Government urged to clarify games village contract

 DEPUTY Opposition leader Sam Basil has called on the Government to clarify how tender on the Pacific Games Village was awarded to a foreign company that did not bid for it.

He rubbished Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s explanation that contracts awarded by the Government were in accordance with the law.

“There is a process of scoping costing and tender. We must have a predetermined initial scoping and cost to measure the tender bids, which can be above or below the amount,” Basil said.

He said there was a tender evaluation committee which checked technical details that were submitted to the Central Supply and Tenders Board (CSTB). Based on the figures, contracts are referred to the National Executive Council.

He said Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko had admitted that he did not know why the tender was awarded to a company that did not bid for it.