Contractor accused of extortion

FIJI – The Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) has hit back at the global engineering consultancy MWH Global, accusing it of extortion, breaking its contract, and damaging Fiji.

The fallout between the two came to light just over a week ago, when two senior workers for MWH Global were deported from Fiji without any explanation.

MWH Global said it has been locked in a payment dispute with FRA since March, however FRA has responded saying the company refused to supply a specification for a US$9.7 million invoice.

The FRA has been working on Fiji’s roads, delivering a badly-needed upgrade over the past five years that has included major bridges, culverts and highways.

Fiji was criticised for deporting the two men, and MWH Global said on Friday that it was ending it’s contract with the FRA due to a failure to pay.

The FRA chief executive, John Hutchinson, has hit back strongly, saying it has paid almost US$3 million to MWH Global so far, and the behaviour of the workers in communicating to third parties in an attempt to be paid was unlawful and unprofessional.

- RNZI