Fiji Ships under scrutiny

The chairman of Fiji Ships and Heavy Industries will look into allegations that the shipyard turned down work last year because its workers were inefficient and unproductive. Deputy chairman Hari Pal Singh said the board was concerned with the allegations raised by Ba Provincial Holdings Company.

The company made the allegations in a letter written to the Public Enterprise Ministry in November stating they had approached the shipyard twice to build a vessel but were put off by chief executive Dale Alderdyce, who said it would be expensive and workers were inefficient and unproductive. The chairman Viliame Gonelevu has taken it upon himself to look into the matter, and will personally talk to Isimeli Bose, the chairman of Ba Provincial Holdings.

The shipyard is facing financial difficulties after continuous losses since the Government spent $9million purchasing and refurbishing it.