NLTB PUTS IT MORE CLEARER

Sir,

NLTB has already responded in detail to its recent decision for a new IT contract with Pacific Connex Ltd - owned by Tui Management Services (49%) and Vanua Development Corporation (51%) - whole subsidiary of NLTB.

In an article on page 3 on 16/3/04 "Labour MP blasts IT deal" tends to portray and paint a picture of dubious and bad governance on NLTB when in fact there is none.

What transpired in the process and award of tender as far as the Board is concerned was transparent and fair. It must also be borne in mind that the decision to award tender or otherwise rests solely with the Board.

The Board in its meeting on 25th February 2004 had approved in principle for the award of the contract to Tui Consulting. It also instructed for Management to verify certain areas one of which was the cost.

In its meeting on 12th March, 2004 the Board of NLTB have given its full blessings to the new contract. Such decision was based on prudent commercial reasons one of which is the benefit and value of efficiency the new IT system will bring in the form of new business product to be generated.

By choosing on the SAP integrated solution NLTB intends to be the leader in IT in a big way by bringing major social & economic benefits to the landowners and all other stakeholders through more effective information management.

The all expenses paid trip for two paid for by the successful bidder as was published in the media is for the study of a $US50 million project recently completed by TUI Consulting in Tacoma in Washington State in the US. The visas were only processed last week after the Board has given its approval in principle on 25th February 2004.

Whilst there seems to be an attempt to paint a bad image for improper motives and unethical practices to NLTB's Board and Management we again reiterate that good governance and transparency was and shall always be the order of the day for us!

S Tabakanalagi,
Acting General Manager,
NLTB,
Suva