Fiji's Ambassador to China Sir James Ah Koy has today stressed that the $230 million soft loan from China is not for private enterprises but specifically for earmarked government projects only.
Fijviillage this afternoon questioned Ah Koy on the soft loan who stressed that it is a government to government loan and not for private ventures such as the ethanol and the waste to energy conversion projects which he is working on with private Chinese investors and said the ousted Prime Minister has been misleading the people.
We also questioned Ah Koy on past experiences such as the Kings Highway project where two Chinese companies failed to complete the work and the government had to continue to repay the loan.
Ah Koy said there will have to be clauses in the tender which will ensure that the company given the contract is able to complete the project or pay back the money if they fail to do so.
He also stressed that the projects in question will generate revenue for the government and tax dollars will be used only in the interim to service the loan.
Ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase who had been very critical of the soft loan from day one said now things are much clearer as Ah Koy initially caused a lot of confusion that it will be used for private ventures.
However, he said the tender process would not mean much as the Chinese government would ensure a Chinese companies are given the contracts.
Qarase also warned that Chinese companies have a bad history in terms of works carried out in Fiji in the past.
Soft Loan Not For Private Ventures
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