Demand by politicians for a SBD83 million to be paid into their account in the dying hours of the 11th Parliament thrown out, CDF Bill 2023 passage boycott threat falls through
PARLIAMENT has thrown out a demand by national politicians that a USD10 million (SBD83 Million) grant provided by China be paid into their Constituency bank Account.
MPs from both Government and the Opposition side were demanding that:
- The USD10 million grant provided by the Chinese Government earlier this year be paid directly into their Constituency Bank accounts; and
- The funds be equally shared by MPs.
They were urging the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to force China to agree to their demand, vowing that unless this was done, they would boycott passing the CDF Bill 2023.
Insiders told Solomon Star that Prime Minister Sogavare refused to budge, using the few days left before Parliament dissolved as a buffer against any spills against him.
In the end, Parliament passed the new CDF 2023 Bill before Parliament rose last Friday. The Bill is now awaiting ascent by Government House to turn it into law.
The demands by MPs are contrary to the guidelines that China had agreed to when the Memorandum on the grants was signed in Beijing in July this year.
Under the MoU, part of the funding is to remain with the Ministry of Rural Development [MRD] to cater for project application submitted by communities throughout Solomon Islands.
According to insiders, the move by the MPs has put tremendous pressure on Prime Minister Sogavare, but he kept his cool.
Members of the public described the demand by MPs to share the money as “very embarrassing.”
“This is the first time ever this has happened in Solomon Islands. You simply do not go back on a bilateral agreement you have signed. The action by MPs simply shows the level of greed they harbor in their attitude towards the very people they represent,” one insider said.
By Alfred Sasako
