PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES MUST NOT THROW STONES: PM

-

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

“People in glass houses must not throw stones,” Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told parliament.


Sogavare’s comments were made in response to criticisms made by Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) on the Constituency Development Funds (CDF).


TSI recently in a statement said they are concerned to see the increase of the CDF to $6.8 million. TSI says this is the second highest CDF allocation for the constituencies through their Members of Parliament (MPs). 


“To allocate this amount of money for the Constituencies at a time when the country is going through an economic and health crisis is very irresponsible of the MPs, regardless of which side of the house they are in”, TSI said.


TSI said to allocate such an amount to go through this ‘failed and very corrupt scheme’ at a time when the country needs to address the health crisis by way of doing something about the delipidated state of health and medical infrastructures is beyond understanding, common sense and is not a sign of good and strong leadership that the Minister of Finance and Treasury is being supported for by the Leader of the Opposition.


But the Prime Minister in his speech in parliament says he is interested to know where TSI is getting its resources. He said TSI has asked the government to be transparent and they are being transparent.


“This is too much. We do not hide to tell them what we are doing. But the organization who is supposed to be transparent is not transparent. Who is funding them?”Sogavare questioned.


TSI is a not-for-profit organization committed to fighting corruption and promoting transparency, accountability and good governance in Solomon Islands. Their focus is on the public, private and civil sectors. TSI relies on funding from members and donor organizations both in Solomon Islands and abroad to do their work.

At the same time, Sogavare said those who continued to criticize the program cared very little to know about the policy rationale behind this program.


“They need to come and sit down and talk with us. Or  you go and see what is happening in the constituencies. You will be amazed”, Sogavare continues.


In addition the Prime Minister also raised his disappointment in the conduct of the premiers of Malaita and Guadalcanal.


“If that is not enough, the premiers of Malaita and Guadalcanal provinces who were supposed to be agents of the national government also join forces to challenge the government. Bring it on”, Prime Minister Sogavare says.


It is understood that the Provincial secretary of the Malaita provincial government is taking the government to court over his suspension. His court hearing will be on the 30th of this month.


 “My advice to some of these entities is that people who live in glass houses must not throw stones. Don’t do that. You might break your own houses”.


Sogavare was responding to the 'speech from the throne' in parliament when he made these comments.


ENDS///


-

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AUSTRALIA: A STEADFAST PARTNER AND FRIEND TO SOLOMON ISLANDS

-
Image
BY DR LACHLAN STRAHN, AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SOLOMON ISLANDS Australia and Solomon Islands enjoy a close bond – indeed, we are Pacific family. The Blue Pacific is our shared home, our common region. The Coral Sea links us forever and continental drift is in fact pushing us closer together. But our deep friendship is based on much more than shared geography. We are bound together by our common values as democratic countries committed to peace, a rich spiritual life and a shared determination to give every individual, man, woman, girl and boy, the opportunity to reach their full potential. Family stick together, through the good times and the tough times. Australia partnered with Solomon Islands during some of the country’s darkest moments, including through RAMSI to help restore stability and law and order. And Solomon Islands has been there for Australia, with people across the country reaching into their hearts to raise funds for the communities ravaged by devastating bushfir...
Read more

VANUATU BIGGEST IMPORTER OF CANNED TUNA FROM SOLOMON ISLANDS

-
Image
BY GEORGINA KEKEA VANUATU is the biggest importer of canned tuna from Solomon Islands. National Fisheries Development (NFD) Limited Managing Director, Frank Wickham shared this information in a recent radio talkback show to mark World Tuna Day. Wickham says the biggest export destination for SolTuna’s canned tuna is Vanuatu. “Followed by Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the market is now open in New Zealand. There is a big move now to promote and market in New Zealand and Australia. We have containers going to Kiribati, Tuvalu with a few to Tonga and Marshall Islands. The biggest of them all is Vanuatu”, Wickham said. He says domestically the consumption of tuna is growing annually making Solomon  Islands one of the biggest canned tuna consumption per capita in the world. “Two years ago it was like more than 800,000 cartons a year. which means for every woman, man and child in the country, they consume one carton a year. So if you look at 48 tin cans in one carton, it is almost one ...
Read more

HOW A TINY PROVINCE IN SOLOMON ISLANDS REACHES OUT TO AUSTRALIA

-
Image
THE small island province of Temotu in the far eastern part of Solomon Islands is one of the nation’s most prone natural hazard areas. The tsunami in 2013 swamped through 20 villages With an estimated population of less than 25,000, Temotu often has its bouts of natural disasters. In 2015, tropical cyclone Pam left devastating effects on the tiny province where people were affected from damages to their fruit trees, food gardens and agricultural crops. People near the coast were evacuated. Then again in 2017, TC Donna in its wake and formation also impacted badly on the people of Temotu. Not to mention it was only seven years ago a tsunami claimed lives of more than 10 people, swamped more than 20 villages forcing the government to declare a state of emergency over the Santa Cruz Islands. Remains of household in Venga village after 2013 tsunami (Photo supplied) Their most recent bout of disaster was in January 2019 where bad weather caused people to face food shortag...
Read more