Tkatchenko admitts rise in funding

 SPORTS Minister Justin Tkatchenko has admitted there was an increase in the funding of the construction of the 2015 Games village.

Tkatchenko said he never knew the contractor until the contract was awarded.

Responding to questions from Opposition MP Tobais Kulang, Tkatchenko said there was an additional variation from K190 million to K260 million because of extra work involved in building food hall and mess facilities.

He said the cost increased because of the work involved.

He said they would work 24 hours a day, seven days a week until they completed the facilities by March 2015 in time for the Games. 

The buildings would then be transferred to University of PNG.