Qualao: Tagabe roadworks a waste of public money
April 15, 2026 10:53 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Hilaire Bule.
One of Vanuatu’s qualified engineers, Harold Qualao of Qualao Consulting Limited, said the Tagabe road works are a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“If the Public Works Department (PWD) does not have qualified engineers, then they should contract private engineers to supervise Pierre Brunet Entreprise Générale to ensure a good quality road is delivered that can last,” Mr. Qualao said.
“It requires PWD to carry out laboratory testing on pavement before sealing. Pierre Brunet Entreprise Générale ‘hemi stap pleple wetem Dipatmen blong Pablik Woks’.”
He said Pierre Brunet Entreprise Générale may have expertise in building construction but not in road construction.
Mr. Qualao made the statement as public concern continues over the newly tar sealed road at Tagabe in Port Vila, prompting Pierre Brunet Entreprise Générale, the contractor for the works, to issue a statement this week.
The statement said that suggestions the company may be required to redo the road could lead to a misunderstanding of contractual responsibilities and the technical context of the works.
“The section concerned is currently experiencing premature deterioration primarily due to drainage related deficiencies,” the statement said.
“It is important to highlight that drainage works were not included within our contractual scope for this specific section, and therefore the root cause of the issue is not related to the execution quality of the DBST surface treatment.
From a technical perspective, proper sequencing of works is essential. Under normal conditions, drainage improvements should be carried out prior to any DBST application, as the long term performance of the pavement depends on adequate water management.”
However, given that the section is subject to heavy traffic and was already in a significantly deteriorated condition, a decision was made to prioritise immediate road usability. Pierre Brunet Entreprise Générale was instructed to restore traffic access, then proceed with drainage works as a separate intervention and, if required, carry out localised resurfacing of any sections affected in the interim.
The statement said this approach reflects a phased rehabilitation strategy aimed at maintaining road access while progressively addressing underlying structural issues.
A private engineer alleged that Pierre Brunet Entreprise Générale used “poussier” for the Tagabe road construction, compared with the Nambatri road, which used quarry material supplied by Ifira General Services (IGS).
“The material used at Tagabe is known as poussier, but at Nambatri the road base material is poussier mixed with ping-pong ball-sized rocks,” the engineer said.
He said key factors for a quality road include good compaction, proper watering, and, most importantly, workmanship.
The engineer said roads should be left for at least a week before sealing.
“Water is not a good friend of bitumen, that is why the road must be left to dry for at least one week before sealing takes place,” he said.
He said the Tagabe road was sealed in less than a week, which would affect its durability.
A source close to PWD said two PWD engineers were present throughout the Tagabe road construction works.
A private road construction company said PWD must be strict in the use of public funds when engaging private contractors.
He said, based on the construction of the Efate ring road, it would not last one year.
The company questioned how PWD engineers allegedly allowed Pierre Brunet Entreprise Générale to seal the Tagabe road using poussier.
Daily Post understands the Efate road is on the agenda of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Last week, members of the PAC visited the Efate road construction site by Pierre Brunet Entreprise Générale to assess the situation on the ground.
