In his 2012 budget deliberation in Parliament yesterday, east Choiseul Member of Parliament Manasseh Sogavare said the budget stand the chance of meeting huge payout in compensation claims therefore needs consideration.
Mr Sogavare said former attorney general expelled from the country Julian Moti may pursue his entitlements.
Mr Moti who was deported by the Derek Sikua – led CNURA government has outstanding entitlements under his terminated contract which amounts to more than SBD $1 million.
Another company that is waiting for a more than $10 million compensation payment from the state is Marine Exports Limited.
The Dolphin exporter sued the government for damages incurred after the government imposed a ban on exporting live dolphins in 2005.
The company won a court battle against the state (judgment in 2006 and the decision on assessment of damage November last year) and a more than $10 million compensation was slapped on the government.
This amount is yet to be paid.
Mr Sogavare said some former MPs who were wrongly accused of inciting the 2006 riots only to be acquitted in court are also pursuing legal action in retaliation.
The east Choiseul MP said while he has no problem with the budget, those issues must be considered because they will affect the budget.
He said it was reassuring to learn that the Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo pledged during his response to threats by Mr Moti to take legal action against the state, that the government has been seeking legal advice and is willing to deal with his (Moti) issue amicably.
The Attorney General Billy Titiulu earlier told this paper that the government will pay Marine Exports Limited the more than $10 million compensation when tax dues are collected.
By
EDNAL PALMER
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