Rennell/Bellona province secretary (PS) Rubin Ngiumoana has denied allegations the provincial executive has misused funds allocated for the province.
Sources informed the paper about the huge amount of unspecified payment released to the PS in the first quarter of the year without any proper reports to justify the expenditure.
The payments totaled up to SBD$158,000.00 from separatecheques paid to the PS within the first quarter of the year since the newly elected provincial government took up office this year.
It revealed that the separated cheques were $50,000.00 paid on the 29th of May this year, $30,000.00 paid on the 16th of June, $25,000.00 on 25th of June, $100,000.00 on 24th July followed by $80,000.00 on the same month and another $100,000.00 as well on that same month of July.
Speaking to the Solomon Star, Ngiumoana said these payments were used for their intended purpose and they never spent the money on anything outside of what the funds were allocated for.
The Renbell PS said, they have withdrawn the money to pay for the salaries of the direct employees of the province whom were denied payment for a very long time and also settled the outstanding credit owes by Members of Provincial Assemblies (MPAs) to the Solomon Airlines and their hotel accommodations in Honiara.
He also said the two separate $100,000.00 cheques were ward grants for 10 Wards in Rennell and Bellona Province, which were allocated $10,000.00 respectively per month.
“If you multiply ten thousand by ten wards it will totaled up to $100,000.00, as it appeared in the printed cheques.
“We never spent those money on our private businesses as alleged by some people, since we always remain transparent and honest to the people,” he added.
The PS said, he is willing to answer any queries regarding those payments.
By AATAI JOHN
