By MATTHEW VARI
Sunday, June 5, 2016 (PNG)
MEMBER for Chuave Wera Mori has raised concerns on the disbursement of foreign development funds from donors for road projects in the country.
He asked the Minister for Works and Implementation Francis Awesa regarding the disbursement of foreign aid in particular from the Asian Development Bank loans and what he termed as the preference of some province over others.
“Why is it that certain number of provinces are given preferential treatment when it comes to reserving foreign aid,” Mr Mori said.
“Many a times they have been given preferences because they host very important resource developments in this country- this is a catalyst for creating disunity- there is an apparent lack of transparency by CSTB (Central Supplies Tenders Board) when processing tenders especially ADB funded projects.”
“Can the minister inform parliament during this session and the people of Chuave when the Elimbari ring road will go on tender?”
He said the project had met all the requirements to make sure that all processes involved in tendering that project were calculated 16 months ago.
“It is only fair for the benefit of the people of Chuave they are part of this country and they are noble citizens of this country. When will that road go on tender?”
“Simply for the fact that it will create an economic corridor now that it will pave way for the development and advancement of the proposed Simbu dam and also Chimbu Limestone project.”
Minister Awesa when responding to the MPs queries inform him that he would give him a detailed reply regarding the status of the project, but also made it clear that the government was not giving special preference to various provinces in the country.
“I want to state here that there is no discrimination, preference both in the selection of projects and the various funding that come through whether through ADB, World Bank, or JICA and others,” Minister Awesa said.
“There is no such thing as preference for certain provinces and certain members of parliament getting preference over others.”
“Much of projects in the ADB program for roads in the highlands region was managed under the former Works and Transport Minister now the Opposition Leader and as far as I am concerned the last three years we have able to put in various road projects nominated by various members and provinces.”
He said most of the projects under various donor agency funding were selected by the donor agencies in close consultation with the National Government.
“The projects that are funded under ADB under various other project that have been funded by the World Bank and other agencies I want to make a statement in parliament of where these projects are, how much they are, and what is the criteria for funding,” the minister added.
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