ONE YEAR ON - BRIAN ALOIS REMAINS SUSPENDED

In April 2018 PNG Institute of Engineers President Brian Alois who is the Regional Works Manager - Momase was suspended by the Works Department.

This month marks a year after Mr Alois' revelations at a summit in Lae in 2018.

His suspension by DoW Secretary David Wereh and Minister Michael Nali was deemed suspicious as the reason being his outburst on the National Government's spending on lucrative contracts.

Papua New Guinea National Research Institute Director Paul Barker described Brian Alois as one of PNG's professionals of integrity, of whom the country should be proud. Speaking as President of the Engineers' professional body, he was addressing the recent National Planning Consultative Summit and highlighting how the PNG Government is paying well in excess of what it should for road construction and maintenance projects.

"This is consistent with other independent reports that highlight that PNG invariably pays on the basis of precedent (and deficient tendering processes) from previous inflating contracts prices, rather than the genuine cost plus a reasonable markup."

Brian Alois mentioned the recent 1/3 km road in NCD which cost some K80 million ( a pretty extraordinary blow out in costs from, say a K40 million EU contract in 1996 to Downers for upgrading and sealing almost the entire length of the Madang Highway to Waterais!)

"So, for helping PNG raise its standards, save its population tens of millions and better ensuring a sustainable infrastructure, not just in downtown NCD, and exposing wrongdoing/malpractice, for which he should be a national hero, it seems the Works Dept has, instead, chosen to suspend him. This sends a pretty strange message," says Barker.

PNG's first female engineer Finkewe Zurenuoc says;

"Brian Alois has done more audits on road infrastructures in PNG than anyone else in DOW, he knows what he is talking about. Let the truth be told. The truth does hurt."

"The IEPNG is supporting our President Brian Alois. He spoke on our behalf."


SO WHOSE INTEREST IS DOW SERVING BY SUSPENDING BRIAN ALOIS


Brian Alois spoke the truth during his presentation in-front of Works Secretary David Wereh and other Government Ministers and Departmental Heads. His presentation was straight forward and was clear enough for anyone to understand.

I remember Brian also did a presentation in 2014 during an engineers conference in Lae. He did a cost analysis on the Lae roads. His explanation was pretty simple and was directed as challenges to engineers.

One year on and Brian Alois still remains suspended.