Governor stands by contractor

Caption 1:  (L) Nigibata Road still being worked on- and a portion of Tauriganika Drive still to be sealed.

Caption 2:  North-East MP Malabag and Governor Parkop first launching the Gerehu Drive project in July 1, 2014, constructed by Phoenix.  

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 13, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

 

WITH roads works in the country’s largest suburb, Gerehu, Port Moresby, still ongoing- residents have raised complaints via social media platforms questioning the quality and commitment of roads contractor Phoenix Builders.

Answering queries from the media this week, NCD Governor Powes Parkop, said that the issues with certain projects in the Gerehu suburbs were due to road design failures and cash flow- not all that of the contractor.

The project of concern that have raised criticism are the main Gerehu Drive road, and the Nigibata Road and Tauriganika Drive within Gerehu Stage 2.

“I want to acknowledge that Gerehu drive was a problem but we have explained that already. The problem was not actually with the contractor but the design and the initial design was not based on a major arterial road, it was based on residential road that is why it collapsed,” the governor said.

“The contractor Phoenix built the road based on the specifications of the design so what I want people to understand is that some issues that arise on the road may be the contractors fault and it can also be the designers fault.”

“If the design is done based on geotech (geotechnical) requirements and the use of that road in terms of frequency then the road base can collapse.”

“I don’t understand why our engineers designed it that way, but it was rectified- I think towards the roundabout it has to do with the leakage of water which has nothing to do with NCDC.”

He said that Nigibata Road is a challenge due to the design being for a 2 lane initially.

“So when Phoenix was engaged to do the two lane, suddenly the engineers tell us it’s been upgraded to a four lane.”

“It is a challenge because it is slowing down because or cash flow and not because of Phoenix being incompetent or slow.”

“They can’t work if we don’t pay them and NCDC like National Government and any other government we don’t have an endless pool of money where you can just pay. Everything depends on what we get from revenue earners like IRC who pay us monthly and based on the figure monthly we pay Phoenix, and out other contractors.”

Parkop explained the dilemma with Tauriganika Drive as one that is due to cash flow issues as it was planned to start in June of 2015.

“It is a major ring road in Gerehu that did not start because the other roads were slow to complete because of cash flow management.”

“Some people are saying we should not engage them (Phoenix) because they are builders come contractors. I don’t think that is a serious issue here. Any company can become a road construction company if they have got the qualified personnel to do it especially the engineers and workers who are going to do the work.”

He said that they engaged Phoenix after a successful tendering process in 2013, with their bid being the lowest for all access roads in the city.

“Our record shows that we have tried everyone. You name it we have tried them in terms of roads in the city.”

“We have been fair to everyone and tried them before we came to Phoenix so let them complete what they have been assigned to do first and then we can open up again to try new contractors.”

“On my record we have tried local companies, but some of them let us down big time. They got the money and delivered nothing and I don’t want to go to that.”

“I know the record and I know some of our companies they keep on saying give Papua New Guineans are go and when we do they give us lousy outcomes. I am still keen to engage local companies but they must rise up to the standard and deliver quality product so that we can continue to engage them.”