BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
THE Chief Executive of Transparency Solomon Islands, Ruth Liloqula, believes that the millions of dollars of funding available under the Constituency Development Fund scheme developed over the last 23 years don’t reflect the development needs and aspirations of constituents.
During the 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day celebrations at the Lawson Tama Open Futsal Hall last year, Ruth Liloqula spoke as a panelist alongside collection specialists from integrity agencies, government ministries, civil society organizations, and the private sector. She said that the Rural Constituency Development Funds (or CDF) have increased over time, from 5 million to 350 million.
She revealed that the highest in 2016 was $7 million and was allocated per constituency.
“We have been to more than 40 constituencies in the Solomon Islands, and it doesn’t measure up to the amount of money reported.
“From 2000 to 2023, a total of $3.9 billion of public funds was channeled through Members of Parliament (MPs), which were worth $80 million, or $79.7 million per constituency.
“However, if you go to Ontong Java, Malaita Outer Islands (MOI) Constituency, nothing is there, but there’s about five villages there. Where do these $70 to $80 million go?” said the 73-year-old.
The Constituency Development Funds to be delivered by the Constituency Development Office for the purpose of achieving the development objectives set out in the Constituency Development Plan Section 21 shall comprise: the Constituency Development Funds appropriated by Parliament from the Consolidated Fund to the Ministry under the Appropriation Act; and the grants received from development partners and paid through the Ministry intended for constituency development.
Liloqula, who worked with the national government for 34 years, said that the constituencies are also denied access to the CDF retirement report.
“Though names appeared, they have not received anything. Today, there’s very little or nothing much to show for the millions in more than 40 constituencies.
“Even in the capital of Honiara, the constituents too do not know how much money is involved or how this money is spent.
“The CDF scheme undermines the constitutionally established institutional roles and functions, the provincial government roles, and their entire machinery of government in the independent democratic state of SI and its constitution.
“Under the scheme, MPs are hijacking and will still hijack the constitutional roles and staffs of the Provincial Governments and health systems and all of that money they need in order to provide services to us,’’ Ruth Liloqula said.
The Chief Executive of Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) said that even here in the capital, people do not know how much money is involved or how this money is spent.
“The CDF scheme undermines the constitutionally established institutional roles and functions, the provincial government roles, and their entire machinery of government in the independent democratic state of Solomon Islands and its constitution.
“Under the scheme, MPs are hijacking and will still hijack the constitutional roles and staffs of provincial governments and health systems and all of that money they need in order to provide services to us,’’ she said.
