Lilo Warns Wale over SOE accusations.

By Andrew Fanasia Jr.

Minister for Finance and Treasury Mr. Gordon Darcy Lilo has urged the Deputy leader of Opposition Mr. Matthew Wale to be very careful and come out clean in the way that he deals with accusations over State Own Enterprise (SOE) matters.

Mr. Lilo makes this statement in a press conference yesterday after he was accused by Mr. Wale over the SOEs matter.

“I want him to come out clean in the way that he deal with himself as person with this SOEs,” Mr. Lilo said

Mr. Lilo told the media about an incident which right now put Mr. Wale into question in the way that he is dealing with SOEs as a leader.

“And can point to the time when he was declared a winning candidate for Aoke/Langalanga,” Mr. Lilo said.

He further said that he has obtained a report and need urged Mr. Wale to come out to the public and report responsibly in the way he has treated and behave himself in case of dealing with SOEs.

Mr. Lilo said the report was in relation to a particular diversion of the Dash-8 from Sehge in Western Province to pick Mr. Wale in Auki to Honiara before he board a plane in Henderson to travel overseas.

“Up to this day I will require the Solomon Islands Airline to tell me whether that particular diversion of that aircraft had ever been paid,” Mr. Lilo said.

Mr. Lilo stressed that if the leader of opposition did not pay that particular diversion of that plane, he falls within the category of disqualification requirement of the SOE Act.

The Act stated in one of the requirement that, (g) a person who has a history of failing to repay on time any money legally owned by the person to any SOE.

“I am still enquiring with the Airline to tell me what is the exact amount of that invoice that I believe he has not paid for,” Mr. Lilo said.

“And I urged Mr. Wale to tell the country if he has a clean heart to talk about the affairs of our country’s SOEs.”

As a leader, he added, and the citizen of this country is keenly interested to see the SOE of this country must be reform to ensure that they can produce the best result.

Mr. Lilo said NCRA Government is committed to ensure that the best interest of this country must be dealt with in the most responsible way.