THE Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Peter Shanel Agovaka, has defended the recent overseas travel of his spouse, which has sparked public debate.
His wife accompanied him to the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York, United States of America.
From New York, they flew across to join Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele’s delegation on the back-on-back visit to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
In an interview with ABC Pacific Beat correspondent in Honiara on Wednesday, Minister Shanel clarified that Members of Parliament are entitled to certain benefits under the Parliamentary Entitlement Regulation (PER).
According to these regulations, when a Minister travels, their spouse is also permitted to accompany them.
He confirmed that the expenses for the trip were covered by taxpayers’ money.
Additionally, Minister Agovaka explained the traditional nature of his marriage.
“I married my wife under the Islanders Marriage Act. I paid for her bride price in front of her parents and relatives as is required by custom.”
PM Manele previously disclosed that the trip to the UNGA, along with the visits to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, cost around $2.1 million.
However, he said that the UNGA Secretariat covered the airfare for five members of the Solomon Islands delegation to the UNGA.
Before this, the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) had already spent over $2.1 million on PM Manele and his delegation trips to Australia, China, Japan and the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga.
PM Manele has defended these travel expenses, saying that such international engagements are essential for advancing Solomon Islands development.
