Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister George Souflias on Wednesday spoke of a 'boom' in the public projects sector and stressed that some must stop speaking about dangers regarding public projects.

Speaking at a conference organized by the newspaper Express, Souflias said that the ministry's leadership can neither be pressured nor blackmailed, adding that in this conflict of interests, which is tough due to the size of projects, the only thing he and his associates hear and see is the public interest.

Referring to reforms brought about in the projects production system, the minister said that the first major step was the fair project-awarding system which is that of tendering. The process is absolutely transparent and projects are awarded in record time.

Souflias said that secondly the process of the contractor's termination is objective and speedy, while invoices constitute the third security valve. "Consequently, tendering takes place with absolute transparency and appropriate specifications," he said.

He also pointed out that the majority of projects awarded with the new law move ahead without any objection being raised. Objections currently raised concern, in their majority, projects having a big budget which are not taking place with the new law but with the study and construction system, while participants in tendering abuse this right of theirs.

Source: Athens News Agency

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