EIGHTEEN Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) within the Western Provincial Assembly who boycotted the September Full Assembly Meeting for days are being asked to refund the allowances they receive prior to the meeting.
Failure to do so will result in false pretense charges being laid against them.
This followed revelations the 18 MPAs actually drawn much of their Assembly Allowances prior to the meeting yet boycotted and abstain from the Assembly meeting on 21st and 22nd September.
It was revealed that many of them arrived earlier to claim their assembly allowances a case which would this week filed in Court so the MPAs will have to answer.
The Solomon Star had sighted a letter dated 10th November from a law firm addressed to the group to refund the allowances.
A lawyer acting for the Speaker has served the notice to the MPAs stating; that pursuant to the Order of the Court made on 9th November 2021 for the next Assembly meeting, the Speaker in preparation for the said meeting is now in the process of trying to secure necessary funding.”
The Notice told the MPAs that having received instructions that for the September 2021 Assembly Meeting the MPAs collected themselves zone entitlements, travelling expenses prior to the commencement of the Assembly Meeting under pretext to attend the Assembly Meeting.
“Instead, individually and severally of your own volition you decided to boycott both sittings set down for 21st and 22nd September 2021.
“In no uncertain terms that receiving payment under false pretences is a serious criminal offence. Your excuses for non-attendance was not in compliance with Standing Order 75,” said the notice.
“The S.O 75,says: All members are expected to attend on each sitting of a meeting and remain present throughout the sitting unless they have a reasonable excuse for not attending. Reasonable excuse for not attending a meeting or any part of a meeting shall include:
“(A)health reason, (b), family emergency, and (c)government business. however, members are required to give priority to Assembly meetings over any non-urgent personal matters, or any business matters,” the notice stated.
A three-day response period was given to the MPAs which has lapsed on Saturday.
Failure to make response would mean the lawyer acting on instructions will commence to take legal proceedings against each one of the MPAs for recovery of the funds.
By ULUTAH GINA
GIZO NEWS BUREAU
