The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Hubert Ingraham said yesterday that an independent review would be undertaken of the government's administration of the New Providence Infrastructure Improvement Project (NPIIP), which he described as having been "vexing and torturous". Speaking on the status of the Project in the House of Assembly yesterday, Mr Ingraham said: "There is no doubt that the New Providence Infrastructure Improvement Project is a major investment of enormous benefit to the people of New Providence. "In point of fact, apart from LPIA, it is the largest capital project undertaken by Government. It is my view, however, that it has been vexing and torturous, and so I have determined that it would be appropriate to have an independent review of Government's administration of the project. The report will be made public so that appropriate lessons may be learnt from the experience, and inform public policy in the future." Mr Ingraham noted that back in 1994 his administration had engaged MM Dillon Consultants, a Canadian firm, to prepare a transportation development plan for New Providence. He said the project was conceived in response to an imperative to transform the country's aged and outdated public infrastructure, such as water mains and laterals, electric and communication conduits, poor drainage and congested road network in New Providence. Among the many challenges being experienced with the project, Mr Ingraham said, were unforeseen site works, discovery of unmapped and unaccounted for underground utilities, the need for additional water works and modification of designs to accommodate road works in densely populated urban areas.