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Friday, 19 October 2012

Solomon Islands minister cooks the books with bogus projects

Seth Gukuna
The Member of Parliament for Rennell and Bellona and current Solomon Islands government  Minister, Seth Gukuna has alleged to have submitted project proposals and obtained funds from the government for projects that are either bogus or excessive.

In a document received by Pasifik Wantoks International, Gukuna obtained total of more than $700,000.00 for one of the projects that under the subheading: “Excavator Procumbent”.

The document spells out the applicant as MP Gukuna, who is also the sole manager of the fund.
In the document, MP Gukuna also claimed that the fund has been used for a project in East Rennell, a region of the island where his small village, Hutuna , is located. A village of about hundred houses.

But the project has contradicted recent media reports, which highlighted that the MP for Rennell and Bellona has been building a hotel in West Kola Ridge, Central Honiara.

Media reports claimed that since 2007, the MP has been using heavy machineries to level the site of his hotel at the hill-top overlooking Honiara National Secondary School and Old China Town.

The same piece of land has recently landed the MP in hot waters, when he cut down the banana trees of one of his neighbours due to a dispute over land boundary.

Gukuna also claimed over $244, 000.00 for a solar project for Ngongona Village, Bellona Island. The solar project was for 25 families.

But reports claimed that the current project could be misleading because the only time the MP has provided solar panels to the people of Bellona was few weeks before the 2010 national election.

In addition, the national government has also allocated $187,000 annually for each of the country's 50 constituencies, including Rennell and Bellona.

The recent project has no names of recipients, except for unknown 25 families.

The following list contains details of the rest of the funds and projects.

Rennell and Bellona Livelihoods Fund Projects Allocation for 2012

___________________________________________________________________________________

Project Name: Excavator procurement

Estimated Cost: $750,000.00

Type of Project: General Assistance

Type of Funding: RCLF

Name of Applicant: Hon. Gukuna

Basic Information: Infrastructure Development to constituency

Constituency: Rennell and Bellona

Activity: Procurement delivered in 4 weeks

Time Frame: Depends on funds

Management: Hon. Seth Gukuna

Intended Outcome: Infrastructure development

Direct Beneficiaries: Immediate communities of East Rennell

Indirect Beneficiaries: Constituency

Description: Excavator C110 (first payment)

_______________________________________________________________________________

Project Name: Constituency Solar

Estimated Cost: $54,950

Type of Project: General Assistance

Type of Funding: RCLF

Name of Applicant: Paul. Tainapu

Basic Information: Sixth phase of the Constituency Solar Lighting project

Constituency: Rennell and Bellona

Ward: TETAUNGAGOTO

Activity: Procurement, transportation, distribution to project site.

Time Frame: Ongoing project since 2007

Management: Office of the constituency

Intended Outcome: 50 families receive solar

Direct Beneficiaries: 50 families

Indirect Beneficiaries: community

Description: 50 Set x 20 watts Solar System @ 1099.00

_______________________________________________________________________________



Project Name: Home Improvement Project

Estimated Cost: $219,160

Type of Project: General Assistance

Type of Funding: RCLF

Name of Applicant: Paul. Tainapu

Basic Information: Housing materials for 20 families of Rennell Bellona

Constituency: Rennell and Bellona

Community: Kegua, Niupani, Tevatahe & Avata

Ward: Kanava

Activity: Purchase materials, transportation, deliver to site.

Time Frame: Ongoing project

Management: Office of the constituency

Intended Outcome: 50 identified families

Direct Beneficiaries: 50 families

Indirect Beneficiaries: communities

Description: 480 roofing irons 24gx12, 60 R/Cap x 12 inch, 40 sisilation, 40 mesh wires

 _____________________________________________________________________________



Project Name: Home Improvement project 2012

Estimated Cost: $185,068.85

Type of Project: General Assistance

Type of Funding: RCLF

Name of Applicant: Paul. Tainapu

Basic Information: Provide fuel for timber milling for 60 houses/families.

Constituency: Rennell and Bellona

Ward: Various wards

Activity: procurement and transporting fuels to Rennell Bellona

Time Frame: ongoing project since 2007

Management: Office of the constituency in Honiara

Intended Outcome: Improve standard of housing

Direct Beneficiaries: 60 selected families

Indirect Beneficiaries: community

Description: Ongoing project of purchase of fuels and oil from Markworth Oil

__________________________________________________________________________________



Project Name: Constituency Solar Project

Estimated Cost: $244,689.00

Type of Project: General Assistance

Type of Funding: RCLF

Name of Applicant: Paul. Tainapu

Basic Information: 25 families in Gongona vge receive solar lighting.

Constituency: Rennell and Bellona

Village: Gongona

Ward: Ward 8

Activity: procurement and transporting solars to Rennell Bellona

Time Frame: ongoing project since 2007

Management: Office of the constituency

Intended Outcome: Improve standard of lighting

Direct Beneficiaries: 25 families

Indirect Beneficiaries: 800 families

Description: 25 families in Gongona village of Bellona to receive solar units each.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Project Name: Bellona Fuel Supplier

Estimated Cost: $36,142.00

Type of Project: General Assistance

Type of Funding: RCLF

Name of Applicant: Maclis Kapipua

Basic Information: Purchase fuel to Bellona Fuel Supplier for the constituency.

Constituency: Rennell and Bellona

Village: Matamoana

Ward: Ward 10

Activity: procurement and transporting Fuels to Constituency

Time Frame: ongoing project

Management: Office of the constituency

Intended Outcome: Avail fuel at the retail level at Bellona

Direct Beneficiaries: Maclis & his extended family

Indirect Beneficiaries: Constituency

Description: 25 families in Gongona village of Bellona to receive solar units each.

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