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OBA admits existence of infrastructure strategy report

Post-Budget Press Conference: Marc Bean, Minister of Environment Planning and Infrastructure Strategy MP. (Photo by Akil Simmons) February 24, 2012

A preliminary strategy for delivering major building works has been delivered to Governement.Opposition leader Marc Bean — speaking after Public Works Minister Trevor Moniz said he had not seen the report, commissioned just before the PLP lost power last December — said Home Affairs Minister Sen Michael Fahy had yesterday confirmed to Senate that the report by accountants PwC would cost $380,000.It is understood, however, that the full report has yet to be delivered.Mr Moniz said on Monday that he had only seen “a small preliminary report” which may have cost around $50,000.Mr Bean said: “For the first time, the OBA has admitted it exists and put a price on it. They know it’s there and they should present it and apply it.”Earlier, Mr Bean questioned a trip to a conference on public-private partnerships in Miami, organised by accountancy firm KPMG, which included Premier Craig Cannonier, Mr Moniz and Tourism and Transport Minister Shawn Crockwell, as well as civil servants.Mr Bean said that the PLP had sent delegations to similar conferences and had last year commissioned the report from PwC as a result — so there was no need for the new Government to travel to Florida on what he branded “a junket on South Beach”.He added: “To all intents and purposes, the trip was a waste of money”.Mr Bean said that the PLP had several times asked for updates on the infrastructure strategy report and has also called for its implementation.Mr Bean said: “I have no idea what Trevor is talking about — I’m not sure if it’s a deflection or if he is being arrogant.“The report wasn’t completed by the election, although I would think it was close to being completed. The OBA should implement it and, in our opinion, they should have it hand.”He added: “We gave no political input or expectations other than what was in the request for proposal document.“It takes the decision-making out of the hands of politicians and submits everything to the rigours of a document which lays out a sound economic rationale.”A spokesman for PwC said: “We don’t comment on work we do for our clients.”