Opposition Leader slams roadwork contract with Rao’ofua Construction, allegedly owned by Member of Parliament for Lau/Mbaelelea.
OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Wale has criticized what he perceives as a blatant conflict of interest concerning the roadwork contract for the Lau/Mbaelelea Constituency.
Documents that have come to light and reached the Office of the Leader of the Opposition reveal that a total of SBD $4,301,950 was paid to Rao’ofua Construction, a company co-owned by the Member for Lau/Mbaelelea.
According to these documents, three payments were made between June and November 2022 for roadworks in the Lau/Mbaelelea Constituency.
Wale has expressed deep concern over these documents, which he believes expose a clear conflict of interest and potential corruption that must be thoroughly investigated.
“This is extremely concerning. Paying millions of dollars to a member of Parliament’s own company for work within his own constituency is a serious abuse of office,” Wale stated.
The Opposition Leader has also raised questions about the company’s qualifications and expertise in roadwork maintenance, as well as whether it went through the standard tender process.
Wale emphasised that while these allegations are troubling, they are unfortunately not surprising, as they reflect the behavior seen in the current government.
He argued that such conduct by members of the DCGA (Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement) further undermines the already fragile trust that the public has in their government.
In response to these concerns, the Opposition Leader is calling for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into these allegations.
“I urge the relevant authorities, including anti-corruption agencies and oversight bodies, to conduct an impartial inquiry into this matter,” Wale urged.
Company records at the Company Haus indicate that Rao’ofua Construction is owned by Augustine Auga Maeue, with a registered address at Burnscreek.
Source: Office of the Leader of Opposition
