MAYwww.pacifictenders.com-JULY2022 ISSUE 10
Power Protection Industries delivers customised › Li n e h a r d wa r e › E art h i ng sol u tio n s › F us e s › I n s u la t o r s a n d s u r g e ar r es to r s › Tr a ns f or m e r s We o er a wide r a ng e of world-l e adi ng p r od u ct s Call: +61 7 3734 715 | Email: sales@ppindustries.com.au ww w. pp i nd ust r i e s. com . a u R E N E WABL E E N E R G Y F E A SIBILI T Y ST U D Y High-quali ty solution s for e n e rgy u tilitie s E ARTHI NG S Y ST E M D E SI G N S UB S T ATIO N E ARTHI NG A U DIT S LI G HTNIN G P R O T E CTION A U D I T S R E N E WABL E E N E R G Y D E S IG N O u r ex p ert ser v i ce s
Distribution PT-Magazine is distributed via a Digital Copy accessed from the pacifictenders.com Platform reaching all PT Subscriber Companies and printed copies distributed to Government Agencies, Hotels, Retail and Hardware Supermarkets in Honiara and Port Moresby. Relying on the support of our peers in the Construction and Infrastructure sectors to help this initiativ e grow. Published by Adkonect PNG PO Box 1954 Port Moresby, www.adkonect.com.pgPNG Founder Publisher Mr. Rodney Rupokets rodney@pacifictenders.com Business and Marketing Director Ms. Namoi Kaluae Mr.EditorsDouglas Saefoa (Solomon Islands) Contributing Writers Mr. David Spring (Sydney, Australia) Advertising Enquiries Editorial Enquiries email: media@pacifictenders.com or PNG Contact In country Marketing/Advertising Mr. sorbiePNGPNGS.Iwww.pacifictenders.comsorbie@pacifictenders.comcontact@pacifictenders.comPandiruo+67738229+67575971524+67575923057 CONTENTS 10 08 05 12 IRD INFORMS SICCI MEMBERS OF TAX OBLIGATIONS PACIFIC AGREEMENTMAJORMEMBERSTENDERSOFPROFILECOVERSTORYPACIFICTENDERSLAUNCHESNEWSUBSCRIPTIONSERVICEROADCONTRACTINGSIGNED 14 PHASE HIGHWAY2 PROJECT 17 HONIARA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PROJECT ON TRACK 22 THEREINVENTINGWHEEL 24 GPSL SEALS MEGA PROCUREMENT DEAL OF SURVEY EQUIPMENT WITH SOLOMON POWER 25 VANUATU UPDATE POST COVID-19 26 TESTING TIMES FOR LABS 28 LAUTOKA’S MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR OLYMPIC POOL REMAIN INCOMPLETE 18 > Jiangsu Provincial Construction Group set to construct New Accommodations at SINU > Synthetic Track facility now utilised KGVI Eastern site > Main Stadium Site Progresses 30 32 33 41 42 K800 MILLION - 400KMS OF ROAD Massive construction work on Highways throughout Papua New Guinea $7MILLION AQUACULTURE PROJECT UNDERWAY FISHING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION PNG 2021 ANNUAL REPORT SIG AND WB CONCLUDE NEGOTIATIONS ON SOLOMON SIRAP 2 SIIP ASSESSES ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF BUALA MARKET
Co-authored by > CAROL-ANNE SULEGA > DOUGLAS SAEFOA from Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. Layten Jacob the Chief Procurement Officer of the Ministry of Health comments, “Pacific Tenders has created an advanced step into the area of e-procurement, giving MHMS the opportunity to fully realise and satisfy some of the main principles of procurementtransparency, equity and competition.”
Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Rodney Rupokets made emphasis on the fact that 60% of government spending is funnelled through the procurement process. “With no central repository or database for SMEs to access tender opportunities, we saw a market fit to introduce digital tools to aid local businesses to participate in the public tender market. Pacific Tenders however, is bringing digital solutions to new heights creating ease in every step of the process of this newly improved platform, making it easier for both
‘Digital Platform created to ease tender processes’
Pacific SubscriptionLaunchesTendersNewService COVER STORY > www.pacifictenders.com 5
PT 2.0 PT is a subscription-based cloud service initially created as an optimised solution to the tedious manual procurement system. It offers a Tender Alert Service (TAS) with features designed to enable consistency, efficiency and reach in bid solicitation.
TECHNOLOGY has now paved the way to digitalise public procurement and tender processes making it accessible at anytime and anywhere with minimal paperwork handling. By a touch of a button, users of the platform will be able to significantly expand their tender search capacity and apply for multiple opportunities whilst also being able to provide and identify accurate information in bid submissions.
COVID-19 has taken a toll on the business community forcing most businesses to either cease operations or reinvent to survive the impacts of the pandemic –meaning several businesses and stakeholders have had to heighten their presence online through digital marketing and modes of payments. With such effects, Pacific Tenders (PT) is ecstatic to have launched an upgraded version of its existing Softwareas-a-service (SAAS) product on 6th May 2022 to cater for more than 5000 suppliers and established clients it has developed over the past 5 years. Having initially launched in Solomon Islands in 2016, with the Solomon Islands Government as its key partner, Pacific Tenders (PT) has recently expanded into the regional market with presence in PNG and Nauru along with users
APRIL - JUNE 2022 / ISSUE 10 the receiver and supplier of the goods and services.
PNG Department of Works and PNG Water registering interest in Bid solicitations with the Platform.
Bootstrapping and Resilience
According to the Founder and CEO of Pacific Tenders, the recent riots in Honiara at the end of last year took quite a toll on the company as a tech startup – their head office was razed to the ground leaving nothing but ash and debris. For an SME with no external support, Mr. Rupokets who hails from the Autonomous Region of Bouganville (AROB) explained how hard, expensive and heart breaking it is to run a tech company from scratch only to have it brought down in flames. Founders Mr. Rupokets and his wife Namoi Kaluae who hails from Central Province, were both devastated by the event. Despite the gruesome circumstances, the duo did not allow their vision to be sabotaged and immediately
Seeing the crucial need of such a platform, a wholeof-government ICT approach could be made possible similarly to our neighbour country Papua New Guinea through the establishment of an ICT governance framework, government ICT establishment and a push for digital governance to have majority of public services accessible online in a more efficient and simple way.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have succumbed to the fact that e-commerce through digital transformation is no longer a luxury but a necessity to stay in business and Pacific Tenders aspires to connect thousands of buyers and suppliers to the right set of opportunities. They spend a lot of time and money searching for the right tender opportunities – Pacific Tenders is making it easier by sourcing, sorting and sending tenders directly to its members via email “Asnotifications.alicensed Surveyor in Solomon Islands Pacific Tenders online has provided my business with government tender opportunities in the most cost effective and accessible means. Subscribing to the service enables me to receive notifications of new tenders specific to the categories of my choice direct to my inbox,” says Alfred Soaki of Azimuth GovernmentsSurveys.
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and major State-Owned Enterprises can now optimise for cheaper, reliable and equitable alternative to advertise and distribute bid documents, with the introduction of the Buyer Portal. The Buyer Portal enables buyers to publish open and closed bids, manage supplier list and streamline bid documents. Upon the release of the New Buyer Portal, Companies such as South Pacific Oil, the Sol2023 Pacific Games Organising Committee and even the government of neighbouring Nauru have signed up, with regional Media Partners from the PT Founders in front of the Adkonect and Pacific Tenders office in ashes.
started the process of rebuilding while the Pacific Tenders team moved headquarters to the new AJ City Mall.
The Pacific Tenders team. For more information on the Pacific Tenders product, email: contact@pacifictenders.com or visit www.pacifictenders.com
Enabling e-commerce
The Internet Payment Gateway (IPG) is an important step of enabling efficiency in e-commerce. Solomon Islands does not have a payment platform to accept international credit card payments as Parliament is currently in the process of legislating the Payment System Bill. Should such approaches to digital governance and prioritising the efficiency of e-commerce be realised by the government, Pacific Tenders will be able to take an extra leap in being the go-to choice to bridge these gaps of manual work and payment methods while bringing a facelift to e-commerce by providing its newly improved SAAS product and amplifying a win-win situation of a better and advanced digital age for the business community locally, regionally and globally.
“I am very optimistic that the tech space is not the future – it is the now and the government needs to adopt a digital governance strategy to start implementing changes adapting to the progression of technology more especially in the margins of e-commerce.” Mr. Rupokets said.
Pacific Tenders has created an advanced step into the area of e-procurement, giving MHMS the opportunity to fully realise and satisfy some of the main principles of procurement - transparency, equity and competition. Layton Jacob Chief Procurement Officer Ministry of Health and Medical Services “ As a licensed Surveyor in Solomon Islands Pacific Tenders online has provided my business with government tender opportunities in the most cost effective and accessible means. Subscribing to the service enables me to receive notifications of new tenders specific to the categories of my choice direct to my inbox.
Alfred Soaki Principal AZIMUTHSurveyorSurveys “
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It is with that vital understanding that senior officers from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury’s, Inland Revenue Division (IRD shared updates on tax obligations for business to members of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry last month. As the government’s sole institution charged with collecting government revenue, the IRD’s Melanie Wate and Willie Honimae from the Tax Payer Education team, informed SICCI members that to operate a business in the Solomon Islands or any country for that matter, one needs to clearly understand specific tax obligations, limitations, and penalties, that are bound by the country’s financial laws and regulations. “From the private sector point of view, the current taxation regime in Solomon Islands is really burdensome for businesses to administer and sometimes deters investment and weakens productivity for businesses. Often the tax system is complex and relies on a very narrow base of compliant taxpayers, mainly already established businesses. Understanding these processes to ensure businesses are aware of the law is important, most importantly we provided a venue for the client and administrator to engage constructively. Such engagement session builds capacity of businesses to confidently interact to identify areas that private sector can contribute to drive tax reforms, ” SICCI Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Natalina Hong said. To fulfil these tax obligations a business needs to first be registered and obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN), Keep up-to-date business records, file returns, be consistent with payment and pay off the right amount due in returns. The IRD presented different types of taxes: Income Tax, Sales Tax and Goods Tax, which businesses are obligated to pay depending on the nature of the business.
Members of Tax Obligations
Income Tax Return
Businessesexplained. are charged income tax depending on the type of business which includes: Individual Businesses, resident companies and non-resident companies.
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The IRD said businesses are obliged to lodge an income tax return and pay tax on the profits of their business, such as: n GOODS SOLD n SERVICES PROVIDED n INTEREST OR RENTAL RECEIVED “Everyone who is in business in the Solomon Islands is subject to file a tax return on 31 March each year. This tells IRD how much your income was and how much your expenses were. Businesses only pay tax on net income, upon the filing of returns. Businesses are liable to pay income tax on 30 September each year,” Melanie Wate
IRD Informs SICCI
THE private sector is seen as the backbone of any government machinery. Without the support of the private sector in terms of revenue levied through taxes, the government won’t be able to deliver much-needed infrastructure development and essential services to its people.
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IRD also noted that businesses must also pay tax throughout the year. This happens in one of two ways: > Provisional Tax (4 quarterly Payments per year) > Withholding Tax (particular industries or type of income) These payments are then offset or credited against the tax payable once your income tax return is filed. “Withholding Tax on the other hand requires a person making certain types of payment to withhold a portion of the payment and pay it to IRD on behalf. This money becomes a credit against the tax payable by the person receiving the payment. You may be required to withhold tax from certain payments you make, or you may have tax withheld from payments made to you,” Mrs. Wate said. Some of the businesses covered by the withholding tax rules include: > Building and construction 7.5% > Stevedoring 15% > Rental 10% By DOUGLAS SAEFOA
Sales Tax
IRD Developments
IRD is also working on drafting a VAT, Value-added tax, and a consumption tax placed on a product whenever value is added at each stage of the supply chain, from production to the point of sale. This will require all VAT businesses to have a POS Point of Sale machine and software to link to the IRD record system.
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“If the nature of your business is professional or management service, your income will be subject to WHT. You are also required to charge remit Sales tax from your clients,” Wate said. Goods Tax Companies who manufacture or import goods from overseas are liable to pay Goods tax. This also applies to goods procurement from another overseas wholesaler or manufacturer.
“As in other countries where compliance is expected, fulfilling company obligations as regulated by the government, such as adhering to tax regulations is a key ingredient in the social contract between citizens and the economy. Paying tax and then holding the government accountable on the effective administrative of its tax revenue, is every citizens responsibility” Mrs Hong said. To do this, IRD will continue to grow the e-tax filing and payment platform through the establishment of a comprehensive field strategy. The online tax system allows businesses and taxpayers to file returns for PAYE, Goods Tax and Sales Tax, and to pay those taxes through your internet banking. “We will also utilize our newly Customer Service Training Centre which will serve all our customer needs and staff capacity building. A new Large Taxpayer Office (LTO) is now put in place to serve large taxpayers which will officially open soon,” Mr. Honimae said. “It is welcoming to hear some positive updates that IRD is working on a reform framework and other automation systems to ensure efficient administration of tax. SICCI continues to bridge that information gap between the government and private sector as part of a mutual partnership in development of a vibrant private sector ” SICCI CEO Mrs. Hong Said.
“If you are involved in one of these activities you should have withholding tax deducted from your income. If you earn less than $10,000 and WHT is deducted you do not need to register with IRD or file a return. There are some payments under WHT that is final. This means you don’t have to submit a return to IRD,” Mrs Wate said. SICCI members were also reminded of PAYE tax to always be paid on time and up to date.
IRD has also taken measures to address the issue of businesses operating without proper registration and recording of transactions. In doing so registration checks are conducted every year by our Audit Section. This involves physical observation of existing business operations, and third-party checks including the media, public and business spot checks for new businesses. The purpose is to identify changes within the business community and to see whether tax obligations are fully satisfied. A total of around 500 to a thousand taxpayers have been registered last year.
Compliance Measures to improve Tax Collection
It was also highlighted that several remedial legislative changes have been made in the last two years to ensure the tax revenue for Government is protected. This includes withholding Tax regimes (Resident Professional Services, Resident management Services, NR Rental WHT), changes in Personal Income Tax Threshold ($15,080 to $30,080.00) and the embedment of a Legal and Policy unit within IRD to begin implementation on a legislative change programme and on time response to legal issues. “Under this reform, some of our services which we would want to be improved will become legislated which is good. There are a lot of risks that IRD have come across especially in terms of compliance and payment and that is normal for every tax administration,” Honimae explained. IRD also noted measures to build an effective relationship with businesses and the private sector as major employers of Solomon Islanders and investors of millions of dollars in the local economy each year. “A conducive environment that encourages employment and growth is crucial for our economic recovery, and modernizing the tax system plays an important role. SICCI as the lead advocate for private sector interest seeks to ensure that there are tax reforms to provide for a fair, simple and broad-based tax system that will reduce the tax burden on businesses comparative to their operating costs, improve the administrative efficiency of taxes for both IRD and businesses and critically ensures a ‘level playing field’ for all businesses and taxpayers. In turn, businesses continue to provide jobs that will effectively contribute to economic growth,” said SICCI CEO Mrs Natalina Hong.
“While this information session is particularly important for an introduction to business tax compliance for new and emerging members, most SICCI members are long established locally based businesses that have been providing jobs and contributed enormously to the growth of the country for years.”
Unlike certain countries, Sales tax (GST) levied on retail sales of goods and services does apply in the Solomon Islands. Sales tax is charged according to rates set out by the IRD and the filing of sales tax returns must be done within 30 days of each month.
The Minister of National Planning and Development Coordination, who, at the time of the contract signing, was Supervising Minister of Finance and Treasury, Hon. Rex Ramofafia, formally concluded the contracting agreement process with the international contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation or CCECC, By DOUGLAS SAEFOA
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An international tender process for the first phase of the Land and Maritime Connectivity Project (LMCP) was supervised by the Asian Development Bank or ADB and a contract has recently been awarded to CCECC.
CCECC set to make its mark
Major AgreementContractingRoadSigned
CCECC has been awarded a contract to commence major road improvements project CHINA Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has been awarded a contract to commence a major road improvements project in Honiara and extended Guadalcanal.
The minister further revealed that to facilitate this comment the Government have arranged financing amounting to approximately USD 170 million, with assistance from the ADB, for improvements to selected infrastructure, that include roads & wharves in and around Honiara as well as in the provinces of Makira and Rennell & Bellona. The second phase of the LMCP project will include 2 domestic wharves in these provinces and the rehabilitation of the international Wharf in Honiara.
Minister Rex finally expressed his gratitude and confirmed that the impact of the project, once complete, will be to contribute to a more efficient, safer, and sustainable transport system that will improve access to education, health and social service facilities, as well as offer, increased opportunities to local businesses and general improvement in the overall wellbeing of the people of the Solomon Islands. The Minister also conveyed to the contractor the DCGA Government stand to complete the West Honiara main road, from Central Market to White River by the 4th quarter of 2023.
on, 31st May 2022, to commence the construction of major road work in Honiara and Guadalcanal.
Both Minister Rex and Mr Huang thanked the ADB for the high-level management of the design and for overseeing the procurement of the project. Works include improvements to road drainage, and longer-lasting asphalt surfacing, together with road signs, markings, bus shelters & street lighting
The major component of the first phase will involve a major improvement to roads around Honiara that includes improving and extending the existing 4-lane road, from the central market through to White River (approximately 5 km), as well as the 2-lane road from the Airport to Mberande (approximately 30 km).
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The contractor has mobilised with initial activities anticipated to commence within the next 2-3 months – works include improvements to road drainage, and longer-lasting asphalt surfacing, together with road signs, markings, bus shelters & street lighting, and are expected to be completed in time before the 2023 South Pacific Game.
In response to the Minister’s statement, CCECC country Manager, Mr Huang Pengfei also recognized the importance of the project as the country prepares to host the 2023 Pacific Game. Mr Huang revealed that CCECC has been operating in the country for almost 6 years, with its established plants, equipment, machines, expertise and familiarity with the Government rules and regulations. Huang also confirmed that they will utilize local resources and will strictly implement the project to ensure that they deliver high-quality infrastructure on time as requested by the Government.
At the handover ceremony, Minister Ramofafia revealed that the DCGA Government recognised how crucial the provision and improvement of the National transport infrastructure is to promoting improvements to the social and economic development of Solomon Islands, identifying the need for action to be taken in respect of major roads, wharves and port facilities within both the main urban centres and outlying rural areas.
The second phase of the Kukum Highway Project funded by the Japanese Government is progressing steadily with road construction of the 6.6 km stretch of road from Henderson International Airport to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, now underway starting at the eastern end of Honiara. THE current work in progress is evident further East of Honiara from the Lungga Bridge to Honiara International Airport. This segment of the project will include a full upgrade of the existing 2-lane road, which spans a distance of 2.03 km including the road on the Lungga Bridge. This road upgrade will include improved pavement, drainage facilities/ culverts, structure, road ancillaries (signs, marking, guard rails/kerbing), etc. The 2-lane section was designed in consideration of the existing Lungga Bridge, roadside facilities, underground utilities, and the Right of Way (ROW) control points.
Work on the 4-lane road from Lungga bridge to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources will be implemented in two scopes. The first 2km from the Lungga bridge to the Sol2023 Games Village at the King George section of the road will be fully upgraded. The construction design includes designated roadside facilities, underground utilities and ROW as control points in studying the alignments.
Horizontal alignment of the 4-lane road shall be determined in consideration of a future extended 4-Lane Road. According to the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the cross-sectional elements of the 2-lane section shall be planned so that the negative impact on the roads constructed in this Project will be minimized when carrying out a 4-lane widening project in the future. This means that the current 2-lane section is considered as a provisional 2-lane. The widening direction of the future 4-lane will be set on the downstream side of the Lungga FurtherRiver. into the project will be the Rehabilitation of the road from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to the Lungga Bridge (4 lanes, 4.3 km).
Highway Project
Phase 2
By DOUGLAS SAEFOA
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The finished surface level at Burns Creek will also be raised. JICA explained that this is necessary to avoid
inundation during the run-off over 10 years. The current design will also minimize median openings and provide an exclusive U-turn Lane for improving traffic conditions. The new central island outer diameter is a minimum of 27 m, an increase from the previous which was an 18 m 2-lance circulatory road. The remaining 2.3 km of the 4-lane road from the Sol2023 Games village at King George to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources along the Kukum Highway will be the overlay section. Road works will include Asphalt overlay on top of the existing pavement and installation of drainage facilities for flooding mitigation. According to JICA the existing drainage system along the project area shall be respected. In the design plans the project design team, CTI Engineering International Co. Ltd noted that since the capacity of the existing drainage facilities at the flow endpoints is insufficient, upgrading the road-crossing facilities is planned considering the discharge from the catchment area. Pacific Tenders understands that water treated by drainage facilities in the project is only stormwater. Sewage water is not considered in the project thus, it needs to be considered in other projects. An engineer from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development’s Central Project Implementation Unit (MIDCPIU) told Pacific Tenders that even if drainage facilities are completed in the project the high risk of flooding still remains unless the drainages in the downstream side up to the sea are improved/developed by the responsible authorities. As is the case for phase 1 of the project, the existing cross drainage structures shall be replaced with new box culverts. With regards to ensuring ease of traffic congestion, JICA noted that the Lungga bus terminal remains as one of the traffic bottlenecks of the road project. Considering that this terminal will be required to be relocated when the 4-lane widening project is carried out in the future, in the meantime, improvements shall be made as a tentative measure by providing a lane divider between in/outbound carriageways under a one-way operation. This measure will contribute to the mitigation of traffic congestion as this will prevent the road users from making U-turns at the bus terminal. On the other hand, JICA explained that since there is a 5m margin in front of the AJ City mall currently located on the opposite side to the bus terminal, a tentative bus terminal at this site will be provided. UPDATE
PROJECT
FUNDING SOURCE: Project was funded from the SIG Economic Stimulus Package Funds(ESP)
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Contract Amount: SBD 8.7million Project Fully Completed: February 2022
Project Name: Construction of Tabaá Bridge and Kwai Bridge
Locality: On the North Malaita Road SCOPE: Tabaá Bridge was replaced with a New Bailey Bridge while the Kwai bridge was replaced with a composite bridge.
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> www.pacifictenders.com 17 INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT / INDUSTRY
A flood protection dike has been constructed at the low area on the south side of the runway and flap gates have been installed at the end of the existing airport drainage. Construction of the new international departure terminal building has progressed steadily and according to a spokesperson for Gyro, the building is already 70 per cent to completion. Currently, the Local electrical company Guadalcanal Electrics Limited (GEL) has been sub-contracted to undertake the electrical wiring of the Thebuilding.new International Departure terminal has a total area space of 2,415 square meters. A single-storied (Partly 2 storied) steel frame structure that will soon have the capacity of processing 2 International Departures at a time. Renovation works are also ongoing at the existing International Terminal building. According to JICA, improvement works are being done inside the building which will be used for both the international arrival terminal and domestic terminal.
Honiara International Airport Project on track
The Pacific Games in 2023 is just around the corner, a catalyst that has sparked abrupt developments within the extremities of Honiara City and to some extent Guadalcanal Province, which hosts the Behindcapital.the huge spectacle of preparations, especially with games infrastructure, the Japanese government has committed to ensuring that two of its key Grant Aid Projects: the Honiara International Airport Improvement Project and the Kukum Highway Phase II project are completed before the opening of the Games in November 2023. The Honiara International Airport Improvement Project was signed on 15 June 2018 and is worth around SBD$445 million. The project was deemed necessary to enhance connectivity and boost social and economic development.
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in charge of the project since inception, revealed that despite all odds since the project restarted last year, a lot has been achieved.
The overall project is expected to be completed in 2023.
A side view of the Western end of the new departure lounge
Another component within the project was the construction of flood protection facilities, given recent experiences where heavy rains usually cause flooding at both airport terminals.
The Rehabilitation of the existing International Apron and Taxiway has been completed under the supervision of Gyros, Ehira A&E and OCG JV, the project consultant and Kitano Construction Corporation in partnership with the Ministry of Communication and Aviation. The construction team scarified the existing pavement by 5cm and new asphalt pavement laying was done in the entire area of the existing international apron and taxiway to ensure the soundness of the Expansionpavement.ofthe existing international apron and construction of the new taxiway adjacent to the existing apron and taxiway had also been completed along with the installation of new airfield Thelighting.designated expanded apron area is four times wider than that of the previous apron covering an expanded area of at least 24,000 square meters with apron floodlights, taxiway edge lights and signs already installed. The existing aircraft parking could only cater for (2 International flights). The new Aircraft parking stands will now cater for 4 stands for (International flights) and 6 stands for (domestic flights).
By DOUGLAS SAEFOA View of the new Departure lounge from the new extended taxi-way
Earlier in June, the Sol2023 National Hosting Authority Project Management Unit Executive Director; Mr Eldon Tepa together with Jiangsu Provincial Construction Project Manager; Mr David Wei signed the final detailed design of the Solomon Island National University new dormitories at the National Hosting Authority Office.
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By DOUGLAS SAEFOA The design caters for 216 dormitory rooms and will accommodate more than 900 beds. The rooms are modern design, ranging from single self-contained rooms to shared dormitory-type rooms with shared amenities.
The Government of PRC and SIG signed an implementation agreement on 15 November 2021, and later Jiangsu Provincial Construction JPC firm was awarded the contract by PRC to design and build the 2023 Pacific Games Village Project.
Jiangsu Provincial Construction Group set to construct New Accommodations at SINU
> The Geotech and UXP work on the project site
During the groundbreaking ceremony Prime Minister Sogavare revealed that apart from the SBD 174 million invested by the PRC for this project, the NHA will also be spending SBD 30 million dollars in SIG funds on several projects including:
> Proper Sewage and water supply systems to service the building Prime Minister Honourable Manasseh Sogavare together with the Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to the Solomon Islands H.E. Li Ming at the ground breaking ceremony and the ribbon cutting (right) at the SINU complex.
THE Solomon Islands National University is set to witness yet another major development on the University’s premises, with the official ground-breaking of the SINU Dormitory Project on 22 June The2022.ground-breaking ceremony was officiated by the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Honourable Manasseh Sogavare together with the Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to the Solomon Islands H.E. Li Ming and the SINU Acting Vice-Chancellor Jack Maebuta in Honiara. This multi-million-dollar facility is a gift from the Peoples Republic of China made through the Sol2023 National Hosting Authority to SINU. During the games, the accommodation area will be known as the Games Village for athletes. The construction site at SINU will cover a total of 10,183 square meters and will feature key structures that include; 3 four-story accommodation blocks, 1 activity hall with an equipment room and relevant auxiliary projects such as greening, beautification, footpaths and roads.
Synthetic Track facilityutilisednow
In highlighting the government’s contribution, Prime Minister Sogavare said the government has injected into SINU, because of the Pacific Games 2023, a total amount in excess of SBD $200 million. A distinguished financing commitment that the Solomon Islands Government has unprecedentedly injected into SINU for its development as part of the game’s legacy. JPC is an enterprise with General Contracting Qualifications of Premium Grade Qualification for Building Construction Engineering and Highway Engineering, Grade A Design Qualification for Construction and Highway Industry, and National Class I Qualification for Real Estate Development, General Contracting Qualification for Foreign-aid Complete Projects, and Foreign-aid Class A Construction JPCQualification.isranked the 53rd in the ENR Top 250 Global Contractors, the 99th in the ENR Top 250 International Contractors by comprehensive strength and the 20th in the competitive enterprises of China’s construction industry.
An artist’s impression of the Games Village for athletes.
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The KGVI West site (marked as Plot 2) covers an area of 5.5 hectares. Facilities that are currently under construction on the site apart from the Synthetic Track include a ‘1000- seat secondary stadium’, A Hockey training area and a new 95-metre by 50-metre multipurpose hall-which will be the largest hall in the country.
By DOUGLAS SAEFOA
THE successful handover of the Synthetic Track and Field facility at the KGVI West Project Site has marked a significant milestone in progress towards the preparations for the 2023 pacific games.
Less than one year since the ground-breaking ceremony of the 2023 Pacific Games Stadium Project in May 2021, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) handed over the first of the eight projects under the Pacific Games Stadiums project that is designed by Central South Architectural Design Institute Co., Ltd (CSADI) and constructed by China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC).
The official handover took place on Friday 22nd April The2022.‘practice track and field’: n Boasts Solomon Islands’ first-ever, all-weather, fulllength synthetic four-lane 400-metre running track with a 6-lane 100-metre sprint lane, n A full-size field for Soccer and Rugby, n Facilities for other athletic sports such as the jumps and hammer throw, n It allows Solomon Islands athletes to train in a proper training field since the close of the old KGVI track and field n The running track can be used immediately, however, the use of the field is being delayed until the new turf grass grows to cover the field surface, The field has water irrigation, water catchment, and drainage facilities to ensure the field has good water management and drainage system.
The ‘training track and field’ was designed as a support field for the main Pacific Games stadium, and an early replacement of the old track and field at KGVI Grounds, east of Honiara where the main national stadium is currently under construction.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare officially received the new Synthetic Track and Field facility from the Chinese government represented by His Excellency Li Ming Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Solomon Islands and witnessed by the National Hosting Authority.
> Construction of replacement sports field at SINU Kukum
> Renovation and refurbishment of existing dorms, classrooms, ablution blocks (including building a new Ablution/ temporary facility),
APRIL - JUNE 2022 / ISSUE 10 An aerial view of the 5.5 hectares site at the eastern end of KGVI. Below, workersconstructionhardatwork on the main stadium. www.pacifictenders.com <20
Site Progresses > www.pacifictenders.com 21
KGVI EASTERN SITE Main
The latest update and progress as of June 2022 come as follows:
The total construction area covers as much as 15,000 square meters which divide into the east stand and west stand with the total capacity of accommodating 10,000 spectators at a time (1,000 seats in the VIP lounge), and the function rooms located below the stand. The west stand and east stand are symmetrically opposed with the underpart consisting of a Reinforced concrete shear wall structural system with a canopy with unit-style cantilever supporting system plus skeleton membrane structure above. Stadium
> the second floor (top floor) of the main stadium stands has already begun to be poured in concrete, > the fabrication of the steel structure for the canopy is By DOUGLAS SAEFOA progressing steadily and orderly. Since July the construction team has engaged the largest mobile crawler crane in the pacific with the capacity of up to 260 tons to hoist and install fabricated steel structures to the canopy ceilings. The main stadium is located on the east side of the KGVI East site with a three-floor structure at a height of 26.80 meters to the canopy top points.
CONSTRUCTION work at the KGVI East site is progressing smoothly with the main Sol2023 Games stadium's opening date still on track as scheduled.
The whole project site covers an area of 5.5 hectares with an actual construction area of approximately 20,500m square. This particular project site is expected to accommodate the Main Stadium, Aquatic Centre, Tennis Centre and a Catering and Office area. The construction team and site management CSADI released an update in June that reveals steady progress on the construction of the 10,000-seater grand stadium.
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Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) one of several Solomon Islands Government-owned businesses have stepped into the spotlight with a new perspective and direction with its recent rebranding and now trading as Solomon Commodities.
The current government has given more consideration to revitalizing the agriculture sector through upscaling of local commodities. With this conviction, Solomon Commodities have been tasked to facilitate tangible economic development and activities closer to our people in the rural areas, particularly our farmers and villagers.
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The re-opening of the Pakera Buying Centre is a clear demonstration of the Government’s desire to physically re-establish its presence in all the Provinces through Solomon Commodities, starting in Pakera and Kirakira, Makira Ulawa Province and gradually to all the provinces and around our nation. The reinvention of CEMA into Solomon Commodities has signalled a new era for farmers throughout the provinces whose incomes depend largely on cocoa, copra, and other commodities. According to Mrs. Unusi, there are several outcomes that Buying Centers to be reopened in all Provincial Centers, starting with Pakera
theReinventingWheel
According to a member of the Cabinet Subcommittee Secretariat, Mrs Freda Unusi, the current Government has a strong desire to increase economic activities in the rural sector, particularly in the agriculture commodities and other related sectors of our economy as a whole.
Malu’u Buying Center to re-open in JulyUp Next, Malu’u purchasing, selling and exporting of our local commodities, whilst at the same time progressing on to establish refineries for downstream processing of all commodities for domestic and export markets.
The implementation of downstream processing preparatory works will begin in July 2022 at the Solomon Commodities Refineries in Noro, Western Province and Russell’s, Central Islands Province. The establishment of these refineries by Solomon Commodities is in line with the DCGA Policy through the Ministry of Commerce to cease exports of all forms of raw commodities by 2028. “This is truly a huge benefit for our rural farmers, villagers in the Country,” Mrs. Unusi said.
Solomon Commodities assures local farmers of their commitment and determination to reopen all the main buying centres by the third quarter of 2022, followed by the buying points and ports of call in later half of 2022. This will enable rural farmers to easily access these centres and ports of call to sell their produce.
Preparatory works towards reopening the Malu’u Buying Centre in North Malaita have progressed successfully as Solomon Commodities now awaits the official signing of the Fixed Term Estate Title from the Ministry of Lands Housing and FollowingSurvey.the successful reopening of Pakera in Makira Province, Malu’u Centre is set to become the second Commodity Buying center which SC will open since its rebranding announcement. Since May the project has completed 2 site visits, meetings with farmers in and around Malu’u and a Physical Assessment Report in 2021. The report included included plans, costing and bills of quantity to extend the existing warehouse, repairs and maintenance of Malu’u Buying Centre, warehouse and storage facilities and wharf with road for repairs as well. SC also completed 2 meetings with Malaita Provincial Government Premier, Executive and Provincial Administration in 2020 and 2021. The Provincial Government highly recommended for CEMA to reopen in Malu’u and Auki. SC anticipates that from June to December 2022 the Buying center should be ready and operational. “At the moment we are awaiting the Land Board approval for the FTE Title to be transferred to Fred Kwanairara to enable CEMA to lease the Property (former CEMA Buying Centre),” said Freda Unusi told Pacific Tenders. However, Mrs. Unusi noted that a Memorandum of Agreement will be signed between CEMA & Fred to enable repairs and maintenance of the Centre. “A 5-years Lease Agreement between CEMA and Fred will be signed later on once the FTE Title is transferred to Fred,” Unusi said. In the meantime, SC has recently launched tenders for Contractors who will be engaged to undertake repairs and maintenance work on the Malu’u Buying Centre. Work on the Centre should be completed by end of this month or extended to August 2022 and reopening will follow soon as the works are completed. Trading activities including purchasing of commodities –copra and cocoa will commence on the opening day as well.
The renaming of CEMA to “Solomon Commodities” with the brand “Solomon Is. Organic” was launched by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and the Minister of Commerce, Frederick Kologeto during a ceremony at the Pacific Casino Hotel on June 1 2022.
SC is of the understanding that the proposed MoA to be signed with Fred will pave the way to repair the Centre before reopening to start purchasing commodities from our rural farmers.
The launch marked twelve months and two days since the CEMA Revitalization and Recapitalization Strategy 2021 – 2027 report was officially launched and handed to Sogavare last year on 31 May 2021.
> www.pacifictenders.com 23 ADVERTORIAL
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Speaking to Pacific Tenders Mr Palusi revealed that GPSL is the local agent and preferred supplier of Topcon and Sokia survey equipment in the Solomon Islands. “We also do back-up support and software training services apart from procurement of items. When it comes to surveying, we got you covered from Land Surveys, UAV/ Drone surveys and supply of survey equipment including training and softwares.”
SERVICES 1. Training
GNSS Set 5. Survey and
Mr Bruce Trevor Palusi is a certified Topcon and Sokia Trainer in the Solomon Islands and the Pacific. Mr Palusi spent 4 years (2017 to 2020) in PNG providing training on survey equipment and software use and back-up support services to survey professionals through his contract with Theodist Technology Ltd as Manager of Marketing and Sales of Surveying equipment.
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Base and Rover Receiver 2. Field Recorder -FC 6000 GE CELL 128 AV Package Magnet Field GIS 3. Magnet Field GIS/ GPS MMGPS Roads 4. Accessory
The Surveying Equipment includes; GOODS 1. GNSS Hiper
The Managing Director of Geotech Positioning Solutions Ltd Mr Bruce Trevor Palusi and TIna RIver Hydro Project Manager of Solomon Power Mr Greg Manehugu have officially penned the contract of procurement deal for GPSL to supply Solomon Power with Surveying equipment including software and Training on, 18 June 2022. VR Dual 400-470 Kit-Nestle Kit to Suit RTK Civil Software-Magnet Office Site Perpetual (Support Training Materials Video and Magnet Office Field)
Design
APRIL - JUNE 2022 / ISSUE 10 GPSL SEALS MEGA PROCUREMENT DEAL OF SURVEY EQUIPMENT WITH SOLOMON POWER
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The World Bank is continuing to fund existing projects in Vanuatu – the Vanuatu Infrastructure Reconstruction & Investment Project (VIRIP) and South Santo Road. These projects have a combined value of over USD 100m and are well into the delivery phase – VIRIP finishes in 2023 and South Santo in 2025. VIRIP had a broad scope, initially for the reconstruction of roads and buildings following Cyclone Pam, extending to other eligible emergency and recovery works as they arose. The South Santo Road is, as the name suggests, a 66 km road around the south coast of Santo, in need of a major upgrade, including structures. The Australian bilateral program includes infrastructure spending on Roads for Development 2 (R4D2), Cook and Tiroas Barracks and the Supreme Court upgrade. R4D2 is a long-term road maintenance program. The Cook and Tiroas Barracks Redevelopment Project is an upgrade of buildings and infrastructure for the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) in Port Vila and Luganville. The Supreme Court project, announced in 2020 and co-funded by the NZ Aid programme and the Vanuatu government, is a new facility to replace the historic building destroyed by fire in 2007. A project to construct a Containment Center and Transition Facility at Port Vila Central Hospital are underway, being funded by the Vanuatu government. The Containment Center will provide a facility for the control and isolation of COVID-19 patients. The Transition Facility will provide temporary wards when future hospital upgrade projects shut down existing ward capacity. In all these projects, there is a strong focus on local involvement – local consultants and contractors – as well
What’s happening now
Vanuatu suffered a 5.6% annualised decline in GDP in 2021 due to the global COVID-19 border closures. It could have been worse. Agriculture remained strong but tourism, which has traditionally made up around 30% of GDP, effectively ceased overnight in March 2020 and has not yet resumed. This has constrained the government’s ability to fund and borrow for infrastructure investment and restricted the flow of foreign capital and expertise entering the country. Although there is plenty of current geopolitical interest in Pacific infrastructure, spending lead times will be long. In the meantime, the construction industry is relying on small-scale work and opportunities with the few international contractors operating there. Let’s take a closer look.
Vanuatu DAVID SPRING PT COLUMNIST Sydney, Australia as providing formal training and upskilling. The use of local firms is in part driven by the necessity generated by COVID-19 border closures. But it also demonstrates the capability of the local industry to undertake projects of appropriate scale. ADB remain in a holding pattern while its transport sector preparatory consultant reviews sector plans and policies. The Brenwe micro-hydro project looks to be up and running again, after a false start when COVID descended in 2020. A modest number of small tenders have been flowing through the government system – equipment and materials purchases, maintenance contracts, rural water supplies, as well as the expansion of apron facilities at Norsup (Northeast Malekula) to cater for ATR72-600 aircraft.
update
About the Author David is an experienced engineer, with over 20 years experience in construction, design and international development. David has been working in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu as a team leader for the past six years, specifically on road and bridgeworks. He worked on intraMinistry roles at the Ministry of infrastructure Development (MID, Solomon Islands) and led the Cyclone Pam road reconstruction project in Vanuatu, understanding donor requirements and how development projects are procured and delivered. Continuing as a Team leader for MID and with some corporate responsibilities for Cardno, David seeks to deliver equitable access for communities, which generate social and economic benefits.
What’s planned In May there were reports in the Daily Post of an agreement for a Chinese firm to construct an upgrade to Pekoa airport (Luganville, Santo) from its Code C status (Boeing 737 equivalent) to Code E (Boeing 747 equivalent). This is in keeping with Airport Vanuatu’s (AVL) long-term plans for the airport. However, no funding has yet been secured. This will presumably be coming from the government of the People’s Republic of China, to support their owned state enterprise, but remains obscure. AVL may also be required to undertake remedially, and improvement works to Port Vila’s Bauerfield International Airport. The recent flooding of the apron, runway and domestic terminal buildings resulted after torrential rain battered the airport during TC Gina in May this year. The advent of the flooding is surprising, given the USD 50m upgrade to the runway, aprons, and terminal buildings only three years ago. Vanuatu demonstrated fiscal restraint during the COVID downturn. A stable government over the past few years has helped provide business confidence. International borders will reopen on 1 July, bringing much-needed revival to the tourist economy. Donors are operationally established in Port Vila and are positioned to develop new projects. With these economic fundamentals in place, recovery and growth are the likely COVID after-effects.
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As the generation trained by the colonisers retired and moved out of the public service, the laboratories fell into disrepair, disuse and were seen as being of little value. From around 2000, in concert with the increase in aid funding for the Millennium Development Goals, there was a renewed interest in the laboratories. A trend started within infrastructure projects to try to achieve “NATA Accreditation” for existing laboratories. New staff were recruited, underwent training and received new equipment to this end. But the essential value of laboratories was not recognised by national governments and the funding required to maintain supplies and staffing to the labs was not secured from national budgets. Without this, it was impossible to sustain an effort towards an enduring international accreditation.
In vogue
The next trend, which began in parallel with the accreditation push and continues to this day, was to require contractors to provide their own (unaccredited) testing laboratories. While this solves the problem of maintaining and funding the labs, it creates a conflict between the independent reliability of testing results and the contractor’s drive to complete the work. In some cases, this situation may still be better than no testing at all, especially in areas remote from the capital cities where the government labs are, but it is a significant challenge to be addressed. Some clients now require external technical audits of the quality processes on projects, but this is a bolt-on, not a systemic fix.
The assortment of materials testing laboratories across the Pacific are legacies of either colonial governments or universities. These were set up during the 1950-60s heyday of geological surveys, with the purpose of identifying minerals and geological formations of value to the British (primarily). Upon national independence (circa 1970s), the laboratories were transferred to the national governments, but were often still operated by expatriates.
Currently there are no laboratories in the Pacific accredited to ISO 17025 , the international standard that safeguards the quality of laboratory test results. Worse, there are no national accreditation agencies who are willing to undertake ISO 17025 accreditation of laboratories in the Pacific.
The way a lab is used comes down to the role it plays in the design-specification-contract-verification process. If the design and specification are empirical then the laboratory matters less, as the materials are chosen from experience. But if the ultimate use and lifespan of a new asset is designed to achieve a specific purpose, and the design is Robert M. Pirsig’s insight was that “Care and Quality are internal and external aspects of the same thing.” In our world of quality assurance, it’s easy to get the impression that a good system will take care of everything on its own.
The advent of ISO 9001 has meant that any practice that conforms to this standard is relied upon to produce a quality, durable, verified product or service. Governments across the world (not just in the Pacific), aid agencies, multilateral banks and project managers have for too long assumed that (a) materials testing laboratories will simply produce reliable results, and that (b) these results prove the suitability and conformity of building materials and the assets they become. Both of these assumptions are right in theory but wrong in practice. Having an accredited system is less than half of the journey towards achieving quality outcomes. The materials testing laboratory is only one pillar of a broader quality system, of which design, specifications, enforcement and technical expertise are also critical pillars. Testing laboratories perform testing tasks that are critical to both the design of civil structures and the quality assessment of construction. To draw a straight line solution between the need to fix potholes (for example) and the materials testing laboratory is to misunderstand the moving parts of a quality system and how it can deliver value, durability and cost-effective infrastructure investment. This article sketches the history of materials testing laboratories in the Pacific, their current status, the problems they’re being asked to solve and how they can be part of that solution. Geotechnical amnesia
Testing times for labs
DAVID SPRING PT COLUMNIST Sydney, Australia www.pacifictenders.com <26
reliant on the selection and use of materials of a certain quality, then ensuring those selected materials are used to construct the asset is essential to realising the intended use and lifespan. This progression, from conceptual purpose, through design, materials selection and construction to the ultimate use, is not a Western cultural process. It is a physical reality seen throughout history, from the use of single log bridges to cross streams, to the construction of shelters, tools, weapons and sea-going vessels. So, while some say that the operation and enforcement of a quality system (ISO or otherwise) is not a good cultural fit for non-litigious societies such as Melanesia and Polynesia, having intentional outcomes and a basic process for achieving them are not culturally foreign. Is the lab of any use? Is there still a place for materials testing laboratories in the construction industry in the Pacific? Are they a colonial legacy, a Western cultural inhibition that doesn’t suit the Pacific way? Or is knowing the quality standard of building construction materials a simple necessity for modern states? I would argue that materials testing laboratories are not essential, if you are prepared to accept two things:
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• Simple infrastructure • Over-designed roads, structures and buildings, which factor in the unknown quality of materials If these are accepted, imported materials must arrive with supplier test certificates, and locally produced materials could be selected on the basis of experience. Tick. Overdesigned assets are more expensive to build and their durability is uncertain. Hmm. Simple infrastructure – 3 storey buildings, basic wharves, single-span bridges – may not be suitable for countries with growing populations and growing economic aspirations. Fail So, a reliable material testing laboratory – whether government owned or private – with independent staff, local knowledge, technical support and timely production, would deliver an essential basic service to the construction industry. The critical use of the lab is in the design stage – from this work, a construction specification is developed and a QA testing program extrapolated. This will support a construction industry that drives the economic growth that motivated, independent, sovereign nations need – one less reliant on aid money to repair or rebuild assets that have fallen short of their intended lifespan. Economic growth cannot be imported or simply signed onto – it must be generated by the very people who want to benefit from it. But how? If 40MPa concrete is required for a structural sea wall, we must test samples of the very concrete that is mixed and poured for that sea wall, to make sure that it is indeed 40MPa when cured. Roads that are required to last 20 years must be built on a firm foundation with a characteristic value of relative compaction at least 95%– we must do field density tests to make sure that the foundation is firm enough before the pavement layers go in. Asphaltic concrete for roads and runways are designed with different air voids parameters and only testing cores from the in-situ paving can confirm Thethis. national importance of delivering these basic but essential testing services means that governments should provide premises, staff, equipment and secure funding. Judging from history, this is unlikely. The conflict of interest generated when contractors set up their own labs, as noted, creates significant challenges for the independence of test results. External audits may prove a point, but are all too late. Yet perhaps there is a role for the private sector. Privately-owned, for-profit, independent labs could fund and deliver the services required. The government must play key a role in enabling a competitive market by committing to enforce construction specifications on all government and aid funded projects. This would generate a commercially viable volume of testing, which would make the high cost of establishing and running a technically competent laboratory worthwhile. Initially, leases could even be offered for use and operation of the existing government laboratories. Or a levy or fixed sum included in construction contracts to pay for independent lab services. Under this model the twin challenges become, how to deliver on the commitment to enforcing standards and how to ensure a minimum level-of-service from the labs: both challenges within the scope of infrastructure ministries to Introducingaddress. the right incentives, in this case generated by a specific application of the competitive market, can solidify the pillar of a quality system that rests on reliable, verifiable test results. Private firms will care about quality because they care about their profit. Governments care because they need to deliver economic growth for their people. As Pirsig stated, “I couldn’t say anything meaningful about caring, until its inverse side, Quality, is understood. The critical use of the lab is in the design stage – from this work, a construction specification is developed and a QA testing program extrapolated. This will support a construction industry that drives the economic growth that motivated, independent, sovereign nations need –one less reliant on aid money to repair or rebuild assets that have fallen short of their intended lifespan.
Background The swimming pool was a major sporting infrastructure investment made by the Fijian Government with a total cost of $12.6 million. It was to be the biggest competition swimming pool in the Pacific region. It was initially announced that the project was going to cost $2 million. But it would feature a recreational pool only. However, the cost of the project had escalated twice to what it is now estimated to cost - $12.6 million.
The groundbreaking ceremony was carried out on May 4, 2017, by the former Minister for Local Government, Parveen Bala. Mr Bala is now the Minister for Youth and Sports. The cost of the pool was never going to be $2 million or $7.8 million. Seven months after the groundbreaking ceremony, the cost further escalated to $12.6 million, local media reports had indicated. It has been five years, and the people of Lautoka are still eagerly awaiting its completion. School children in Lautoka City provide a tough challenge when it comes to swimming competition in Fiji. A swimming pool of this size would boost the competitive skills of these children. Its location in the city’s botanical garden is a walking distance for many of these children. Lautoka has a population of about 80,000 people, including those living in the rural areas. It is about four hours’ drive from the country’s capital, Suva City.
A roundtable discussion will be held after the peer review report is finalized by stakeholders. The discussion will give stakeholders an opportunity to discuss the completion of the project. Matters involving the incomplete swimming pool project are now before the courts in Fiji. In June last year, the Lautoka City Council had terminated the contracts of two contractors, who had leading roles in the completion of the project. The contracts of Ashok Balgovind and Associates (ABAS) and Metalworks Engineering Limited were terminated for alleged nonperformance. Both ABAS and Metalworks are suing the Lautoka City Council for wrongful termination, the Fiji Sun had reported.
In 2016, with the appointment of the lead consultant and architect Ashok Balgovind and Associates a new concept was introduced. This was approved in January 2017 The new concept included:
An incomplete swimming pool in Fiji’s second largest city, Lautoka, is awaiting talks between relevant stakeholders before work can continue. Work on the international standard Olympic pool started in 2017 but talks on the project had begun a few years earlier. Now, five years later the government-funded project is still left incomplete.
From the initial cost of $2 million, the cost of the overall project had escalated to $7.8 million during the groundbreaking ceremony.
• Two swimming pools; • A competition pool compliant with FINA standards (50 x 8 lanes); and • Community pool of 25 meters by 6 lanes.
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It is understood that a peer review was conducted to ascertain the reasons behind the delayed completion of the multimilliondollar project, the cost of its completion and recommendations to continue construction work. Information gathered indicated that the peer review report was submitted to the relevant stakeholders, including the Lautoka City Council. The council is the government agency tasked with executing the project and to see through its successful completion.
The increase in cost of the project resulted from the idea that the pool was to be a competition pool instead of a recreational pool, with International Swimming Federation (FINA) standard specifications. However, to date, the result is a fenced off area that has three incomplete swimming pools and surrounding amenities. The initial $2 million swimming pool included:
By IVAMERE NATARO Freelance, Suva
Initial stages
Lautoka’s Multimillion-dollar Olympic pool remain incomplete
Associated facilities included one medical room; two sets of public convenience for male and female with access to physically challenged individuals; two sets of change rooms; a pool attendant’s room; storage room; and one ticket booth.
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further reported that the $2 million estimation was carried out by Ashok Balgovind and Associates (ABAS) as the hired lead consultant. ABAS is an architect and engineer¬ing firm based in Suva. It is owned by Ashok Balgovind, who has been involved in a number of govern¬ment projects, the newspaper reported.
So far, Metalworks has completed about 40 per cent of the work.
The swimming pool contractor Luxury Pools Managing Director Max Farrell had told Fiji Sun the pool always cost more than $2 million, and it was always part of the contract. If anything, the cost of the pool was downgraded, he had told the local newspaper. Luxury Pools and the Lau¬toka City Council entered into a sep¬arate contract on January 18, 2018.
• Pool pumps, hydraulics, and chemical at a cost of $450,000 were grossly understated. Filters alone would have cost about $700,000 and sanitation about $350,000;
• Pool equipment, starting blocks at a value of $450,000 was also un¬derstated. These would have cost about $1,450,000;
The two contractors – Metalworks and Luxury Pools – were given different timelines to complete the project. The project was expected to be completed by March 2019.
What’s left now
The steel that’s already been used will also rust. Incomplete structures of what are to be the changing rooms and grandstand surround the three pools. Such a project is a learning curve for any government-funded project. It is crucial that the structure be completed. After all it is the people’s money that is being used on the project.
• Fitout of the buildings at a cost of $15,000 was also grossly
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The three swimming pools, constructed by Luxury Pools, have been However,completed.work on the surrounding amenities have not been completed. It is about 40 per cent complete. To complete the structure, it needs the coordinated effort and resources of relevant stakeholders. Such a structure would benefit children not only for a sporting platform, but also allows them to learn how to swim. This reduces the number of drowning cases in the country. It is currently costing the Lautoka City Council a lot of money to maintain and chlorinate the pool. If left unattended, the pool would become an abandoned site, with fungus developing creating health issues for those living nearby.
• a 10-lane competition pool; • eight-lane warm up pool; • children’s pool; and • a 1000-seater stadium. Associated facilities included: • a medical room; • two sets of public convenience; • two sets of changing rooms; • a pool attendant’s room; • storage room; • a ticket booth; and
Luxury Pools is an Australian-based luxury swimming pool builder with more than 30 years of construction experience. The Fiji Sun had reported that many of the respective items were underpriced.
Lautoka City Council was then contracted to pay the council a sum of $4,864,125 VAT inclusive price. This is understood to already have been paid to Luxury Pools after they had completed the pool in March 2019. Lautoka City Council and Luxury Pools had entered a separate contract on January 18, 2018. Awarding of tender
MONEY In the 2016 budget address, Lautoka City Council was to receive $250,000 for preliminary works to build a swimming pool. The project would include the beautification of the area, and the total cost would amount to $1.6 million. In the 2017-2018 budget, Lautoka was allocated $3 million for the construction of a swimming pool. This $3 million was not given to the Lautoka City Council, the Fiji Sun Moneyreported.forany Government-funded project is approved and released by the country’s Ministry of Economy.
• two pump rooms.
• Fire hose reels, extinguishers, protection system was underpriced at a cost of $10,000; and
Theunder¬statedlocalnewspaper
The report further states that Mr Balgovind’s appointment as the lead consultant was approved by the Ministry of Local Government in Luxury2016.Pool has a standard pool commercial build rate of $2500 per square metre. The desired sizes of the pool are: Olympic pool (50m by 25m); warm up pool (25m by 20m); and children’s pool (26m by 18m). If anything, the cost of the pool was downgraded from $12.6 million. The retail price of the pools totaled $5,545,000, Mr Farrell had told Fiji Sun. Of this amount, $700,000 for the filtration was removed from Luxury Pools contract.
The initial tender was put out for the lead consultant. Ashhok Balgovind and Associates (ABAS) had won the tender. ABAS was tasked with advising the council and designing the pool, Fiji Sun had reported. The appointment of the lead consultant was approved by the Ministry of Local Government. The tender was put out for the contractors, quantity surveyor and other sub-contractors based on the specifications designed by Mr Balgovind, the Fiji Sun reported. Those who were part of the panel for selections included officials from the Lautoka City Council, Ministry of Location Government, and the lead consultant. Luxury Pools had declined to handle the whole project. Instead, Luxury Pools had indicated that they can only construct the swimming pools and not the surrounding amenities, the Fiji Sun reported. Metalworks Engineering Limited, a Lautoka based company, had won the tender for the construction of the surrounding facilities.
Fiji Sun reported that any money given to any town or city council was based on acquittals and reports put forward to the Ministries of Economy and Local Government.
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Massive construction work on Highways throughout Papua New Guinea Construction Work to upgrade about 400kms of roads on Highways throughout the country under phase one of the Connect PNG program has commenced, Works and Highway Secretary David Wereh says.
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About K800 million worth of road contracts to upgrade sections of Highways in Manus, West Sepik, Madang, East New Britain, and Central Provinces were signed off by the Governor-General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae at the Government House on 19th May 2022. “These contracts are fully funded by the National Government. And it shows the commitment of the Government to rebuild and restore our economic highways throughout the country on our main highways including Ramu –Madang Highway, Magi Highway, and Sepik coastal Highways leading to West Sepik from East Sepik. We also saw a big contract for roads to link up the East and West New Britain Highway. Contracts were fairly distributed equally to all regional Highways to fully maintain the roads to the required standard”. MILLION400kms OF ROAD By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
K800
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“This is really the way to go as roads, once they are in an improved state, it will be supporting businesses. It’s very important. Most of our highways were neglected for many years and backload of costs keeps on rising. And I’m pleased with the Government’s approach in taking the restoration of the Highways. Roads are important to stimulate and attract businesses”. Wereh said that 40 per cent of these contracts were given to contractorslocalto make sure that Government’s key policy in building the local industry is well-considered to support local contractors to become major partners in the connect PNG program. “And under that Program, we will have K1billion every year to fund roads throughout the country. It will create employment and the local economy. Our target is to see that by 2025 all the highways are built up to standard. And by 2025 we see Highlands is linked to Southern and Momase regions”.
Tough Travel Vehicles crossing an old dam.
SignedContracts
The Contracts that were signed between the state and contractors for long-term maintenance contracts whilst the rest is for financing with the upgrade to seal are as follows, (1) K139, 850,695.81 million for Madang – Ramu Highway awarded to JV PNG Investment Construction Ltd from Yakura Bridge to Ono Mountain about 40kms. The next is (2) K145,243,352.39 million was awarded to Green Hill Construction Ltd and Partners from Hareich Bridge to Aitape Coastal Sepik Highway about 40kms in Sandaun Province. (3) K73,595,391,10 million was awarded to Kana Construction for long-term maintenance from Bautama Roundabout to Imila Bridge Section 148.2kms of Magi Highway in Central Province. The other contracts signed also was (4) K164,428,602.45 million was awarded to Global Construction Ltd for 54.55km from Imila Bridge to Moreguina turnoff in Magi Highway Central Province. Continued with (5) K138,495,587.45 million was awarded to China Railway Construction Engineering Group Co. Ltd and Partners for 40kms from Bamus Bridge to Novau Primary School in West New Britain Province. (6) K115, 988,738 million was awarded to COVEC for 32.20kms East-West Highway in Manus Province. These contracts are fairly distributed to give equal opportunities to all our regions so that our highways are fully maintained to standards, and this in itself is a historical signing of six major road contracts on one occasion. This marks the continued commitment of the Government to restore and rebuild our highways.
$7Million
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The first phase of the project included the construction of a laboratory, office, covered area of tanks for producing juvenile fish and a perimeter fence
The allocation for tilapia is for current active contracts, development staff residence, major site clearance, post-entry quarantine facility and other items essential for the hatchery operation such as the information and communication technology set up, project monitoring etc. The remainder is allocated to other commercial commodities under the community fisheries livelihood programme.
“Fish farmers will only receive all-male fingerlings and grow them till the harvest (every 4-6months). Farmers may harvest their fish for consumption or sale while the MFMR will continue supply quality fingerlings.”
The MFMR chose this particular tilapia species for these reasons: easy to breed and grow faster; better qualities and can bigger sizes; can acclimatize to various environmental conditions; are herbivorous; better taste and disease resistant.
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ProjectAquacultureUnderwayNewTilapiaHatcheryFacilityexpectedtobecompletein2023
Pacific Tenders Magazine understands that originally, the project was expected to complete in 2021, since the first phase took off in September 2019. However, like any other National development in the country, launched the same year, it had serious setbacks due to covid. The MFMR together with the New Zealand government’s MISSIF programme, have been working together to maintain as minimal possible any further delays in the project. However major delays were caused specifically by; Lockdown events, Low supply of construction material- not available locally, Increase costs of materials in local hardware shops and effect on intercontinental shipping flexibility. In addition, most of the contractors had requested extensions in their contractual Despitetimeframes.allthat the Ministry told PT Magazine that it is confident that they are back on track and importation of the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) - Niloticus Oreochromis species is expected to commence in 2023 to 2024 as soon as the facilities are ready. By then the MFMR will begin the breeding programme and later distribute the juvenile fingerlings to local farmers as part of the “Theprogramme.breeding of GIFT tilapia at the Hatchery facility will take 46 months. Once the tilapia is sexually mature for breeding and
By DOUGLAS SAEFOA bred, the fingerlings will be supplied to farmers. Generally, it will take about 10 months before the fingerlings are ready for distribution to farmers after actual importation,” said Billy Meu from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. “For local farmers, a farmer support mechanism runs simultaneously with other programs. Under this arrangementMFMR / Aquaculture is expected to provide technical supports and materials to recommended farmers.”
The MFMR confirmed that the budget allocation for Community fisheries Livelihoods initiatives for 2022, in which the tilapia aquaculture program is also included is SBD7 million. SBD $5M of this amount is allocated to the tilapia development programme.
WITH the expected completion date currently extended to 2023, the Aruligo Tilapia Hatchery project is back on track with construction works set to be completed soon.
The Ministry also confirmed additional budget support from MSSIF to meet other key activities.
According to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), there is still work in progress under Phase II which is being undertaken by several local contractors. These includes the installation of a water supply system done by FT Builders Construction, construction of 10 concrete fishponds by Capitol Construction, an Off-grid solar system installation done by Superfly Limited, and General cleaning & maintenance by MHS Construction, and Security services by ARU Security Service.
Work that is still yet to be done includes the installation of solar units for Staff houses, construction of a Post Entry Quarantine Facility and Landscaping work. The construction of the staff house and major site clearance work will also be done in Phase II.
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The conclusion of the negotiations means that the project proposal will now progress to the World Bank Group Board in early June 2022, for final approval. Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance and Treasury, McKinnie Dentana, who is the chief negotiator on behalf of the Solomon Islands Government revealed that the SIRAP2 project has total funding of USD$89.21 million, which comprises of US$67.69 million concessional credit and US$21.52 million grant. These finances come under the International Development Association or IDA through the World Bank Group.
Major aviation, road and bridge investments will soon commence AND WB 2
On-road and bridge investments, SIRAP 2 will seal Noro Township Road and build 4 permanent bridges in Malaita which include Kolofe 1 & 2 bridges on North Road, Su’u harbour and Bira village bridges on the South Road.
“I am happy that the World Bank Group team adjusted forward the procurement plans of these major infrastructures. This is consistent with the Government’s Economic Recovery commitments”, Dentana said. He revealed that based on these adjustments, the Henderson International airport resurfacing is expected to commence in the 4th quarter, 2022, and should finish before the 2023 Game. Lata airport sealing to commence in the 2nd quarter, 2023, while Noro Township Road sealing and Malaita bridges rehabilitation work will commence from the 3rd quarter, 2023.
Mr Dentana thanked the World Bank Group SIRAP 2 Project team that finalized project documents regardless of the limited timeframe. The Permanent Secretary also thanked the partners or implementing Ministries, specifically MCA and MID to provide the necessary technical project support during the design of the Project despite the COVID-19 situation and restrictions on travel. Both SIG and World Bank delegations are looking forward to the final Board outcome as well as to the successful implementation of the Project for the benefit of the country.
SIG
Mr Dentana said the major aviation infrastructure project includes resurfacing of the Henderson International Airport, upgrade and sealing of Lata domestic airport, construction of Munda international airport Control Tower and other modern air navigation systems investments both in Honiara and Munda International Airports.
NEGOTIATIONSCONCLUDEONSOLOMON SIRAP
MAJOR aviation, road and bridge investments will soon commence as of the Government, through its key Ministries including the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) and the World Bank Group Team agreed on the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement, the Project Appraisal document, and other related documents on the proposed SIRAP 2, on 26th April 2022.
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The local technical team, accompanied by program officers from the Australian High Commission, met Isabel Premier Rhoda Sikilabu and her executive, as well as market vendors and local community representatives to gather information about the current market and assess what improvements could best help increase local economic activity in one of several scoping missions to provinces. These scoping missions will inform SIIP’s technical recommendations for improving the size, layout, and amenities of the markets, which will be submitted to the Steering Committee for joint government approval to be funded under the SIIP. “This SBD1.5 billion infrastructure program is crucial for realizing the economic potential for the Solomon Islands,” said Dr Jimmie Rodgers, co-chair of the SIIP Steering Committee and Secretary to the Prime Minister. “The program will work with our local people to build capacity, ensure appropriate designs and create employment. Markets are critical national infrastructure that helps to drive economic growth.”
“Australia, through SIIP, is proud to facilitate this program that will benefit every province”, Dr Strahan said. “By visiting people on the ground, and talking to those who buy and sell produces, we can deliver high quality, inclusive and resilient infrastructure. This project will make a direct difference to people’s lives and help put money into the pockets of local communities.”
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Representatives from the Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP) have completed a fact-finding mission to improve the Buala market in Isabel Province.
Australian High Commissioner Dr Lachlan Strahan said markets bring people together and enable families to earn an income.
Launched in June 2021, SIIP has dual goals of delivering quality infrastructure that demonstrates inclusion, climate resilience and local content, while increasing the skills of government and industry to better plan, finance and maintain national infrastructure assets. SIIP’s Provincial Markets Project aims to deliver ten markets across the country over ten years, providing localised social and economic benefits for communities, especially for women.
Speaking to the technical team in Buala, Premier Sikilabu says she was happy that the market is being looked at. “The market is very important for income generation for my people and Isabel Province as a whole”, Ms Sikilabu said.
“Currently, we only have vendors who sell fresh vegetables and root crops. The market does not have space to sell fish, which Isabel is very well known for. Our local women who weave baskets and produce other crafts are not catered for either,” she said.
“I am therefore so pleased that the team has visited Buala to carry out scoping and assessments. This reaffirms the commitment of both the Solomon Islands and Australian Government to examine what could be done to upgrade important socio-economic infrastructures such as the Buala market to a standard that will boost economic growth for Isabel Province.”
“Australia’s expectation is that SIIP will balance the need to deliver infrastructure priorities while also partnering with government and the private sector to improve building practices and upgrade skills, Dr Strahan said.
“This is the unique offering of SIIP – a partnership approach of joint decision-making, and an integrated program of capacity building and construction that reaches every province.”
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The Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program announced the redevelopment of up to ten provincial markets in March this year, following approval by the Steering Committee cochaired by the Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Jimmie Rodgers and Australian High Commissioner Dr Lachlan Strahan. The scoping team has already visited the Malu’u market in north Malaita and will visit Seghe, Western Province in the coming weeks, as well as locations in Guadalcanal and Honiara.
SIIP assesses economic potential of Buala market
