News

PM puts government contractors on notice

October 13, 2015 6:59 pm

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has put all of government’s contractors on notice that they need to do better.

Speaking at the opening of the new Rakiraki bridge yesterday Bainimarama admitted, that while we have all seen a massive improvement in national infrastructure, some of the new work has not been entirely up to scratch:

Bainimarama says infrastructure that are built must be of the highest standards, are safe and with proper maintenance – and should give Fijians many decades of service.

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“When Fijian taxpayers plough hundreds of millions of dollars into upgrading the nation’s roads and bridges, they are entitled to get the best possible result. The nature of civil engineering projects means there will always be an element of risk. Of subsidence or something peculiar to the particular terrain that couldn’t have been predicted. But we will not tolerate shoddy workmanship on our roads and bridges. Just as we will not tolerate shoddy workmanship on any capital project we undertake to improve the lives of the Fijian people.”

Sadly, however, he says this is not the case with his office in Suva – which is well past it’s use-by date.

He says it’s not only one of the ugliest structures in Suva, but also badly designed and the quality of workmanship is so poor that it really needs to be demolished and replaced after less than 50 years of service.