The project to rehabilitate the prison in Suai, Covalima district, has not begun, despite the fact plans were drawn up last year. 
Justice Minister Dionisio Soares Babo, said the rehabilitation project had not begun due to the failure of the tender process.
“The National Development Agency (ADN) opened a tender but none of the companies which bid met the criteria,” Minister Babo said in his office in Colmera, Dili.
He says the funds which were unused last year would be reallocated to the prison rehabilitation project.
“The unused funds for the project was over $800.000 but with inflation, that figure is now $924.000,” Minister Babo said.
He said they will ask ADN to open a tender to seek eligible bidders for the project so the rehabilitation project will run soon.
“Now we keep up with ADN so we can open a tender soon,” he said.
MP Albina Marcal Freitas praised the ADN system which disqualified project bidders for not fulfilling the criteria set down for the project.
“It’s because we want something of good quality,” MP Freitas said.
However she said she hoped an eligible bidder would come forward this year so the project can go ahead.
“We can see that the Becora prison is nearly full,” she said.
