A significant contract worth $3.6 million for Walesi Fiji, related to a project management role, was awarded without a competitive bidding process. During a special audit presentation in Parliament, Minister for Communications Manoa Kamikamica revealed that this contract, associated with the Digital Television Transmission Setup project, raised several concerns regarding its management.
The audit indicated several critical issues, including a lack of detailed deliverables and timelines in the contract, absence of a closure date and cost limit, and inconsistency in progress reports submitted to the board. Furthermore, there was no documentation available to confirm whether project expenses were appropriately monitored, no project closure or status report at the consultant’s exit, and inadequate evidence of a proper handover when the project manager’s contract ended.
Minister Kamikamica expressed concern over the audit findings, which he described as revealing significant mismanagement and misuse of public funds at Walesi Fiji. He characterized the situation as a severe misallocation of resources and vowed to address the identified failures to ensure transparency and accountability moving forward.
This audit serves as a wake-up call for increased diligence in public procurement processes and reinforces the need for transparency and oversight in government contracts. By tackling these challenges head-on, there is optimism for improved governance and the more effective use of taxpayer resources in the future.
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