MPs debate budget

Parliament debates 2007 budget
The debate of the 2007 budget has started today and looks like continuing next week.

So far only few members of Parliament have spoken on the budget. They include the Opposition spokesman on Finance, MP for East Areare on Malaita, Edward Huniehu and MP for North Malaita and Leader of the Independent MPs, Daniel Enele Kwanairara.

Former sacked Finance Minister now an Opposition member, Bartholomew Ulufa'alu, also spoke on the budget. He suggested that the money for the rural development should go directly to the 50 Constituencies and not provinces. Mr Ulufa'alu said MPs should be accountable for Constituency development.

Guadalcanal Demands
The silence so far from the Guadalcanal Provincial Government, leaders and people on the statement delivered by Minister Sam Iduri on their demand could mean two things.

They either agree or disagree with the statement. The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) and Guadalcanal Province Government (GPG) Task-Force -Report on Reconciliation and Rehabilitation (SIG/GPG Report 2006) was submitted to the government in September 2006.

MyBlog comments
MyBlog is just wondering what the people of Guadalcanal think about the pace the government is addressing theirs demands. Is it slow or okay?

According to Minister Iduri's statement government hopes to form a High Level Government Committee to assess the recommendations of the report with the view of formulating a Government Position Paper by the end of this month. Br the time the Committee is formed that would be about five months since the government received the report.

Of course, the government can do so much at a time. With the preparation of the 2007 budget and putting in place its policies, it may have had too much to handle in that time. To address those demands the government would need money and waiting until after the budget is passed could have been the option available. It had to make an allocation in the budget for the process of addressing demands. The government was hoping the Guadalcanal people would have that view.

Wanted man denies involvement in murder plot
A man who claims to be Edmund Sae denies any involvement in the alleged plot to murder Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

A statement purportedly signed by Sae condemns the allegation that he was the key person behind the alleged conspiracy to murder the Prime Minister. It says Sae never knew of the accused, 61 year old Australian, Bill Johnson nor had he spoken to Johnson before. It says the first time Sae had heard of Johnson was over the national broadcasters, SIBC. The statement says Sae has no personal grudges against anybody including the RAMSI operations and Solomon Islands Police officers.

The former Police Sergeant is believed to be hiding in the jungles of Malaita after escaping prison where he was held for the alleged murder of two people including a former police commissioner.

Accussed on bail
Meanwhile, the Australian, Bill Johnson, charged for allegedly trying to kill Prime Minister Sogavare has been released on bail by the Honiara Magistrates Court today.

National broadcaster SIBC reports that the Director of Public Prosecution, Ronald Bei Talasasa has agreed to the bail application. He says this is because the stories of key police witnesses in the case kept changing. Mr Talasasa has asked for another 14 days for police to conduct further investigations into the allegations against Johnson. Meanwhile, he also raised concerns over what could be political interference in the case.

The 61 year old Johnson was released on a principle bail of five-thousand dollars on various conditions.

Good Day to you.