A substantial amount of funding has been approved for the construction of Queen Elizabeth Drive in Nasese, Suva, despite concerns about inadequate assessments, as disclosed by the Minister for Public Works and Transport, Ro Filipe Tuisawau.
An audit carried out from 2021 to 2023 revealed several irregularities, indicating that the contract variation could total between $300 to $400 million, which Ro Filipe described as worrying. Originally projected to take one year and six months, the newly renovated road took nearly four years to complete and incurred significant cost overruns. An investigation into the project’s finances is currently underway.
When the project commenced in 2019, it was allocated $25 million. Ro Filipe expressed concern over the overall expenses, suggesting that the project could have been completed for less and that the funds could have been better utilized in other neglected areas.
Atunaisa Nayago, Chairman of the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), stated that the project adhered to its design and was managed through an external consultant. He noted that the road was constructed as part of a climate resilience initiative, raising its elevation by one meter above the original level, which may have contributed to the delays. He reassured that the project’s costs have been meticulously documented and audited.
The initiative also encompasses the construction of a new bridge and land reclamation, spanning roughly 200 meters long and 34 meters wide, which might have environmental implications and impact coastal resilience. Ro Filipe reiterated that all projects should fulfill Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and other compliance requirements before moving forward.
There have been additional concerns regarding the awarding of contracts and whether appropriate bidding processes were followed. Ro Filipe highlighted the necessity of thorough monitoring of contract performance to ensure adherence to budget and specifications, emphasizing that poor oversight often leads to cost variations.
He remarked that insights gained from this project will be integrated into policies, procedures, and compliance practices, focusing on tendering, contractor evaluations, and contract oversight. He noted that significant variation approvals by the board, often made without thorough assessments, are part of the ongoing investigation, and enhancements to internal processes at the Fiji Roads Authority are being prioritized to avert similar costly errors in the future.
Moreover, Nayago confirmed that delays in construction were partly due to difficulties with land acquisition for the project. The allegations concerning costs are now under investigation by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).