Speaker of Parliament raises concern on why vehicles are allocated to gov't backbenchers when not stipulated in parliament regulation

The Speaker of Solomon Islands Parliament Sir Peter Kenilorea has said backbenchers are not entitled to government vehicles.

In a letter to MPs Sir Peter says he had raised concern in Parliament why government has allocated government vehicles to backbenchers when there are no provisions for such allocation in the Parliament Entitlement Regulation 2006.

Both the Minister of Infrastructure and Development, Stanley Sofu, and Acting Attorney General, Nuatali Tongarutu have acknowledged there were no provisions of vehicles for backbenchers or any other ordinary members.

However, they said successive governments have allowed certain privilege to be awarded to other members with certain assignments while delivering their statutory obligations.

He said the present government has allocated vehicles to the Chairmen of the Investment Corporation of Solomon Islands, the Chairman of the Solomon Islands Port Authority and the Chairman of the Visitors Bureau.

The Speaker of Parliament while assisting to clarify the matter said under the Constitution, the terms and conditions of all MPs were Sections 69-A and 69-C.

Under that section the Parliament Entitlements Commission decides the terms and conditions and that no other authority has the right to make any other awards.

Source: SIBC