Temotu MPA Mali labels the Temotu Provincial Executive members’ travel to Honiara as “a sin against Temotu people
TRAVEL to Honiara by the Executive members of the Temotu Provincial Government is a “sin against the people of Temotu Province”, according to clergyman and MPA for Nangu Ward, Philip Mali.
“I have served 20 years in Temotu Provincial Government and this (is) the first ever Provincial government that I know to act irresponsibly is the Clay Forau Government. This history of irresponsible government of Solomon Islands,” he said.
“And it is a sin against the people of Temotu, committed by the Forau government – a political sin against the people of Temotu Province. No Provincial government in Solomon Islands acted as the Temotu Provincial government did,” MPA Mali said.
“I now call on the Ministry of Provincial Government to intervene in this matter because funds committed are not budgeted for,” he said.
Meanwhile, Premier Forau’s government has been accused of spending three weeks in Honiara, spending an estimated $200, 000 on hotel accommodation, allowances and food.
“I understand that the intention of the Temotu Provincial Government is to buy a ship, but it is just a careless blunder to have the whole lot of Executive Members [travel] to Honiara.
“It does not need the whole Executive for this task,” the MPA for Nangu Ward said.
MPA Mali claimed the Temotu Annual Work plan is on hold due to lack of funds.
Surprisingly, Premier Forau, saw fit to commit more than $180, 000 for the trip to Honiara to pay for airfares, allowances and hotel accommodation, he said.
The delegation returned to Lata last Saturday.
It is understood funds for the trip to Honiara were drawn from the Temotu Provincial Housing Project Account.
It is also understood that Members of the Executive as well as the Permanent Secretary and his deputy were in Honiara to organise travel arrangements for executive members of the Executive to travel to Indonesia later this year.
No date has been fixed for travel, which could involve as many as 13 members.
There are fears funds for the trip could be drawn from the total funds paid to Temotu Provincial Government by SIG of SBD5M and Donor Partner support of SBD9M, denying other vitally important projects in the Province.
By Alfred Sasako
