IN a brief response to MPA Vasuni’s article in the paper dated 15th April 2015 for a call to revoke the appointments of four non-executive members of the Central Provincial Assembly.
Firstly, I salute the MPA for Tulagi ward for continuing to be a “watch dog” to my Office since his election victory on December 2014.
In addition, he seemed to further confuse the public by what he said in his article on his third paragraph that, “only members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) shall be members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)”.
This statement is blatantly wrong information.
It does not specifically say whether you are an elected MPA or just an ordinary person to be member of PAC.
I did not intend to make a lengthy response to Mr. Vasuni’s baseless and empty article.
However, I would like to remind Mr Vasuni that I am fully satisfied with the appointments given to the three non-executive MPAs and three non-elected persons who are dully appointed to be members of PPAC was procedural according to law as follows:
1) Richard Vulo – Chairman and MPA Central west Gela – Non-executive member
Members
2) David Manetiva – Diocesan Secretary Central Solomons Diocese (Savo)
3) David Teva – Former Finance Minister previous Government (Gela)
4) Baddeley Walter – Former DPS of Central Province (Gela)
5) George Selwyn Luga – MPA Sandfly/ Buena Vista (Gela)
6) Humphrey Salopuka (Russells)
Sir, I had seen nothing wrong with the current PPAC composition as the appointments made were in compliance to the procedures and standing orders (200 and 201).
Sir/Madam, section 201 of the Standing orders of CIP Provincial Assembly stipulated that, “the Speaker in consultation with the Premier shall appoint no more than seven(7), but where the number of members does not allow this, no less than four(4) members to the provincial public accounts committee none of whom shall be executive members”.
But it does not say that someone must be an elected MPA before qualified to be member of PAC
Furthermore, the combination of the current PPAC is fairly representing the Island groupings that form Central Islands Province.
I must confirm to the public of Central Province that this is the best PPAC combination I have come across as a Speaker for 3 consecutive terms of Central Province compared to the previous PPACs this Province ever appointed.
Getting these neutral persons with quality backgrounds (seleni) into the PPAC to scrutinize the budget is a welcoming recipe in the passing of this Province’s 2015/2016 budget.
Sir/Madam, while the Office of the Speaker appreciates and respects the Tulagi MPA’s constitutional right on freedom of speech, I am appealing to him not to confuse the public of Central Province and the daily readers of your paper on such issues, rather he should double check with his facts before crying out in the media.
What matters most for Central Province is for all MPAs to work cooperatively with the current ruling Government to address the development aspirations of CIP but not to embark on your infantile backbiting, point-scoring and mindlessly prejudiced politics and elevate this one core area of our responsibility to a rare position beyond the partisan divide and move a step further to develop Central Province into newer heights.
Therefore, I strongly ask the Tulagi MPA and the former Premier of Central Province (Mr. Patrick Vasuni) to proceed and seek further legal clarifications on such important matters of Central Province from the relevant authorities before barking in the public newspapers and other media outlets.
The so-called former Premier of CIP seemed to jump the gun in this instance rather he should come forward as a responsible leader and channel his queries and grievances through the Assembly Office to sort matters out amicably.
Finally, I appeal to all Central Province elected MPAs to be fully committed with your people in your respective wards and to work with them on important issues rather than staying overtime in Honiara.
By JOHN BOSAMATA
Speaker for Central Provincial Assembly
