TSI to scrutinize PER 2010 in High Court.

TSI Board Chairman Mr. Bob Pollard yesterday said TSI is disappointed and concerned by the Parliamentary Entitlement Commission (PEC’s)

Andrew Fanasia Jr.
Sub Editor
National Express Newspaper

The Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) will likely to scrutinize the Parliament Entitlement Regulation (PER) 2010 in High Court if the Attorney General approves it.

This came up after the high profile speakers and the public engaged in a robust debate yesterday on PER 2010 held jointly by TSI and the University of the South Pacific (USP) center in Honiara.

TSI Board Chairman Mr. Bob Pollard yesterday said TSI is disappointed and concerned by the Parliamentary Entitlement Commission (PEC’s) continued disregard for requirements under section 69B of the Constitution.

The PER 2010 like the previous PER has not made a general call to the public for submissions on such factors as the state of the national economy and changes in the retail price index and has not tables a report to justify the entitlements.

TSI strongly believes that the tax payers of Solomon Islands have the right to be fully informed of the Entitlements their elected leaders are receiving.

Mr. Vincent Nomae an Economic Lecturer in USP affirmed that the increase done by the PEC’s is unnecessary and unfair.

“Our leaders in the parliament must consider the economic state of this country.”

“Leaders who designed this PER 2010 have totally disregard the state of our economy for their own benefits,” Mr. Nomae said yesterday during the PER 2010 debate.

According to the background information from the TSI Office, the PER 2009 was “quashed” or rejected by the High Court on application by the Attorney General.

Therefore the most recent PER in force before PER 2010, was PER 2008 according the TSI.

TSI stated the court challenged whether there had been a call for submissions made in accordance with the constitution and also commented there had been no report from the PEC’s to justify the PER 2009.

According to the reports obtained from the TSI, substantial increases have occurred since PER 2008.

And these are; funds for charitable purposes (to be spent at the discretion of MP) have increased by 87.5%, salaries have increased at rates varying between 12 .28% and 12.5%.
In regards to the constituency touring allowance; Zone 1 has increased by 25%, Zone 2 by 20%, zone 3 by 15.38%, zone 4 by 16.88% and zone 5 by 47.54%.

Express understands that no document has been tabled to support the increases on economic grounds.