Govt wants independent engineers assessment on MHCC Building

Carpenters Fiji Limited says that the MHCC Tower is structurally safe although works have stopped and some columns are sinking.

Carpenters Director Daniel Whippy says that they have stopped works at the Tower due to safety reasons.

Whippy says that 4 out of about 115 columns on MHCC are sinking and they want to repair this before they continue with the works.

He says the crack from the car park is due to the works on the Carpenters Tower and that is why they are only doing light works like electric wiring.

Cracks seen on the carpark at MHCC Level 3 [Photo: Seru Cagicaucau]

He says that after they level up the columns at MHCC then they will commence on the last floor.

Whippy says that the reason why the columns are sinking is because it s next to a creek.

He says that works are up to level 15 now.

Whippy says that the Ministry of Local Government wants them to get an independent engineer to come and conduct their analysis, and this will happen early next year.

He says at the moment they have a local independent engineer that is assessing the building on a daily basis.

Whippy maintains that MHCC is safe and that shoppers should be rest assured that they are safe shopping at MHCC.

Questions continue to be asked about the state of the MHCC carpark and the safety of the existing building. People also want to know if an independent engineering assessment will be done on the building.

Carpark at MHCC Level 3 held up by pillars [Photo: Seru Cagicaucau]

MHCC has closed off their carpark and has put in additional props in the carpark.

People have been asking Carpenters Fiji Limited and local authorities to make public statements on the issue of the safety of MHCC as they are concerned about messages coming from some people working in the MHCC building. The messages they are getting is that the carpark is closed and about 20 props have been erected to hold up the floor.

Photos of the car park are also being circulated.

Fijivillage has contacted Local Government Minister Premila Kumar.

We are awaiting her response on the issue.

The 16 level Carpenters Tower is due to be completed by March 2019.