THREE government-owned vehicles at Kilu’ufi Hospital in Malaita province were allegedly sold without going through the proper tendering process.

This is raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability in the disposal of public assets.

The vehicles involved include two Toyota Land Cruisers (G4013 and G4014) and an Isuzu 3-Ton Truck (G4215).

According to information received the sale of the vehicles was conducted through informal expressions of interest written on official Malaita Provincial Health letterheads. 

These letters, however, were not submitted to the Ministerial Tender Board as required under the Public Financial Management Act.

Instead, they were addressed to the Director of Mechanical Engineering through the then Minister of Infrastructure Development (MID).

Sources at Kilu’ufi Hospital, who requested anonymity due to fear of disciplinary action, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the process. 

They claimed that senior officials from both the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services failed to follow standard procedures and acted without transparency.

“This was not done through a proper internal or external tender process,” one senior hospital officer said. 

“Only two individuals were given access to the vehicles, and there are questions about how that decision was made.”

It is alleged that one of the recipients of the vehicles was a nursing officer at Kilu’ufi Hospital and a relative of the former Minister of Ministry of Infrastructure Development, raising further suspicions about possible political interference in the process.

“Many of us at the hospital are aware of what happened but are afraid to speak out due to the risk of disciplinary measures,” the officer added.

The officer calls on the newly appointed Minister for Infrastructure Development, Hon. Ricky Fuo’o, to launch an investigation into the matter.

By SOLOMON LOFANA

Solomon Star, Auki