The call follows revelations by the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary, Mr David Tuhanuku that Prime Minister Danny Philip upon the consent of cabinet will not be moving into the Red House which it had injected $4-million into its refurbishment so as to put emphasis on the need for the establishment of a decent Prime Minister’s official residence.
Opposition Leader, Hon. Dr Derek Sikua said whilst the Opposition fully agrees with the NCRA Government stance that Solomon Islands needs a proper official residence for its Prime Minister, the decision to pull down the Red House after spending $4 Million on some minor renovation to it is indeed astonishing.
“It is totally unbelievable that the government has decided to demolish the Red House after injecting $4-Million into its renovation.
“Furthermore I left the house at the end of my two year tenure as Prime Minister in good condition hence I expected any renovation bill to be minimal.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if this funding for the Red House renovation was diverted elsewhere. According to information obtained by my office, the Red House renovation project was awarded without tender to Transworld, a local construction firm owned by NCRA Government crony and the Prime Minister’s relative, Mr Thompson Turueke.
“This is quite a grave concern to me as this person already has a bad record over the PNG Chancery project,” he said.
The Opposition Leader said in keeping with his solemn responsibility of ensuring good governance for the people of Solomon Islands, he will ensure an investigation is carried out into this matter.
“The Prime Minister’s desire for a lavish lifestyle and enriching his cronies and relatives is costing the state millions of dollars and the Opposition will ensure he pays for the dubious means he employed to achieve these selfish agendas.
“If the Prime Minister is concerned about costs, he should vacate the lavish private home the government is renting for him at Tasahe and move into the refurbished Red House.
“I believe the little renovation work carried out on it would be luxurious enough to accommodate the Prime Minister, whilst the government works on identifying an ideal site for a new Official Prime Minister’s residence,” Hon. Dr Sikua Said.
He said this is a sad state of affair and the Opposition is determined to change the status quo in due course.
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