A total of $14.5million dollars was paid by the then Public Works Department as consultation fee for the Kinoya Sewerage Treatment Plant project.

This was revealed during the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, where Committee Chair, Ashneel Sudhakar questioned the reason for the payment, as there were delays in the project.

The Committee was told the project was expected to be completed in December 2011 however, the construction finished in October 2013.

When questioned as to why the three consultants were paid despite the on-going delays, the representatives from the Water Authority did not have the answers.

Opposition Member, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu said it was the responsibility of the WAF workers to know specifics of past projects in order to better their services.

“What we are hearing is what you have inherited – we all understand that once you’ve stepped into the shoes, you bear everything. Otherwise you will be coming up with excuses all the time because this is taxpayer’s money.”

The Committee Chair also questioned the Water Authority’s record keeping procedures and stressed they need to get their act together.

The total cost of the treatment plant project was over a hundred and eighty one million dollars.