The Minister for Trade and Industry, K.T Hammond, has directed the former officials associated with the Komenda Sugar Factory project to undergo investigations by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).

Minister Hammond alleges that the project’s cost, exceeding $30 million, was inflated.

The Komenda Sugar Factory, partially commissioned in 2016, has remained inactive, and the minister characterizes it as a burden.

During his contribution to the debate on the 2024 budget, K.T Hammond revealed that checks conducted by his office in India indicate that even if the project were to be executed today, it should cost approximately $18 million.

According to him, his decision to involve EOCO suggests a concern about potential financial irregularities or misconduct in the execution of the Komenda Sugar Factory project.