​Kavieng board queries use of funds

Member for Kavieng and district development authority chairman, Ian Ling-Stuckey, said the Department of Implementation and Rural Development had confirmed at a recent meeting that the former Kavieng MP had received K40 million in District Services Improvement Program funds and K1.0 in District Support Grants between 2012 and 2017.

“We have established that at least K45.01 million has been received in the past 5 years but we still do not know where it was spent or where it was kept,” says Ling-Stuckey.

Ling-Stuckey, who is also Shadow Minister for Finance and Treasury, said initial reports from the KDDA, with limited critical information still missing, such as invoices and bank statements, showed several large contracts issued by the previous board were grossly inflated and warranted an independent but comprehensive investigation.

He gave as an example the massive purchase and distribution of 25 trucks, 27 motor boats, 5 tractors and even a second hand D12 dozer which still has not arrived in Kavieng.

To restore public confidence in the Kavieng DDA, the new Board has established a district audit committee to collate vital information and data currently unavailable to the Board, utilising industry standard procedures of inquiry and where appropriate, refer sensitive information to relevant law enforcement agencies for deliberation.

The Kavieng district audit committee was created at the second board meeting of the Kavieng District Development Authority (KDDA) on Thursday, 7 September, 2017.

Former deputy provincial administrator David Silakot was appointed chairman with Helen Fong-Seeto as deputy chairman and Richard Moni, Richard Taliva and Watson Sole as members. Two additional members from the Kavieng District Administration will be appointed after further consultations with the PEA Kavieng branch have concluded.

(Member for Kavieng and district development authority chairman, Ian Ling-Stuckey