BY ALICE NANTARA
THE working relationship between contractors and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) is again under strain due to the cash-flow problem of the country.
Few contractors who plead anonymity said that this dilemma that the government keeps facing approaching the final months of any given year is starting to get on their nerves.
“We rallied up all our effort and resources to get the contract and meet our end of the bargain only to be told that the government is currently going through a difficult financial crisis right now so the cheque will be delayed.
“All the requirements and the time frame allocated for each project we manage to comply with, get the job done and what did we receive in return?
“Talk of cash-flow issue is what we get in return and then payments are delayed and got carried forward into another year.”
Another individual hinted that the government should really look into the all too common cash-flow issue and settle it once and for all.
According to this person’s understanding, the lack of businesses investing here in our country is the sure cause of the ongoing ‘cash-flow crisis’.
“We deal with the lack of investment in Solomon Islands first and everything else will fall into place straight after.
“Personally I think that one way of strengthening our currency and ensuring this country does not get caught in the habit of having money troubles is to encourage operating businesses to invest here in the country.”
This continuing cash-flow issue has put contractors and MID personnel at an uncomfortable space.
One contractor sadly voiced that the waiting game has seriously taken a toll on his family and construction team and he just hopes that the government pays up ASAP.
Meanwhile an MID worker said that they understand the frustration contractors are going through but at the moment there is not much that can be done except wait for the government.
