Tuesday 31: Tender criticism not right

Dear Editor,

As Mr Polia has chosen to name me in his rather defamatory letter to the editor in your issue of Friday March 27, I feel I should have the right of reply.

Contrary to Mr Polia:

1. The committee consisted of Mac Mokoroa, Tingika Elikana, Steve Anderson, Chris Reynolds and myself. It did not include Teresa Manarangi-Trott or Paul Carrad. Mr Polia conveniently left off Mac’s and Tingika’s names and I can’t help but to wonder why.

2. I was qualified to sit on the evaluation committee as I am one of a small handful of people who have had first hand experience in completing a major project on the island of Pukapuka.

3. I was the project manager for the Pukapuka government building rehabilitation project in 2005. The project was completed on time and within budget and was funded entirely by NZAID. The result of the project was that the people of Pukapuka had better buildings and facilities than before the cyclone.

4. I have extensive disaster management experience.

5. I have been to Pukapuka twice.

6. I was not paid a cent (although I was given a cup of coffee and a croissant at the very last meeting to say thank you), however I did put in over 30 hours of work evaluating the tenders.

I’m sorry Mr Polia but contrary to what you think I do care about Pukapuka and that’s why I agreed to be part of the committee. Next time you come to my place of business and ask me for help (as you have on a number of occasions) perhaps we can sit down and get to know each other and then you might like to reconsider slandering people without cause.

Patricia Barton

Tender Evaluation Committee