A large fund has been authorized for the development of Queen Elizabeth Drive in Nasese, Suva, despite the absence of a proper assessment, as revealed by Minister for Public Works and Transport, Ro Filipe Tuisawau.
An audit conducted between 2021 and 2023 uncovered several irregularities, estimating the contract variation to be between $300 to $400 million, raising significant concerns according to Ro Filipe.
The renovation of Queen Elizabeth Drive took nearly four years to finish, exceeding the initial timeline of one year and six months and encountering a notable cost overrun. An ongoing investigation has been confirmed by Minister Ro Filipe.
Initially, a budget of $25 million was allocated for the project when it commenced in 2019. “The total expenditures are alarming and could potentially have been minimized,” Ro Filipe remarked, adding that the funds could have been better spent on other neglected sectors.
Atunaisa Nayago, Chairman of the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), stated that the project was billed according to its design and was overseen by a consultant. He explained that the road was constructed with enhanced infrastructure resilience, elevated by one meter to address climate change concerns. Although some delays were attributed to this improvement, Nayago assured that actual costs are documented and audited.
The project also involves the construction of a new bridge and land reclamation work that extends approximately 200 meters long and 34 meters wide, which could have environmental implications and affect coastal resilience.
Ro Filipe emphasized that all projects typically require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and compliance with other necessary regulations before advancing.
Concerns have emerged regarding the contract awarding process and the adherence to proper bidding protocols. Ro Filipe stressed the importance of effective monitoring of contract execution to ensure adherence to budget and specifications. He pointed out that inadequate monitoring leads to cost discrepancies.
He further noted that the insights gained from this project would inform policy changes, procedure improvements, and compliance protocols, including those related to tendering, contractor evaluations, and contract oversight.
Ro Filipe indicated that significant contract changes were approved by the board without due assessment, sometimes via quick approvals, and these issues are currently under investigation. This has initiated a review and update of internal processes at the Fiji Roads Authority aimed at avoiding costly errors in the future.
Nayago explained that part of the construction delays were attributed to issues related to land acquisition for the project.
The investigation into the cost allegations has been referred to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).