PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has admitted he secured an airport contract to maintain cleanliness outside the domestic terminal.
He admitted this yesterday in parliament when he spoke on the issue of “Civil Aviation Airport Contracts”.
It was also revealed other MPs have also secured airport contracts. They include deputy prime minister Manasseh Maelanga, North-East Guadalcanal MP Dr Derek Sikua, and East Guadalcanal MP Bradley Tovosia.
Mr Sogavare said his wife is managing the contract and had employed relatives at Fishing village in Honiara.
Asked when the contract will expire, he said it depends on the Ministry of Civil Communication and Civil Aviation.
The prime minister said he was not the only MP who secured an airport contract.
“If I can name MPs who have contracts in the airport I can do it but I’ll live it there because I respect them as national leaders,” the prime minister said.
It was not clear how much each contract was worth.
The prime minister also said political interference is preventing the government from producing a policy to address issuance of airport contracts to public.
He said early this year he asked former minister Commins Mewa to bring into Cabinet a joint policy paper on how to issue airport contracts.
But he said Mr Mewa failed to do that and this was one of the reasons why he was removed from the ministry recently.
East Guadalcanal MP Mr Tovosia defended his contract, saying he secured it through proper process.
By EDDIE OSIFELO &
ELLIOT DAWEA