GIZO: THE Western Provincial Assembly has agreed through a policy paper that was passed and adopted by the Full Assembly this morning that all elected 26 Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) must not pay for their own accommodation worth more than $500,000 for the past weeks.
This came after the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) has directed all the newly MPAs to find a cheaper accommodation while in Gizo.
Since 22 December 2022, most of the MPAs have been accommodated at Gizo Hotel, Naqua and Rekona Resthouse which led to the formation of a new government.
Following the December 14 Western Provincial Election all the elected MPAs have been advised to travel to Gizo to be sworn-in and subsequent formation of a new government and election of a new premier.
Tabling the submission, MPA for Ward 7 Rence Sore said, as elected leaders, there should be some courtesy of respect shown to the provincial leaders.
He said, its very demeaning for a senior public officer and permanent secretary to inform provincial leaders to look for cheaper accommodation.
“This is becoming of the public service,” the former Honiara City Council Clerk stated.
“The only cheaper accommodation is at the MSG Complex.
“So such instructions to look for a cheaper accommodation coming from a senior officer lowers our status as leaders,” he said.
In his presentation, he said, not all the MPAs have private accommodations in Gizo and they have traveled far to Gizo.
“Not all MPAs are residents of Gizo,” he said.
“We are accommodated at these places shows our status as leaders of the province,” he said.
He said, elected MPAs of Choiseul Province are also affected.
“Therefore, both the Western and Choiseul Province must make a stand on this issue,” he said.
He said, the MPAs travel to Gizo on the advise of the Provincial Assembly Clerk to appoint the speaker and the new provincial government.
Mr Sore said, the expenses during the transition and mobilization period to form a government is the responsibility of the national government through MPGIS.
Because of that, Sore said, its important for MPGIS and Western Provincial Government to sort all costs related to accommodation during transition and mobilization period.
“It must come not from the MPAs entitlement. It is wrong to use our entitlements to cover the cost of accommodation,” he said.
By MOFFAT MAMU
