Prime Minister ‘Aisake Eke, announced plans to reform procurement policies following reports of gross non-compliance across government ministries.
In a press conference last Friday, Eke highlighted that approximately $21 million had been spent without following procurement procedures. He expressed concern over the current Public Finance Management Act, stating that its penalties are insufficient to deter misconduct. “We are looking into issues related to procurement and the way contractors have awarded jobs in the past,” Eke said.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need to align penalties with the severity of offenses, noting that the existing fine of $4,000 is inadequate. He also pointed out that some ministries continued to bypass procurement policies, even when aware of their non-compliance. Eke cited instances where emergency provisions were misused to circumvent standard procedures.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure (MOI), Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi, revealed that a review of current contracts indicated certain projects should have been handled by the Ministry of Infrastructure instead of being outsourced. He suggested that this approach could result in cost savings, allowing funds to be redirected to pressing issues like road maintenance and housing.
Eke acknowledged that many problems within the government stem from a lack of communication. He assured that the administration is reviewing reported cases to determine which should be forwarded to the anti-corruption agency. “We will look at the problem, who is responsible, and how to resolve the issue in the future,” he said.
These developments come as ministers assess their respective ministries, having taken office two weeks ago. The briefing also included the Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Siosiua Halavatau.
