CONSTITUENTS of Malaita Outer Island are calling on their Member of Parliament, Martin Kealoe to clarify why the constituency is still without a shipping vessel despite receiving the NCRA Government’s shipping grant in 2013.
This was despite Mr Kealoe promising the people that they will soon receive a new vessel to service the Malaita Outer Islands.
According to reports reaching this paper, NCRA had administered Shipping grants to various MP’s to purchase shipping vessels to service their respective constituencies.
The reports also revealed that a total payout of $23,920,000 between 12th November and 30th December 2013 to Government Ministers, backbenchers and about five percent (5%) of other ordinary MPs.
Mr Kealoe was reported to have received $3,000,000 in shipping grants, however to this day the constituency has yet to receive a new vessel.
“To this day we still do not know where the money has gone. We do not have a new ship as well as promised by our MP,” constituent Steven Seti said
“This is tax payers’ money and specifically allocated as shipping grant to help people in the constituencies.
“However, that has not been the case for us the people of Malaita Outer Islands as our MP has yet to deliver a new shipping vessel to us, nor has he said anything of the issue since the last time he announced it to us,” Mr Seti added.
Mr Seti and his group called on Mr Kealoe to clarify to the people of the Malaita Outer Islands what he had done with the shipping grant or be held accountable for it.
“This is something the MP must clarify or be held accountable for misusing the money which was meant for the people of the Malaita Outer islands,” he said.
Attempts to talk to Mr Kealoe were unsuccessful.
By JEREMY INIFIRI
