The PENAMA Public Works Mobile Unit in Vanuatu are missing millions in development works funds after only VT80 million were identified for feeder roads on central Pentecost.
The team relayed this information to the new Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Martin Mahe and the Leader of Government of Business and Member of Parliament (MP) for Pentecost, Charlot Salwai, when they met with them on Thursday last week.
Mr. Mahe and MP Salwai were among a team of public works engineers to visit the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) tar seal project and feeder roads on Pentecost.
Public work staff on the island told the delegation that they are using VT80 million for four feeder road projects, and there are other feeder roads in their plan.
The staff said the main feeder road is over 25 kilometres long and links western to the eastern part of the island. The others include the Gun, Sarinlang and Enkul School feeder roads.
But Mr. Salwai as a former Prime Minister told them that during his term, Parliament had approved over VT170 million for the road linking the west and east, thus the amount cannot be VT80 million.
“The government I led had approved VT170 million and the amount was also passed by parliament,” said Salwai.
He said the construction of the feeder roads should not be politicized because farmers need roads to market their products such as kava.
He said the idea to allocate this amount is to ensure good quality roads. Salwai said VT80 million roads are cheap and will only resulted in their deterioration in less that a year, and will cost the government dearly for maintenance.
The delegation also visited the feeder road at Sarinlang. This was build prior to the last snap election by the outgoing government. The delegation saw that it has already deteriorated because of the thin layer and the lack of proper drainage system.
Mahe applauded public works staff on Pentecost for their service to the people as civil servants, despite the challenges faced. This was Mahe’s first visit as Chairman of PSC.
The First Political Advisor to the Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Harrison Luen, said he will follow up with the Public Works Department about the funds that was allocated by the previous government for the feeder roads on Pentecost.
Ends///
Source: Daily Post
Solomon Islands 
Papua New Guinea 
