which was awarded to Dekenai Construction, and from Toinamibu to Tangu, awarded to Covec (Chinese Overseas Engineering Company).
Nali said the delay was due to lack of funding.
“The good member has raised this question in Parliament earlier on and he is raising it again now regarding the road construction work,” he said. “The slow progress is due to lack of funding and we have given some little funding just this year to the two companies.”
Nali said the problem was that the Works Department was responsible only for providing technical expertise in construction works but the financing part of the projects comes under the responsibility of the minister for National Planning and Monitoring.
“The Government has already made a decision for the two road contracts to come under Works Department this year and we have released some small amount of funding already and when funding is available, we will definitely assist the contractors to get the work done.”