LEADER of Opposition Hon Matthew Wale says delays by the National Hosting Authority (NHA) to provide audit documentations for the Pacific Games 2023 to the auditors is a very serious matter.
The delayed documentations include transactions for major procurements for the Games.
The Opposition Leader said the PG 2023 was marred with serious allegations of corruption, and the unjustifiable delay by NHA raises a lot of questions that only add to the perceptions of corruption in the hosting of the PG.
Hon Wale said millions of taxpayers and donor funds were reportedly corrupted during the Games and the delay to provide documentations requested by the auditors is a matter of the greatest concern.
“I have heard that the audit team has been obstructed and delayed deliberately. There were even allegations of destruction of documents presumably to avoid auditors seeing them. These are very serious allegations indeed,” Hon Wale said.
The Opposition Leader has questioned why the delay by NHA, reiterating the call by the Auditor General’s Office to quickly release the documentations to the auditors.
Hon Wale said citizens of this country must take great interest in this report and keep a close eye on how the estimated $2.5 billion to host the games in December 2023 was used.
The Opposition Leader has also called on the Prime Minister to summon NHA as to why they are withholding these audit documents.
“The Prime Minister must also hold those who reportedly destroyed those said documents accountable,” he said.
Hon. Wale said he is very disappointed with the manner in which the NHA has not cooperated with the auditors.
The Opposition Leader said he expects more and better from the Chair of NHA in this important matter.
“The Prime Minister needs to take action. He cannot sit back and watch this happening under his watch,” Hon Wale said.
- Opposition Press
