SOLOMON ISLANDS FAILED TO PROGRESS: OPPOSITION LEADER
Opposition Leader Jeremiah Manele and Member of Parliament for Hograno Kia Havulei. Photo credit: Office of the Opposition.
The Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Jeremiah Manele said Solomon Islands has not progressed as a country due to some extent, failures by past governments to implement recommendations of Parliamentary inquiries and audit reports.
Mr. Manele recently told Parliament that the findings contained in audit reports and inquiries could have assisted past governments to strengthen and improve government institutions.
He says failure to implement these reports have prevented the country’s progress.
“It then begs the question why progress is very slow and I believe the findings contained in this report and the audit reports are the very reasons or to some extent, point to why this country has not been able to prosper as it should have been. If we can add all the unretired imprest I think we can be able to build more classrooms, clinics, and some more water supplies. So there is a wastage of resources in our system.”
Hon. Manele adds, widespread lack of compliance with Statutory requirements and chronic conflicts of interest issues have also contributed to the ineffectiveness of government machinery.
He reminded the government to bring forward the Anti-Corruption Bill and the Freedom of Information Bill to complement the implementation of Government Institution reports.