OPPOSITION ENDORSED MANUARI & HOU’s MOVE ON TAX-FREE SAGA

The Parliamentary Opposition Group has endorsed the position and action taken by two of its members, Honourable Derrick Manuari and Honourable Rick Hou to denounce the Member of Parliament’s tax-free entitlements.

In a statement today, the Parliamentary Opposition says while the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission, PEC, may have the authority in awarding the tax-free benefits to Members of Parliament; it is simply not right.

The opposition says while it understands that the position of PEC may be constitutionally correct, however, principally it is morally wrong to have awarded such benefits to MPs given the heavy taxation imposed on the taxpayers of this country.

The Parliamentary Opposition also re-emphasised that the right thing to do is to immediately reconsider the tax-free entitlements for all Members of Parliament.

It calls on the Prime Minister and his Government to listen to the people’s concern.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader Jeremiah Manele has again reiterated his earlier call to review the composition of members of the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission by amending the relevant provisions of the Constitution which establishes the PEC.