Probe failed Lae biometric ID project

 ALLOW me to express my grave concern and utter disgust with the failed biometric identification project in Lae.

This project was spearheaded by the Member for Lae, Loujaya Kouza (formerly Loujaya Tony) and involved dubious people with no proper qualifications, business experience and creditials. 

The Lae District budget priorities committee, which is chaired by the MP, approved about K7 million for the project, which was free money for the contractor to use at his own discretion.

The contractor was required to account for all his expenses but did not have to repay the money if the project failed.

It is alleged the contractor operated several bank accounts which he used for both business and personal/family purposes.

This former church pastor was instantly converted to a businessman with millions of kina of Lae people’s money to spend willy-nilly.

It seemed Kouza had made him a rich man overnight.

The Lae MP was blessed with a free trip to Israel and accompanied the contractor and his wife to the Holy Land for a blissful week or two.

It seemed everything was divine until the money ran out and the project was declared a failure.

I believe a half-baked report of the failed project is floating somewhere in the corridors at Waigani awaiting deliberation by the National Executive Council.

Why is this report being sent to the NEC when the project was fully funded by the Lae district?

The project and system should be audited by the Auditor-General before NEC and National Planning can take custody of the report.

As if this is not enough, the Lae MP is now asking for an additional K1 million to maintain a failed system.

The remaining balance of the K7 million, estimated to be K670,000, should not be released to the contractor for whatever reason until the audits are completed.

Now that the shit has hit the fan, the Ombudsman Commission must intervene and investigate Kouza’s role in the failed project.

The contractor must be interrogated by the Fraud Squad on the project expenditure and whether all expenses were within the guidelines. 

It’s a real pity that Sam Koim and his Task Force Sweep team have been deactivated by the O’Neill Government as they could be doing a thorough investigation into this matter.

In any case, the Lae MP must face the music just like other leaders have done.

Moreover, Kouza has failed miserably in her electoral duties and responsibilities since entering Parliament in 2012.

She has been hiding away in hotel rooms in Port Moresby and Lae with the full blessing and financial assistance from the ruling People’s National Congress.

Why is the Prime Minister condoning her actions and why is PNC providing a protective net around her?

I hope all PNC MPs have been accorded the same privileges and benefits that Kouza has been receiving from the party. 

Kouza has proven that she doesn’t deserve the mandate given to her by the Lae people. 

Furthermore, she doesn’t seem to be a fit and proper person to occupy the chair of the proposed Lae City Commission.

Kouza’s brief political career is a shambles and she doesn’t deserve a second chance in 2017.

Sewer Rat

Lae City