Fiji Ports Corporation Limited is understood to be considering legal action against Opposition principal administrative officer and businessman Mick Beddoes.

This has prompted Mr Beddoes to reveal how he ended up owing the Corporation $90,000.

Mr Beddoes told the Fiji Sun: “Fiji Ports contracted my company to provide a 1600-Amp Energy Saver to cater for their Freezer containers at the main Suva wharf after the success in savings [30 per cent] in FEA charges being made from the first six energy saving units installed in 2010.

“The requirements of our arrangement was for a part-payment of 50 per cent of the $180,000 contract to allow the manufacture of the unit to commence and the balance after installation and commissioning of the units.

“Unfortunately the Dutch Manufacturer based in Malaysian absconded with the advance payment and did not produce the 1600 Amp unit. This was notified immediately to Ports and during the course of discussions about corrective action I undertook to ensure a replacement.

“A 800-Amp unit was immediately available in Australia and it was mutually agreed to that the quickest way forward was for two 800-Amp units instead of one single 1600- Amp unit.

“There was also the added advantage of 50 per cent savings continuing if one of the units was down for maintenance or any other reason. I would not have proceeded with purchasing such expensive and specialised equipment without the prior and express approval of the client which I obtained before buying the new unit.

“I purchased an 800-Amp replacement unit and had it consigned to Fiji Ports Limited and that unit remains in their possession today as security. The unit is far more advanced then what was originally agreed to and its cost exceeds the amount advanced by Ports by $30,000. Therefore the fact of the matter is that Fiji Ports advanced my company $90,000 and I delivered a 800-AMP unit which is valued at $123,000. So for the funds they advanced I have delivered the unit, unfortunately the management team I had been dealing with moved on.

“I was initially unable to do the installation due to cash flow constraints caused by the absconding supplier, but finally last year an agreement was reached that I could buy back the unit as Ports had decided against proceeding with the installation because of to the initial delays and that was fair enough.

“We are in that process right now and once completed I can take back that 800-Amp unit and will either sell or lease it to some other organisation who wants to reduce their electricity costs and recover my losses in this matter as well.

Saving Daily

“The technology works, unfortunately it was the manufacturer, not Fiji Ports or my company that created the problem. Fiji Ports still have six units that is saving them money by reducing their FEA costs every day.

“Like any entity Fiji Ports is well within their rights to seek legal redress, especially given the length of time this has taken to finally resolve, just as I am well within mine to do the same against parties who seek to discredit me and tarnish my character.”

• Ports chief executive officer Vajira Piyasena said since it was a legal matter, they would not be commenting on it.

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