OPPOSITION WELCOMES PEOPLE’S BUDGET, INDEPENDENT URGED GOV’T

Leader of Parliamentary Opposition and Member of Parliament for Hograno, Kia, Havulei Jeremiah Manele says the Opposition bench welcomes the People’s Budget.

Mr Manele says like the rest of the country, his people also look forward to its implementation.

He calls for cooperation to ensure the budget is reflected on the ground and not a mere lip service.

The Opposition leader made the comment when debating the 2015 Appropriation Bill in Parliament today.

He says, the budget must create positive impacts on the lives of the people especially those in the rural areas.

He adds whilst Solomon Islanders are jubilant and expect the budget to be passed quickly, it unfortunately does not quantify other important variables such as how many jobs it will create.

Meanwhile, Leader of the parliamentary Independent Group, Honourable Manasseh Maelanga has urged the government not to fail the ‘People’s Budget’.

Hon. Maelanga made the statement in his response to the budget speech made by the Minister of Finance, Honourable Snyder Rini, last week when the latter introduced the historical record budget of $4.18 billion.

He says, it is his personal conviction that any budget introduced on the floor of parliament must be realistic.

The leader of the Independent group says the budget must reflect the national economy and one that secures political will to be implemented in the backwaters of national priorities.

He says it should also support appropriate policy directives and reform regulations.