Government has expressed concern about the high cost of infrastructural projects and in this vein, has resorted to embarking on a review of the current tender process in place. Photo: VINO/File

Premier Dr the Hon. D. Orlando Smith related that it is the government’s duty to ensure that every citizen of the territory has a reliable water supply and sewerage disposal system in addition to a viable and relevant social security system and a decent road network among other things. Photo: VINO/File

This is according to Premier and Finance Minister Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith, who made the disclosure during his Budget Address in the Fourth Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly (HOA) earlier today, January 13, 2014.

“We continue to be concerned about the high cost of government infrastructural projects, for many and varied reasons and have begun a review of the tendering process,” the Finance Minister related.

He said the important issue is that persons get a ‘reasonable return on their investments’ in public sector projects and added that it is also essential that the taxpayer gets value for their monies being spent by government.

In a January 8, 2014 article published by this news site titled “NDP carried out close to $6 million in no bid contracts”, it pointed to the revelation made during the December 17, 2013 House of Assembly sitting.

The information was made known following a question posed by First District Representative Honourable Andrew A. Fahie to Premier and Minister of Finance on all projects exceeding the petty contract limit of $100,000 (one hundred thousand dollars) that were approved by the Cabinet since taking office in November 2011 and amounts approved for each project.

Meanwhile, Dr. Smith related that it is the government’s duty to ensure that every citizen of the Territory has a reliable water supply and sewerage disposal system in addition to a viable and relevant social security system and a decent road network among other things.

These, the Premier noted, all come at a cost. “While for the sake of political gain, it may serve some to draw attention to the fact that we are not putting the same levels of cash into the hands of our citizens as we were able to in the past, a cursory look around us shows that this government simply cannot continue to do so and at the same time remain responsible custodians of the finances of this Territory.”

Dr Smith said the government has been very selective in choosing infrastructural projects that provide measurable benefits to the entire Territory.