The Auditor General’s audit report of the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) attracted a lot of attention when it was first presented but now hardly being mentioned, by the media or the government, informing the public of where things are with regard to holding those responsible for this GRAND THEFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS to account.
One hopes that the GNUT Executive Government will at least mention this serious issue and how it will deal with it in the “Speech from the throne” given the millions under the ESP that were unaccounted for.
The report is another evidence of ‘GRAND THEFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS’ that have been swept under the carpet such as Constituency Development Fund, the Shipping/Transport Grant and the list goes on.
The report Transparency Solomon Islands understand was based on the examination of not more than 10% of the documents that relate to how the funds were disbursed and accounted for.
The Ministry of Finance and Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet either withheld or purposely lost the records or, worst still did not keep any record at all which in itself is very serious.
TSI also learned that most of the records were kept in the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and went missing in that Office.
This means that both the then Secretary to Prime Minister Dr. Jimmy Rogers and Secretary to Cabinet Mr James Remobatu and then Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare have some serious explanation to do.
It is a very serious matter and they should do their best to expose who lost the records, how and under whose oversight duties on the administration, management of State of Emergency Responses for Covid 19 pandemic to hold those responsible for the loss of the records.
The issues identified in the Auditor General’s Report were the very issues that Transparency Solomon Islands was concerned about then, as it made public the information leaked to it with regard to the entities into whose bank accounts ESP was paid to. T
he Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Mr. MacKinnie Dentana informed the public then that the information released by TSI was not the correct one and that he was not able to release the correct information because the information was so complicated and required a software of its own.
He promised to provide the correct list to the public, and up until today he has not done so, and worse still he was not able to provide the said list to the Auditor General for audit purpose.
Public believed then that there was something fishy going on and given the difficulty that the Auditor General has accessing data he requires on this most certainly indicates that there was indeed something fishy going on.
That something fishy we now can call “GRAND THEFT OF PUBLIC MONEY” by a few privileged, politically aligned people, something that must be dealt with and not allowed to continue syphoning off the public money.
To date there is absolutely no list being provided and only a fraction of the information was available to the Auditor General to view when carrying out the audit of ESP.
Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) while commending the action taken by Office of the Auditor General Office (OAG) referring the finding of its audit of the Economic Stimulus Package to the police for further investigation, it is not enough and more should be done to aid and add to this referral. It is most concerning to note the responses to recommendations made by the Auditor were either not taken seriously or very shallow indicating that to them this is business as usual.
The flippancy of the responses of both the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and the various coordinating committees that were responsible for oversight, control, management, and administration of the funds is most disturbing and as a country that needs every penny to provide some improved level of services this cannot be allowed to continue.
Transparency Solomon Islands while commending the investigations being carried out by police it calls for a PUBLIC ENQUIRY INTO ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE. This will allow people to tell their stories.
Many receive ESP fund (a) Solomon Islands owned businesses, (b) businesses own jointly by Solomon Islanders and Foreigners, (c) Foreign own business, (d) Agricultural Registered businesses, (e) Constituencies through Members of Parliament, (f) the Individuals, (g) the Churches, SOEs etc. A total of more than $49 plus million went through Members of Parliament, more than $9million to agricultural business for cocoa and others. Questions then were already raised by cocoa farmers that the funds were given to those who do not grow any cocoa. These are public funds and this conduct by those in power and those who corrupt the system for their own agenda cannot be allowed to continue. Solomon Islands cannot allow a few to get away with abuse and misuse of funds.
People struggles with calls to government (the three arms of the Government (i) Executive Government, (ii)National Parliament (50 MPs), (iii) Judiciary) to hold those responsible for theft of public funds fell on deaf ears, and there is absolutely LACK of POLITICAL WILL to do the right thing by the taxpayers of Solomon Islands, the sick, the children, women and men, and our huge youth population who are denied the services and opportunities they deserve. There is no clear pathway to economic development.
We continue to enact laws that seem to suggest that only foreigners can develop our country, such as special gazette allowing a foreigner to log the protected Tubi in the name of mining. Why not give that to landowners who are customary owners of these customary properties and assist them with exporting it, finding good price for it. At least they will spend the funds back in country unlike what is happening now.
It is indeed sad that from what has been happening in Solomon Islands since independence that the only political will that those who represent us in parliament, exercising our political power is for Votes of No Confidence. The people of Solomon Islands are tired and would like to see that whatever grouping exercises government official power, going forward, the country and its citizens urge you (Executive Government) to have the Political Will to (to name a few):
- Call for Public Hearing into the Economic Stimulus Package
- Investigation into $45.5m released 2013/2014 only, $19million there were ships purchased
- Investigation into FOPA
- Investigation into Civil Aviation Special Fund
- The Root Causes of Civil unrest (especially land)
- Loggers turned miners who are now corrupting this sector as they did forestry
- Review the Mustard Seed arrangement and investigate its conduct.
- Scholarship Fund (Papua New Guinea)
Transparency Solomon Islands calls on the Executive Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele following the withdrawal of vote of no confidence, to have the political will to serve the needs of this country especially stop the stealing of taxpayer’s funds. This will go a long way to providing better services and growing the economy. Listen to the cries of the women over and against the destruction of their environment.
Transparency Solomon Islands urges the GNUT government with regard to corruption, start with the political will to hold “PUBLIC ENQUIRY INTO ESP”. Those responsible for mismanagement of the Economic Stimulus Package must be held to account.
This will go a long way to implementing the National Anti-Corruption Strategy ensuring public funds are protected to help your Executive Government provide us with better health services, education, economic development, and economic employment opportunities for our young population.
With regard to ESP TSI is concerned that at the time the Auditor General was carrying out this audit, his team faced many challenges from within the Machinery of Government. This means the Machinery of Government is very corrupt and working to hide the corrupt conduct of a few sitting in positions of power.
TSI acknowledges that there are many public officers who continue to do good work but are unable to rise above a highly politicized Machinery of Government.
The onus is now with the police to further investigate possible fraud identified in the OAG report. The responsibility to further investigate rest on the police commissioner to seriously probe possible fraud by a few government officials during the administration of the Economic Stimulus Package.
The Economic Stimulus package (ESP) is Taxpayers’ money and the people of this nation would like to see the investigation be done and not tampered with.
TSI would like to remind Law enforcers of this country of their duty to serve and protect all and to not succumb to Political Pressure that can hinder investigation of the millions of dollars undocumented spendings from the ESP Mess.
Many are the issues that need unraveling in light of the Audit Report of the Economic Stimulus Package. Many stories are yet to be told that will throw light into this “GRAND THEFT OF PUBLIC FUND”. Transparency Solomon Islands demands a PUBLIC ENQUIRY into the ESP. This will allow people who suffered so much to tell their stories and help the public and country understand how public officials stole this public fund.
What happen in the management and administration of ESP is “THEFT ON A GRAND SCALE”. Next will be the PG2023 audit which is going to be worse in Transparency Solomon Islands’ view.
Lastly, Civil Society especially the Umbrella Body of NGOs such as Development Services Exchange needs to be proactively engaged in action against all this and demand accountability, prosecutions and integrity. TSI in this regard urges the Police not to corrupt the investigation but take action against those responsible to put a spotlight on.
CONGRATULATIONS ON SURVING THE NO CONFIDENCE VOTE. TIME TO BUILD CONFIDENCT AND TRUST IN YOUR GOVERNMENT AND GAIN PEOPLE’S TRUST -THOSE WHOSE POWER YOU EXRCISE
– TSI
