A MILLION dollar project in Malaita Province, known as the slaughter house project has been dubbed by former Malaita Premier as a total failure and calls for investigation.
Richard Na’amo said the slaughter house project received some $1.2m, but was never completed.
The slaughter (abattoir) house project located at Aligegeo village near Auki, was started in 2011 under the ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL).
Mr Na’amo said the slaughter house remains idle and the whereabouts of the funds allocated for the project to complete successfully are gone.
“Responsible authorities and the government must carry out investigations to identify where the money has gone.
“The project was scheduled to be built in four months, but it has now stalled. Implementers and contractors of the project must be taken to task and answerable for the incomplete national project.”
Mr Na’amo said a national project which cost tax-payers more than a million dollar warrants thorough investigations.
“Those involve in any scandle which resulted in the project not being completed must be put under the spotlight because they are a disgrace to Malaita Province.
One of those involved in the project, Austine Filame confirmed there were networks of corruption involved.
“I can confidently say there were a lot of corruption involved, which resulted in the messy state of the project.
“I also realized the architectural planning and engineering of the house does not meet a descent slaughterhouse setting standard.”
Solomon Star bureau in Auki understands the project when tendered, was taken up by a member of the provincial assembly and an intending national candidate. The second contractor was a member of the land owning group, who refused to comment when approached.
The slaughter house is one of the province’s key projects aimed at boosting pork, poultry and beef production by providing a market and hygiene.
Several attempts to speak with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Honiara for comments were unsuccessful.
By Teddy Kafo
In Auki
