Housing and Water Minister Dr Horace Chang has reportedly given a stern warning to the contractors of the Luana III housing development project that they would be denied future contracts with his ministry if the project is not completed on time and within budget.

I agree with the minister as, for far too long, tax dollars have been spent wantonly by some contractors, with the political directorate ostensibly disregarding same and failing to protect the interest of the taxpayers.

While I support Minister Chang's call and wish he continue this as a matter of policy within his ministry, I contend that this must become a standard practice or an adopted policy within and throughout the entire public sector.

To this end, I repeat the call I made several years ago for the Government to require the use of monetary disincentive clauses in every contract it awards, which will essentially assess a penalty against the contractors for not completing the projects on time and within budget.

The blacklisting of contractors with the National Contracts Commission (NCC), which should be checked by all public-sector entities that may award contracts without NCC approval, should be considered for the most flagrant breaches. Naturally, said contractors would not be so punished as a result of force majeure.

The bottom line is that the Government must do all in its powers to protect the taxpayers of this country by ensuring we do not continue to bear the burden of further financing and otherwise being inconvenienced by project delays because of the contractors' fault.

I am, etc.,

KEVIN K.O. SANGSTER

sangstek@msn.com