Suspicion voiced over cyclone rebuild contracts

FIJI – The opposition in Fiji is concerned about a lack of transparency as well as possible conflict of interest issues, in the process of awarding supply contracts to hardware retailers for materials for Cyclone Winston rehabilitation.

The Attorney General and Minister for Finance, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, took out a full page advertisement in the Fiji Sun this week calling for expressions of interest for the supply of materials.

The opposition leader, Ro Teimumu Kepa, said the expressions of interest are to be sent to Intaz Shah, the acting manager of the Construction Implementation Unit in the Ministry of Finance.

Ro Teimumu Kepa said not much is known about the recently set up unit, its role, how Shah was selected and whether its decisions will be referred to Sayed Khaiyum for final approval.

She contended the supply contracts are normally handled by the Tenders Board but she said she was unsure if the body was still functional.

Out of the 40 plus hardware suppliers in Fiji, Ro Teimumu Kepa questioned how many have made donations to Khaiyum’s Fiji First party.

She said as the general secretary of Fiji First, a potential conflict exists and said Khaiyum has demonstrated over the past eight years a tendency towards favouritism and nepotism.

The advertisement referred to more than US$33 million in supplies to be awarded. - RNZI