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Fiji’s Public Accounts Committee says it has noted anomalies in the awarding of tenders by government ministries and departments in the infrastructure services sector, while examining a 2006 Auditor-General’s report.
Highlighting one example, the committee said a contract was awarded by the Major Tenders Board to “a company that did not have the capacity to provide the service but had to rely on the backing of a third party, which was also an unsuccessful tenderer, to give the necessary financial support.
The committee had earlier this year sought an audience with the board over what were referred to as “vague decisions” by the board in the awarding of tenders.
The committee also said there was non-compliance of rules and regulations relating to vehicle usage by the same group of ministries and departments.
The issues were that daily runs were not properly monitored and recorded, unauthorised drivers were allowed to drive, there was a lack of follow-up to traffic accidents and hiring of private vehicles “when there was no need”.
The committee made the observations based on the Auditor-General’s Volume 5 report on the infrastructure services sector, 2006.
The report covered the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, Meteorological Services, Department of Mechanical, Works and Electrical, the departments of Energy, National Roads, Water and Sewerage and Maritime Safety Administration, Government Shipping Services, Fiji Roads Upgrading Project III and the Suva/Nausori Regional Water Supply and Sewerage ADB project.
