GP gov’t to reclaim debts through law suits
The total remaining SBD$9 million debts owed to several creditors by successive Guadalcanal Provincial Governments (GPG) over the years, will have to go through lawsuits, according to Premier Francis Sade.
This was stated in his Sine Die speech in the Chamber last Tuesday.
Premier Sade highlighted that most of the remaining creditors’ debt claims look sketchy and therefore warrant lawsuits from GPG.
“We will have to pursue legal actions against the remaining creditors, rather than through debt servicing because some of these creditors’ debt claims look sketchy,” Premier Sade explained.
He further stated “We have pursued a stringent debt-servicing since 2019. Perhaps, we’re the only Executive Government to seriously address debts in our consecutive budgets from almost SBD$30 plus millions to SBD$9 million.
“So, if you look at it from an economic standpoint, we’ve accomplished a lot within these 3 financial years”.
Premier Sade also explained that he’s pursuing with the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) to look at GPG’s SINU debts.
“We’re the only province to provide scholarships for our students since 2017; therefore, MEHRD should see this in the light of us contributing to human resources development in the country, by and large” he explained.
Premier Sade also mentioned that in the past, GPG only hired law firms to represent its legal challenges, but now there’s a Legal Unit established during his government.
He said the Legal Unit will be tasked soon to look at these creditors’ debt claims.
He concluded that he wants to set a precedent for the next government to deal with debts.
“I hope that the next Executive Government will not repeat the bad debts, let alone, debts. I would rather see Guadalcanal Provincial Government never have to owe anyone, but become self-reliant economically,” Premier Sade said.
– GP Media
