The specifications provided by RTTL is of a tower the size of 10x10 metres and this differs from previous towers which are 20x20 metres. Apparently RTTL has no capacity to provide material on the specifications, time delivery of materials and related issues.
“I have no technical knowledge about towers so we have discussed with National Development Agency (ADN) but they have also no capacity to provide specifications about the quality of steel to build the towers,” said President of RTTL, Mr Francisco da Silva Gary.
The big concern is that the owner of the project also doesn’t know what he wants but believes it is important is to spend all the money which has been allocated and leave whether it is good or bad to emerge later.
In relation to this issue, our journalist at Tempo Timor (JTT) conducted an exclusive interview with the President of RTTL, ep Mr Francisco da Silva Gary (FSG) at his office, Caicoli (9/05)
JTT: Mr President, you opened two tenders, one to build a new tower and one is for a security company. I would like to ask you first about the project of building a tower in Kutulau. Why are the specifications of 10x10 mm you gave not same as the old one?
FSG: This is a very technical question. I have no knowledge about technical issues. For the tender process, we have consulted with National Development Agency and we have been told that they also have no technical capacity about the quality of steel to build the tower, therefore we opened the tender to the public. We are also concerned about the quality of the steel because we have no skill in this area.
JTT: Maybe your technical team already explained to you about wind power because when the quality of steel is not good, it will be break in the future.
FSG: Yes, the tower that we would like to build is based on a Chinese technical survey including the design which we only follow as their recommendation. I think this is a very technical question and I have no knowledge about it to answer but overall we would like to build a tower that lasts a long time and is secure.
JTT: If you want the tower to last for a long period we need a good quality tower but as you said that you don’t have skill knowledge, what you can to to control the quality?
FSG: Yes, this month’s technical team from China will check the quality of steel and they will recommend which quality steel can be used in the future with other towers.
JTT: Mr President, private companies who also competed for the tender say that RTTL, EP has not given any opportunity for complaints.
FSG: Our procurement team told the companies that in 15 days they could present their complaints to procurement but I was not aware of it.
JTT: It means there was no conflict of interest?
FSG: I don’t know whether it’s a conflict of interest or not but our objective is to have a long lasting tower build on the site where the Chinese technical team recommends.
JTT: Mr President, what about the tender for security which is also concerning the public?
FSG: There is no big issue about the security tender but the problem is we have not much budget allocation and the proposal we have received from security companies are higher then our budget. Soon our team will evaluate the documents and if a decision cannot be reached, then we will re-announce it.
JTT: Have you informed the company which won the tender?
FSG: We haven’t informed them. We called and interviewed two companies about their facilities and financial capacity but they informed us that the RTLL budget is not sufficient to provide security for our transmitter through the whole territory.
JTT: But the companies say their price is based on the labor law and they cannot break it and it seems RTTL wants them to break the law.
FSG: I think they have the right to speak but the important thing is we protect the rights of workers as in the labor law.
We have analysed what they’re concerned about but our situation does not permit more money, therefore we will re-announce it to the public and if the companies have no financial capacity it will impact on the security of staff salary. Our concern is the transfer from the government of funds to RTTL which is sometimes late and affects the salary process.
JTT: Thank you Mr President.