When Permanent Secretary Ms Susan Sulu appeared last week before the PAC she told the Committee of the total Development Budget Estimates for 2021 is $938, 049,000, including $90,000,000 from the Peoples Republic of China. This is an increase of 33% ($310,894,294) from the 2020 Development budget, she said
She added that the National Budget will build on the overall commitment of the Government’s policy redirection objectives to protect citizens and communities while making the economy more resilient and sustainable.
An unsubstantiated report in the Solomon Star newspaper, prior to Ms Zulu’s appearance before the PAC, claimed, and I quote.
As it prepares to table the 2021 national budget estimates early next month, Solomon Star can reveal what the government intends to spend the more than $930 million in development budget on over the next nine months.
Rural development receives top billing in the amount earmarked for this year. A prominent feature of the development budget is the return of the controversial Rural Constituency Development Fund (RCDF) grants, according to leaked budget papers obtained by the Solomon Star.
The leaked papers show $342 million has been allocated for rural development in the estimates this year – an increase of $102 million over last year’s appropriation.
This means that Members of Parliament (MP) will each receive nearly $7 million in RCDF grants on behalf of their constituencies over the next nine months.
End of quote.
How correct the newspaper report is I do not know, but should it be factual then I really do hope that in keeping with the government’s overall policy objectives all alleged funds to be allocated to MPs will ensure tangible results for the benefit of their respective communities and rural development overall.
His Excellency the Governor-General Sir David Vunagi, GCMG, when he spoke from the Throne at the recent opening of Parliament mentioned the need for leadership in the context of service to the nation.
Leadership should be the benchmark for all MPs to follow in their services to those who elected them to office.
To do less, will lead to the allegations so often raised in past years that funds made available to constituency MPs had failed to show results beneficial to the people.
This time around let us witness the change in the proper administration and discharge of funds for effective and noticeable evidence of tangible rural development projects.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
