Members of the public are urged to come forward with information or evidence they may have on alleged corrupt dealings within the bodies tasked to prepare the nation to host next month’s Pacific Games in Honiara.
Chair of the National Hosting Authority (NHA), Dr. Jimmie Rodgers, made the appeal in light of accusations leveled at certain senior officials within NHA and the Games Organising Committee (GOC) in their awarding of contracts and procurement processes.
“Already, our auditors have been assigned to audit specific contracts,” Rodgers told reporters.
“If there are conflicts of interests, these will be identified,” he added.
“But we would welcome feedback from the public.”
“If you have or come across specific details, please come forward and pass on those information or evidence to us.”
Rodgers said all contracts pertaining to the hosting of the games were tendered out and selections were based on a highly competitive bidding process.
He however, explained that as projects near their completions, the normal tendering process is no longer possible.
“Now we are at the end of the projects so we can no longer do the normal tendering processes.
“So the project management unit has a list of all the project companies that are reliable, can deliver on time and are cost effective.”
Allegations of corruption hit NHA and GOC in recent weeks following revelations a barbershop operating from a residential home in Honiara has been awarded a $6.1 million contract to supply toilet papers for the two-week event.
Members of the public have also questioned NHA’s decision to purchase a run-down motel in Honiara for $36 million that will house the nation’s 24 sports federations in the future.
Many say the price is excessive, and that the $36 million could be used to purpose-built a sports building for the sporting bodies.
Rodgers has told reporters the toilet paper contract has now been reviewed, while he defended the purchase of the motel, saying the purchase price was based on one provided by their valuer.
The Pacific Games, the region’s biggest sporting event staged every four years, will be held from November 19 to December 2 in Honiara.
This is the first time for Solomon Islands to host the event.