Forau criticize NCRA Overseas Trip.

The Leader of Independent Group, Mr. Clay Forau Soalaoi has expressed concern over the number of overseas trip undertaken by the NCRA Government. (Pic: Supplied)

By Andrew Fanasia Jr.

The Leader of Independent Group, Mr. Clay Forau Soalaoi has expressed concern over the number of overseas trip undertaken by the NCRA Government since coming into office in August this Year.

This concern surfaced after the Independent Office sees that NCRA Government has been making too many unnecessary trips such as one which was led by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Manasseh Maelanga to attend a Floral Exhibition in Taiwan.

During the last Parliament meeting the Prime Minister told the Parliament that only overseas trip that will bring in tangible benefit to the country will be allowed, “however even that seems to have gone with the wind,” Mr. Forau said.

“I am calling on the Prime Minister Mr. Danny Philip and his Ministers to restrict their overseas trips to those that absolutely necessary,” Mr. Forau said in the press statement today.

Mr. Forau said there is no apparent justifications for the Mr. Maelanga to attend a floral exhibition while there still a lot of things to be attended to at home.

Mr. Forau also revealed in the press statement that another obvious unnecessary trip is the Prime Minister’s trip tomorrow, where he is expected to attend a Symposium on YEOSU, Korea Expo 2012, the World Ocean Forum and a program on Peace and Development organized by Universal Peace Federation.

Mr. Forau said the Universal Federation is headed by the famous Reverend Moon of Korea.

On his return PM Philip will again traveling to Fiji to hold a bilateral talk with Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama, and later attends graduation at Fulton College.

The Independent Office said in the press statement that it would be appropriate for the Minister of Education to attend such occasion rather the Prime Minister.

Raised in the press statement, Mr. Forau said another issue of concern is that the NCRA Government is still to translate their ambitious policy document into workable programs, “as without the translation it will be difficult for Ministries to implement them.”

The translation of government policies into priority programs is important for the budget process as Ministries programs must be costed out for any budget to be realistic.

“The country needs to know how much the policies will cost the taxpayers,” Mr. Forau said in the press statement yesterday.

He added that the NCRA Government will soon be in the office for 100 days and apart from high number of overseas visits, it will be hard to see what has been achieved.

According to the press statement, the Independent Office believes that NCRA Government has taken more overseas trips in a short time than any previous government.

Mr. Forau however, calling on the Government and the Opposition Group to address National Issues rather than pursuing personal interest or political scoring.