Public works official rebuked

Public works official rebuked

DILI, East Timor: Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares has
summoned chief of the provincial public works office Sumaryono in
relation to alleged collusion with businessmen from other
provinces.

Abilio read Sumaryono the riot act following a complaint from
a contractor, CV Ambeno Indah, which claimed that local public
works officials had awarded a road repair project to another
company through some sort of collusion.

Sumaryono told journalists over the weekend he would look into
the allegation and promised to take punitive action against any
of his staff involved in collusion.

Legislator Manuel Viegas Carrascalao said yesterday that
collusion between officials and Jakarta-based entrepreneurs has
deprived local companies of government projects.

"Businessmen from outside East Timor come with memos from
powerful officials in Jakarta to obtain projects here.
Consequently, development funds are absorbed again into other
provinces," he said. (yac/pan)