THE oldest and longest surviving political party in Solomon Islands, the Peoples Alliance Party, launched its platform document in Honiara yesterday.
The new platform reflects the party’s new shift in policy directions to suit changes in Solomon Islands over the last 31 years since its formation in September 1979.
The changes will ensure that provinces and rural communities become the centre of gravity for economic activities over the next decade.
Legal consultant and former politician, Andrew Nori said to achieve this policy the government's budgetary framework will be overhauled and dismantled to allow transfer of finance to provinces and to development centres to be located in selected part of Solomon Islands.
The current government budget framework is built on the legacy of big government. Out of the estimated $1.664 billion for 2010, the planned spending is as follows:
Payroll - $485.7 million
Other charges - $756.0 million *
Debt servicing - $127.3 million
Projects - 295.0 million
Other charges relate to rental of houses for public servants, overseas and local travels including per diem, vehicle purchases, repairs, maintenance, entertainments, RCDF, MPs discretionary funds and other allowances, such as electricity, water and telephones.
From these charges only $47 million is remitted to provinces by way of grants.
Mr Nori said a PAP government will remove and radically change this budgetary framework as it is a complete insult to the people of Solomon Islands.
Remedial measures will include:
1) Reducing the number of ministries to sustainable level;
2) Reducing payroll by 20% per annum for the next four years;
3) Assisting provinces in capacity building and to allow them take leading role in rural development activities through increased financial allocations;
4) Developing a government budget which will be based on real and assessed provincial budgetary requirements.
Mr Nori said to monitor, administer and manage the new policy of financial decentralisation, the PAP government will establish provincial development councils in all provinces whose members will consist of executive members, national MPs, selected women and youth leaders and selected community leaders.
"The provincial councils will be responsible for putting together economic and social stimulus plans for the provinces to be supported by an effective planning office," he said.
As such under the new PAP government's budgetary framework, allocations to provinces in the first year will be as follows:
Provinces Current Allocations Proposed Allocations
Western $5.1 million $40 million
Choiseul $3.7 million $12 million
Isabel $3.2 million $12 million
Central $3.0 million $8 million
Guadalcanal $5.3 million $48 million
Malaita $5.4 million $50 million
Renbel $2.8 million $6 million
Makira Ulawa $4.6 million $12 million
Temotu $4.2 million $10 million
$37.3 million $198 million
Mr Nori said this sum of $198 million will be taken from the "Other charges" expenditure budget of the national government as well as from reduced payroll.
He said: "A new PAP government will remove items of expenditures which are not connected to sound governance.
"These include overseas travels, rentals, entertainment, utilities consumption, vehicles purchases, unnecessary discretionary allowances and grants which have no links with effective service delivery.
"Allocations to Honiara City will be reviewed after putting in place an urban development plan for the City, which will take into account development and expansion needs of the City within the next decade."
By EDDIE OSIFELO
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