PM expresses shock over ESP Audit Report upon return from Saudi Arabia and UAE
PRIME Minister Jeremiah Manele is shocked to hear the revelation of the COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) audited by the Office of Auditor General.
The audit report reveals major fraud risks, poor to non-existent administrative controls and almost zero transparency in the disbursement of $309 million in government funds.
This made the Auditor General David Dennis to call for urgent strengthening of the legal and regulatory regime for the administration of government grants.
Speaking to media on Wednesday upon his at Honiara International Airport after his arrival from United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, PM Manele said while he has yet to have the opportunity to read the report, “I’m indeed shocked by what I am hearing – the revelations in the report.”
PM Manale said the ESP was meant to keep the economy afloat during the global pandemic (COVID-19) and to a certain extent it did.
“It is very unfortunate and regrettable that while the intention of the ESP was noble from what is reported, its execution was poor,” he said.
PM Manele said his Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) is fully committed in the fight against corruption.
“Early this year, we launched the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
“As a government, we will work to resource the Commission in terms of their fight against corruption,” he said.
PM Manele said GNUT will support the various independent authorities to undertake their responsibilities to make sure any wrong doings reported are investigated and if proven guilty are held responsible and brought to justice.
The independent authorities are Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Leadership Code Commission, Solomon Islands Independent Commission against Corruption and the Public Service Commission.
He said these institutions, established and provided by law, will play their part in determining how best they will address the serious allegations raised in the report.
“I strongly encourage these bodies to continue on from where the Auditor General has stopped.
“However, the decision to do so is for them alone to make,” he said.
PM Manele said the due processes must be respected and completed so that those that found guilty are held to account.
Further to that, he applauded the Office of the Auditor General for discharging its constitutional duty provided under Section 108 of the Constitution for auditing the ESP.
“This is your Constitutional mandate and you have delivered the government and people of Solomon Islands,” he said.
PM Manele said he has just been informed the Auditor General has submitted the report to the Speaker of Parliament as provided for under the Constitution.
He said the Constitution also provides that a copy must be furnished to the Minister of Finance and Treasury.
“I trust that this Constitutional requirement have been satisfied by the Auditor General,” he said.
PM Manele said the Office of the Auditor General is independent and is not subjected to the direction and control of any other person or authority as stated in the Constitution.
“As such, his duty has become functions officio upon the representation of the report to the Speaker,” he said.
Parliament is expected to debate the ESP report after the Leader of Opposition, Mathew Wale has put on notice a motion for Parliament to debate it.
