Aviation tells recipient of Kirakira fencing project to complete project
The Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Island (CASI) in the Ministry of Aviation and Communication was shocked to see the Kirakira airport fencing project incomplete.
CAASI coordinator Brian Hali who inspected Lomlom runway told the Solomon Star in Kirakira airport during a brief stopover last Wednesday the ministry had approved funds to build a proper fencing for Kirakira airport.
However upon arrival at the Kirakira airport Mr Hali observed that the runway fencing project was incomplete with only the steel posts standing.
Mr Hali who was shocked to see the incomplete said the ministry had given funds to the successful recipient few months ago and the project should have been completed by now.
“The ministry had already given funds to the contractor to build the fence around the runway but nothing was happened here.
He urged the recipient of the aviation fencing project to tell ministry why the fencing project was incomplete.
“Where is the money going and the contractor needs to explain this to the ministry?” Mr Hali questioned.
“We need an explanation from the contractor who receives the funding.”
A resident in Kirakira airport who wished not to be named told the Solomon Star at the airport last week claimed an outgoing member of parliament for that region was responsible for the fencing project.
“What we saw was that the MP only erects posts around the airport and never completes the project.”
Permanent secretary (PS)of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation Francis Lomo when asked about the matter yesterday said ministry only gave out progressive payment and not full payment to the contractor at Kirakira airport.
“The ministry only gives out progressive payment to the contractor who does the work and not full payment.
“Only progressive payment is given out which results in the project still incomplete,” Mr Lomo said.
He added government would soon raise another payment to the contractor to continue with the fencing project.
“Hopefully before the year ends we should give out another progressive payment to ensure the project is complete,” Mr Lomo said.
He also clarified speculation that an outgoing MP was a recipient of the runway fencing project.
“I would also like to make it clear here that a MP is recipient of the Kirakira runway fencing project.
“The project was given to one private company in Kirakirato do the fencing project and not the MP as what people had said. People must be clear about this and stop blaming the MP as a beneficiary of this fencing project,” Mr Lomo clarified to the Solomon Star yesterday.
Kirakira airport is one of the airports in the country that is going through upgrading work so that it can withstand bad weathers.
By DENVER NEWTER
