Chinese Government provides grant — via Trust Fund — for dredging works on Ba River and Nadi River (Linked to Record ID#67034)

In 2007, Ministry of Finance gave approval to the Prime Minister’s Office to open a bank account for Chinese Government grants, which was later referred to as the Chinese Grant Trust Fund Account (see Umbrella Record ID#67034).

From 2010 to 2014, major dredging works at a cost over $29.7 million were carried out for four major rivers in Fiji: Rewa, Navua, Nadi and Ba.

According to the Auditor General of the Republic of Fiji , dredging works were undertaken on the Ba, Nawaka and Nadi River and funded with the proceeds of a grant from the Chinese Grant Trust Fund.

According to the Auditor General of the Republic of Fiji, the project costs were as follows: 1) Ba River, phase 1: $3,280,374.44 2) Ba River phase 2: $3,637,746.72 3) Ba River phase 3: $4,048,000 4) Rewa River phase 1: $7,167,140.45 5) Rewa River phase 2: $3,014,987.71 6) Navua River phase 1: $4,599,987.95 7) Nadi River: $3,999,700.

The purpose of this project was to reduce damages caused by flooding.

There is considerable evidence that China Railway First Group Fiji Limited conducted dredging activities on the Bar, Rewa, and Navua rivers after these funds were disbursed. Hall Contracting conducted works on Nadi River. However, precise project implementation start and end dates are unknown.