LAUTOKA business executive Shaukat Ali proposed that the government look into more public, private partnerships to improve service delivery.
Mr Ali suggested this during the National budget consultation at the Lautoka Girmit Centre on April 23.
“What I’m saying is, if you have public and private sector investment, and if you don’t have the money, then you get people to invest,” he said.
“My suggestion is like an expenditure of $5 million and, basically, one is your Kadavu Hospital, the second one is your drug rehabilitation centre.
If the government is unable to do it and doesn’t want to put so much money into it, let’s do it in the public and private sector, build, rent and buy. So, when you have money, buy it out and let them control the building.”
Mr Ali said repair work on the building could be done by the respective investor should it start to deteriorate.
“This is a long-term investment, maybe a ten-to 15-year investment. I’m talking about the build, rent and buyout option. Service can be provided to people immediately, rather than later.
The Finance Minister Biman Prasad said the government is working on streamlining operations.
“On public private partnership, if we are not careful, like Lautoka and Ba hospital, you could go terribly wrong,” he said.
“Private players enter to make a profit. You have to have a very good agreement and make sure that people do not suffer in terms of services, but I agree with you on all other points, the model that you’re suggesting.”
Mr Prasad said the government is looking at corporatization and privatization of certain entities where it feels that there will be more cost-effectiveness, and the delivery of better services.
