Senator Alan Breckon

A WARNING that Island construction firms could fleece taxpayers by abusing the multi-million-pound economic stimulus package has been issued by Consumer Council chairman Alan Breckon.

His comments come after a local firm was found to have tendered 60% more than a UK firm for a Housing department project.

The local firm bid £183,690 for a project to refurbish the piazza at Hue Court opposite Cyril Le Marquand House – way over the £115,835 tender put in by a UK company to do exactly the same work.

And with departments expecting to pump £300,000 into the Island’s economy every month from November, under the £44m economic stimulus package, Senator Breckon has urged ministers and departments to make sure that they are not being taken for a ride.

The Senator is full of praise for senior management at the Housing Department, for rejecting the bid from the unnamed local contractor, but says that all departments have to be vigilant.