Cook Islands plans inspection of Chinese sports complex materials
Updated
The Cook Islands government has announced it will inspect all building materials for the multi-purpose sporting complex to be built by the Chinese.
Our reporter in Cook Islands, Ulamila Wragg, reports it's prompted by concerns over the quality of Chinese buildings.
The Chinese are lending the Cook Islands $US9.8 million for a sporting complex and the Chinese will not only build it but also bring in construction materials all the way from China.
The finance minister, Sir Terepai Maoate, says he has been inundated with concerns not only from members of parliament but also from the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce urging Government to ensure that the Chinese build a quality building.
So far two buildings built for free by the Chinese in the Cook Islands needed urgent repairs within a year since they were built.
Sir Terepai says that quality control and monitoring of the new building and its specifications are important to ensure that the country gets value for money.
A team of local experts will be travelling to China to ensure that the construction materials to be used are suitable and fully meet construction standards.
Sir Terepai says it is critical that there is confidence in the building materials, confidence in the actual construction and that stringent quality control measures are observed.
