“We will ensure that the project gets completed in the new financial year and a review will be undertaken by the Ministry of Finance to look at how the projects were implemented, value for money assessment and reasons for the failure,” Mr Prasad said.
An aerial view of the incomplete Lautoka swimming pool at the Botanical Garden, Lautoka, taken on October 27, 2020. Photo: Ivamere Nataro/ Inset: Lautoka Residents and Ratepayers Association president Narayan Reddy. Photo: Salote Qalubau
Government’s budget allocation will soon see the completion of two major public facilities in the Western Division.
Lautoka Residents and Ratepayers Association president Narayan Reddy praised Government’s allocation of $4.6 million to complete the Lautoka Swimming Pool.
The allocation was announced by the Minister for Finance Biman Prasad last Friday along with the $3.5m allocation for the completion of Govind Park in Ba.
Mr Prasad, while delivering the budget, said the projects were badly planned, managed and executed.
It forced Government to provide additional funding to complete them at additional costs.
“We will ensure that the project gets completed in the new financial year and a review will be undertaken by the Ministry of Finance to look at how the projects were implemented, value for money assessment and reasons for the failure,” Mr Prasad said.
It is understood that the Lautoka project started as a $2m recreational pool in 2015, however the cost increased to $7.8m in 2017 and by the end of that year, it increased to $12.6m.
Mr Reddy said the allocation to complete the Lautoka Swimming Pool project was long awaited by residents.
“This project has been hanging over our heads for about more than eight years now, two elections have gone and it’s still sitting there as an incomplete project. It’s a great move by the current Government to get this project off the ground and the people of Lautoka can finally have a swimming pool of their own,” he said.
Fiji Swimming president Ben Rova said: “We are delighted that Government has done what needed to be done to complete the project and we hope that it meets the requirements to host international tournaments.”
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