Who is really behind the PEDA stitch up?

The inept answers from the Pacific Island Affairs Minister in Parliament today raises the question of who was really behind her Ministry awarding nearly $4.8 million dollars to a private firm in this year’s Budget, Labour MP for Mangere Su’a William Sio said.

“Georgina te Heu Heu has continued her strategy of dodging the most basic questions around the funding given to the Pacific Economic Development Agency (PEDA),” Su’a William Sio said.

“It is curious that the Minister did not know who represented PEDA in its negotiations with the Government. Why does she not know who she has just handed $5 million to?

“And if she genuinely doesn’t, which Minister actually dealt with negotiations with PEDA?”

Su’a William Sio said Georgina te Heu Heu has also confirmed Labour’s fears that the funding was awarded to PEDA without an open bidding process.

“With a straight face, Georgina te Heu Heu admitted there was no contestable process for the funding,” Su’a William Sio said.

“She also admitted that the money has already been committed despite many vital parts of the agreement with PEDA still not finalised. The process followed in this instance seems back to front.

“Ask any Kiwi whether they’d hand over $4.8 million before they knew what they were buying and you’ll only get one answer.

“Despite the repeated questioning of Georgina te Heu Heu, there are still plenty of unanswered questions around the PEDA funding.

“If she won’t answer or doesn’t know, taxpayers deserve to know who was really pulling the strings behind the scenes,” Su’a William Sio.

ENDS

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