By Mike Puia
A Choiseul Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) has come out and shed light on the issue of tender selection in the province.
MPA for Choiseul Bay Ward, Josiah Vana, said there have been concerns raised by the people in his Ward about the selection of contractors for the tenders.
“In fact, some people in my Ward strongly believe the process of selecting a contractor is bias,” Vana said.
He said a tender committee is doing the work but it appears the work done is unfair.
Vana confirmed witnessing cases where the same people get contracts, adding it has been happening for years.
Vana’s admittance challenges claims by the Provincial Capacity Development Advisor, Korolyn Zutu, that the tender selection process is fair.
Vana said the tender committee is doing its screening but there are issues observed like fairness on decisions to award tender and variation.
He said the provincial accounts committee must properly scrutinise issues relating to tenders.
The MPA for Ward 8 said there is a case where a contractor got the tender to build the Treasury Office.
He said $481,000 was approved for the contract however the contractor did not receive the amount of the contract.
Vana said even their finance team could not find this money.
“This money simply lost but it has been approved under our budget and it has been paid out but the contractor has not received anything,” Vana said.
He added there are guidelines in the province when awarding tenders but outcomes must reflect these guidelines.
“When you have outcomes that do not reflect guidelines, you know there are issues within the system that has been tampered with,” Vana added.
