OPPOSITION LAUDS PMO FOR ADDRESSING HEFTY TENANCY DEAL

Editors Desk

The Opposition has commended the Prime Minister’s Office for revealing the identities of the devisers of the hefty tenancy agreement for the Prime Minister and barring their entry into the highest office in the land, and urged the government to be also transparent about its hotel bill for the lobbying period prior to the election of the Prime Minister.

Deputy Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale said the Opposition was pleased with the actions the NCRA Government had taken to rectify the dubious tenancy deal and disposing off shady characters that have no regard for the reputation of the government and state finances.

Mr Wale said as far as the former CNURA Government was concerned, Mr Ishmael Wore and Mr Fairall Wilfred are cronies of a senior Minister of the Sikua-led predecessor government and undoubtedly their presence in the Prime Minister’s Office after the political government changeover in August was through that same connection as that same parliamentarian is a senior cabinet minister of the NCRA Government led by Prime Minister Danny Phillip.

He said the CNURA government had terminated Mr Wore for alleged misappropriation of funds whilst Mr Wilfred was suspended for damaging two government vehicles and was never reinstated.

The Deputy Opposition Leader said this situation emphasises the need for the government to ensure recommendations for political appointments by parliamentarians and political parties are subjected to a thorough scrutiny to ensure quality.

As for the hotel bills, Mr Wale said the Opposition would like to see the government provide a breakdown of the $1,103,742.00 bill it paid to the Pacific Casino Hotel and the Honiara Hotel for the use of their facilities during the lobbying period.

He said this is important because the Office of the Leader of Opposition has obtained documents showing that the bill included food and drinks charges/costs that should be borne by parliamentarians themselves and not the state.

The Deputy Opposition Leader said indeed if there is nothing sinister about the hotel bill payment as stated by the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary, then the government should be comfortable to provide a breakdown of the costs factored in the bill