Bula Vinaka Floods are expected around the Country and this is testing the nations state infrastructure, sewage and drains networks. This is the type of Development FijiFirsts Bainimarama is committed to delivering - mediocre services ... TODAY at 4am, a sewage pipe at Centerpoint (opp. Rewa Dairy), Nabua fell apart and all its contents have been leaked into the NABUA River. Along this river are low income families and squatter settlements. here are two pictures sent in from a resident of NABUA Its going to be a stinky week for many Nabua Residents GOVERNMENT intends to use a $15 million grant from the Chinese government on improving the nations infrastructure. Finance Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in his 2015 National Budget address, said there was a need to modernise Fijis infrastructure and bringing it up to international standards. Government will address the need to clear the backlog of bridge replacements all over the nation, he said. Funding for major works earmarked for next year include the Nabouwalu to Dreketi, Moto to Buca Bay and Sawani to Serea roads, to be funded by a $103 million loan from the Exim Bank of China. SHADOW infrastructure minister Aseri Radrodro delivered his response to the 2015 Budget and told the House he did not support the Government expenditure and income plans for the coming year. He said it was widely acknowledged that investing in infrastructure constituted one of the main mechanisms to increase income, increase employment, increase productivity and consequently, the competitiveness of an economy. The Infrastructure spend is the biggest piece of the budget pie with 1.08 billion dollars allocated And while the Shadow Minister Aseri Radrodro acknowledged the need to invest in infrastructure, he raised the need for tighter scrutiny.. ‘’In 2012, the Department of National Roads came under reform, some of the reasons include, insufficient funds, big backlog of projects, inefficient procedures for example all workmen operating from depot and traveling long distances. Following recommendations of the Asian Development Bank the Fiji Roads Authority was established, their role oversight maintenance works which would be outsourced under contractual arrangements to ensure efficiency’’. Radrodro also questioned the operations of the Fiji Roads Authority ‘’Along with the establishment of FRA, came a consultant, MWH to be the change agents to oversight the reform. MWH later appointed themselves as Engineering Services Consultant. Madam Speaker I suggest to Government to review whether the role of the change agent is now a conflict of interest and in that aspect, could the Minister inform this House as to how many local staffs are part of engineering management team’’. The Opposition MP also highlighted the spend of more than 17 million dollars for capital purchases for the Government Shipping services.. In concluding his address Radrodro says with the many questions raised, he finds it impossible to support the budget.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 08:10:30 +0000
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