Sinanan: PP spent $10m to fix landslip

UNDER the former People’s Partnership (PP) government, it cost “upwards of $10 million” to fix landslips and do other emergency works. Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan made this disclosure in the Senate on Monday.

He said it cost $1,651,000 to clear the Lady Young Road landslide in March. Clearing landslides along the North Coast Road between August and December last year, cost $1,139,000.

In the case of the Lady Young Road, Sinanan said an examination of the final stability of its slopes is currently in progress. Responding to questions from Opposition Senator Wade Mark, Sinanan said the ministry has done away with the PP’s practice of hiring contractors.

“We don’t just call up contractors, ask them to go to work and send a bill for us.” He explained that the ministry uses the bonded rates used by contractors to determine the payments made to them for emergency works.

As a result of this practice, Sinanan said the repairs at Lady Young Road and the North Coast Road were done “way less” than the price charged by a contractor to retrieve a fire truck which went over a precipice in Blanchisseuse. He added the price charged then was $6 million. When Mark asked if Government blacklists any contractor who engages in corrupt activities. Sinanan replied, “That went out when Mamoo went to Panama. Our policy is clear.”