Minister to probe SME claims

MINISTER for Commerce and Industry Henry Amuli says allegations of a conspiracy involving small-to-medium enterprises (SME) funds will be investigated and made known in the next sitting of Parliament.
The minister was responding to a supplementary question by Esa’ala MP Jimmy Maladina, who wanted to know why many ordinary citizens were not benefiting from the K200 million SME funding.
Maladina told Parliament that claims of a conspiracy had emerged in the awarding of SME loans, particularly among the custodians of these money.
“Can you please investigate; get your team and your department to find out whether there is a collusion in the awarding of loans to associates of those entrusted with the responsibility of giving out SME loans?
“That is why our people, our SME members on the ground do not have access to these loans. Get your audit team to investigate these allegations.”
Maladina said at least an investigation and a report made public would ease the bad feeling people and their MPs now have on the SME funds.
Meanwhile, Southern Highlands Governor William Powi also raised similar questions, commenting that SME funds would be better used to create employment in the agriculture sector to strengthen the economy.
Powi said the Government should use the SME money to revive rundown plantations in the country instead of allowing only a handful of people to benefit from it.
Amuli took note of both questions and would provide answers in the next sitting, he said.