Only $18m left for road maintenance after funds moved for ships and machineries

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Only $18m is left for the maintenance of roads in Honiara and the province this year following the reduction of $36m initially allocated under the head which is diverted to meet demands for boats and machineries.

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development made the clarification when they faced the Public Accounts Committee on Friday.

Chairman of PAC and former PM Gordon Darcy Lilo in the enquiry sought an explanation on the reduction from $36m to just $18m on funding for road maintenance.

In response, Director of Civil Engineering of MID, Mike Qaqara said the money was reallocated for ships and machineries which were not included in the original estimates last year.

He also confirmed that the reallocation was made because the ministry received more requests for assistance on shipping and carpex machineries.

“I believe the request was from last year coming into this year that’s why the allocation was made to support those people applying for ships and machineries,” he told PAC.

Qaqara said the it is a reduction from what they have and their annual work plan would be affected.

According to the director, the reduction is on subvention and grant of $36m which was supposed to be SIG’s contribution to the National Transport Fund.

NTF is used for the ongoing maintenance of roads in Honiara and the provinces.

“We will be left with $18m and that’s roughly what will have to work with for our annual workplan for 2024. Some of our works might be affected because of the reduction,” he added.

Qaqara said with just few months left they just have to work with what they have in implementing their work plan for rest of the year.

He, however, admits that they would need the $36m next year in order to implement their work plan otherwise it would be affected.

The director said they had already gone ahead with their plans for next year hoping to still get the $36m for 2025 to rollout their work plan.