A substantial amount of money has been approved for the construction of Queen Elizabeth Drive in Nasese, Suva, despite concerns over inadequate assessments, as revealed by Minister for Public Works and Transport, Ro Filipe Tuisawau.
An audit conducted from 2021 to 2023 uncovered several irregularities, estimating that contract variations could reach between $300 and $400 million. This raises significant concerns, according to Ro Filipe. The newly renovated Queen Elizabeth Drive took nearly four years to complete, far exceeding its original deadline of one year and six months, and also incurred considerable cost overruns. An investigation into these issues is ongoing.
Initially, the project was allocated $25 million when it commenced in 2019. Ro Filipe expressed that the total expenditure was alarming and indicated that the project, which likely could have been executed for less, diverted resources that could have been used in other areas in need.
Atunaisa Nayago, Chairman of the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), stated that the project costs correlated to its design and were managed by a consultant. He noted that the road was constructed with enhanced resilience, including a height increase of one meter as part of a climate resilience initiative. Some delays were attributed to this, although he affirmed that all costs were properly documented and audited.
The project also features a new bridge and land reclamation efforts extending about 200 meters long and 34 meters wide, which may have environmental implications and affect coastal resilience. Ro Filipe pointed out that all projects generally require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and other compliance measures prior to commencement.
Concerns have arisen regarding the contract award process and adherence to bidding procedures. Ro Filipe stressed the necessity of effective monitoring of contract performance to ensure adherence to budget and specifications. He indicated that lapses in monitoring often lead to cost overruns.
He also mentioned that lessons from this endeavor would inform future policy, procedures, and compliance processes encompassing tendering, contractor evaluations, and contract oversight. There were instances where significant contract variations were approved by the board without thorough assessments, which is now under investigation, prompting a reassessment of internal procedures at the Fiji Roads Authority to avert similar costly mistakes.
Moreover, Nayago confirmed that some construction delays stemmed from challenges related to land acquisition for the project. The ongoing investigation concerning cost allegations has been referred to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).