Member of Parliament for Temotu Vattu constituency Clay Forau is being accused of mismanaging constituency funds, and constituents are demanding explanations.
Constituents want the MP to explain where the 2012 Agriculture Funds amounting to $350, 890 for cocoa and coconut rehabilitation, Forestry Fund – downstream processing at $254,872 and reforestation division at $140,000, Church Fund allocation at $200,000, have gone.
Spokesman Benjamin Ariki urged Forau to explain how he disbursed these funds.
Minister Forau could not comment when the Sunday Star reached him on Friday, saying he was at a meeting.
“Call me back in an hour,” he said.
But when we did after an hour, he could not answer his phone.
Ariki insisted: “MP Forau has to explain to the constituents how he has disbursed the money and who are the recipients.”
He claimed not a single farmer in Vattu constituency received any money from the agriculture funds and as well as the church funds.
“Forau pretends to be a devoted Christian but he was not transparent about these public funds.
“Why? Has he got something to hide? He must explain himself. The voters demand that.”
Ariki said if the MP is busy in Honiara, he should send his constituency development officer to go to the people and explain how they expend the funds.
Ariki added the way the constituency bank accounts have been handled looked suspicious.
“Why does the MP and his cousin brother are signatories to the constituency bank accounts and not the CDO?” he questioned,
“This is not a family bank account and we demand explanation.”
BRADFORD THEONOMI