Minister: I was unaware of Glasir overspending

Rigmor Dam, the Minister of Culture, is not giving in despite an apparent majority in Parliament favouring a vote of no confidence in her treatment of the Glasir college project. The Glasir educational centre has been marred by budgetary and construction complications since it opened last August.

Dam says that despite regular meetings with contractor Landsverk (The Road Authority), she had no knowledge of any overspending.

The opposition says that if the government fails to take political responsibility of the overspending, it may submit a vote of no confidence in the culture minister.

However, Prime Minister Aksel V. Johannesen, has come to his minister’s defence, saying that the blame lies somewhere between contractor Landsverk and the Danish architectural firm that designed the new building.

Having read the report by Landsverk, the Prime Minister said that the culture minister had done everything right in her treatment of the Glasir project.

He says there is no reason to impeach the culture minister, although on one proviso:

“If it turns out that there is no political majority for approving an additional appropriation to the Glasir project simply because Rigmor Dam is a minister, my party, Javnaðarflokkurin, would be prepared to release her from her duties.”

Translated by prosa.fo