Dear Editor – Many thanks for giving me space to express my views on your paper.
First and foremost I would like to salute and congratulate the West Makira MP Derick Manu’ari and his team for his heroism in challenging MPs tax free salary payments.
Further still I would like to express my special gratitude to Hon. Jonathan O’Dea, MP in NSW Parliament for answering very accurately and correctly to one of our MPs who asked about Crowded Houses.
Sir, I am not a writer nor a politician but being a Solomon Islander I could say Mr Manu’ari and Hon. O’Dea are my two supermen or spidermen so to speak because someone once quoted that “WHEN GOOD PEOPLE STAY IN SILENCE THE MASS WILL EITHER BE EXPLOITED OR SUPPRESSED BY SO MUCH DISHONESTY, INJUSTICE OR INEQUALITY IN THE HIGH PLACES”.
There are many of us who are really feeling the pain of injustice inflicted upon us over the years but either we do not know how to write, read, speak or already in a state of gloom and doom and only waiting to be buried.
I admire you two because it is only when people like you arrive on the scene could helpless people like us get defended against suppression.
History had told us that when Emperor Aurilius was Emperor of Rome he had the best team of Civil Servants at that time making Rome the most Powerful and Prosperous nation in the World.
Sad to say, after Aurilius died things changed the Civil Servants were no longer the best but the worst causing Rome to fall on its knees until today.
You may ask what was the cause? It was explained by Historians that the main causes are: SELF INTEREST PLUS GREED THAT RESULTED IN SO MUCH CORRUPTION – this was the downfall.
Currently, in the PEC we have entitlements such as: (1) $400,000.00 Terminal Grant, (2)Life time pension for MPs.
Now the MPs have salary increases with no taxation and intending to award single termers Life Time Pension as well.
In reference to what John Aonima highlighted in his article on Star issue Tuesday 12th May 2015 if non- performers are rewarded with the highest and best conditions as expressed in this article it would be a gesture of so much greed and injustice.
At this juncture I would applaud Ricky Hou, MP for Small Malaita, for his attempt to free his name from guilt but question the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister in trying to justify the TAX FREE SALARY PAYMENTS PAYABLE TO MPS.
With much lowliness I want to appeal to both of you prominent leaders to honestly admit or throw the tax free idea away.
As a matter of fact you have being Politicians for many years now still you do not know what policy making is all about.
In other words if you want the people not to pester or harass you make the right policies to station or engage them in their villages where all Solomon Islands Resources is being provided for us by the Creator.
Finally I would like to appeal to all MPs not to be too selfish, greedy or corrupt because we your people are now becoming beggars in our own lands regardless of the Huge Forest, Marine Resources, Minerals, Human Resources etc. we have.
Please do not neglect us but work harder and make laws or policies that would empower us to have hope and a future instead of building mansions and financial security only for yourself and family.
Ken Kiniore Ahoawauri
Honiara
