The Samoan government has ordered to freeze all funding for the new prison project as the cost escalates slowly towards the $20 million tmark.
Samoa Observer said that cabinet directed to discontinue any variations for the on going prison project unless expressly approved by Cabinet.
The new prison has already cost $10million and a second phase has yet to start but it is now not clear when it will start with the funding restrictions.
The cabinet directive also gives notice that all further works in the next phase of the project must go through the normal government bidding process.
“Furthermore, the remaining work for the new prison for stage two and any additional work will be tendered publicly,” said the Cabinet decision.
There has been public criticism on the awarding of the contract for the first phase of the project.
The job was awarded to Schwartz Construction, a company owned by Alaiasa Schwartz Hunt, the brother of the Minister of Prison and Rehabilitation Services, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt.
A recent request of $10 million for the second phase of the project was reportedly rejected by the Ministry of Finance.
The rejection was confirmed by Minister Tialavea Tionisio Hunt, who told the newspaper the request was “flatly denied by the Ministry of Finance”.
