In Honiara, some local business owners are raising concerns over the silence about the potential corruption related to the COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) Audit.
They are calling for investigations into the list of imprest holders, who were paid out of the ESP, involving many ministry offiers and specifically on three obvious individuals : Dr. Richard Pauku, Rictor Luaboe, and Zefi Keritina, each of whom received over SBD 100,000 in three separate payments.
Dr. Pauku, a member of the ESP Committee, has publicly defended his actions, asserting that there is no conflict of interest. However, local residents view these substantial payments as indicative of corruption, especially as many businesses struggled to survive during the pandemic.
Rictor Luaboe, who oversaw applications while serving as the director of the Economic Reform Unit in the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, and Zefi Keritina, a staff member at the same ministry, are also under scrutiny. Locals argue that it is inappropriate for individuals in such positions to benefit financially during a time when the broader community faced immense hardship.
A local businessman expressed frustration, noting that while ordinary citizens fought to make ends meet, these officials seemed to be collecting funds at will. The growing discontent has led the community to call for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to initiate an investigation into the findings of the AOG audit reports.
As the calls for accountability intensify, the outcome of this situation may have important implications for public trust in government and its response to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you have a story that you would like to share or advertise your business, please contact us via Facebook or Email: [email protected]
