Sort claims through court, service providers told

WORKS Minister Michael Nali has advised service providers and contractors to sort out their unsubstantiated claims through the courts.
Nali was responding to a recent National Court ruling which dismissed a claim of K40 million by a contractor.
Nali said the department had saved the State more than K486.1 million after defending 19 unsubstantiated claims by contractors and service providers in court.
Nali claimed that some service providers and contractors had been allegedly colluding with department staff to proceed their inflated claims.
The 19 claims were filed in court by contractors and service providers after the works department refused to pay them.
On the K40 million claim, Nali said despite paying the contractor what it was owed, it increased its claim to K79 million.
Works Secretary David Wereh told The National earlier that the department needed millions of kina to fund outstanding road maintenance around the country.
“The Works Department understands that the country is faced with challenges even economically,” he said.
“However it needs government support including that of stakeholders to address issues concerning the road.
“The country is expanding.
“Business is becoming the core policy of government to drive the economy.
“Road accessibility is the number one mode of transportation in the country.”