After just the weekend since DFID suspended funding to the A1 Road Improvements project, stunning many agreeable observers, DFID’s local representative issued another release this time announcing the suspension of further funding for the Restructuring of Public Works Mechanical Workshop Project.
The A1 Road project was suspended last Friday, May 3, 2013 and on Tuesday following the Labour Day Monday holiday, Dr. Kato Kimbugwe issued the following release which said in part: “The Department for International Development would like to inform members of the public of the suspension of further funding for the Restructuring of Public Works Mechanical Workshop Project.”
It explained: “On the 23rd April 2012 GoM (Government of Montserrat) wrote to DFID informing us of an on-going investigation into procurement practices in the implementation of this project. GoM requested technical assistance to support an audit of the project. An independent procurement audit was commissioned and conducted by the Auditor General in January 2013.”
For some months now there have been various investigations and inquiries taking place at the Ministry of Communications and Works, but no details have been forthcoming. The mere switching of permanent secretaries was said to be as a result of some of the fall-outs from the investigations, but we learned recently that DFID had become involved.
We were directed to the Hon. Financial Secretary (FS) who recently returned from an extended vacation and according to a GIU release, the FS said, he is in contact with the relevant department heads to ascertain the status of the audit and also any outstanding issues at PWD. According to the release, he added that the necessary plans are being made to ensure that the project can get back on stream in the shortest possible time.
According to the said GIU release the DFID Resident Representative Kimbugwe announced Tuesday in a statement that the funds have been suspended pending the outcome of an audit being conducted by the Office of the Auditor General that In the interim, DFID said it will conduct an annual review of the project as stipulated in the joint project Memorandum of Understanding.
Meanwhile, PWD Director Ron Beardsley confirmed that with regards to the suspension of the funding on A1 road project, current and ongoing contractual work will be completed.
The photo highlights what continues to be potentially damaging to vehicular traffic and pedestrians. There is rarely proper signage on the road projects to indicate hazardous breaks in the road where work is being conducted.
