Opposition leader, Dr. Derrick Sikua has occasionally accused Lilo on various allegations since taking up the Prime Minister’s post last year. So far total of six allegations has been raised by the Opposition Leader against Prime Minister Lilo. One of the most controversial allegations that spark concerns to Solomon Islands citizens is the Prime Minister continues residing in one of the Expensive Hotel in Honiara ( The Honiara Hotel) since his election. The Prime Minister’s excuse is, he is still waiting for the Official Prime Minister’s residence which is still under renovation. To date nothing has been done.
The
Opposition Leader in his earlier statement revealed the monthly rental payment of
$190,000 the Solomon Islands' government spent to accommodate the Prime Minister, his family and
his body guards. Prime Minister Lilo in response
has denied this amount
stating that the rental cost is $15,000 which is
under the Parliamentary Entitlements Regulations (PER) as his entitlement.
Mr. Lilo has been staying in the hotel since he was a Minister of the crown since 2006. And taking up the PM’s title since November 2011 up to now, is approximately five months.
Five months is adequately enough for the Prime Minister’s residence to be completed. However, since last year work is still moving at a slow pace. It is also alleged that his close associates has involved in the repair work.
It is also known that the owner of the Honiara Hotel Sir Tommy Chan is the long time friend of Prime Minister Lilo. No doubt Mr. Lilo has directly appointed his son Laurie Chan as a Solomon Islands Ambassador to Taiwan last year (2011).
Prime Minister Lilo in response to these corruption allegations against him never at anytime gives a concrete answer to satisfy the people.
Reading and analyzing this information about Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, one can say that corruption is hiding behind the curtain in the political system of Solomon Islands. A particular government cannot stable when its own very leaders are labelled with corruption allegations.
The Prime
Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo in his defense to the hotel rental said that rental
per month is $15,000. Opposition leader Dr Derek Sikua in his attack said
rental for five rooms rented out to the Prime Minister and his close
associates, is costing the state some $190,000 per month. According to the
Honiara Hotel charges on rooms, $15,000 per month for the five rooms is far
under par. Hotel Charges for the luxury wings the Prime Minister, his family
and personal security officers occupy costs guests between $1,450 to $1,850 a
night. Calculations based on those figures points to a monthly rental of
between $43,500 and $55,500 per month for a single room. Five rooms would cost
the state over $200,000 a month.
These calculations
obviously indicate confusions on the integrity of the Prime Minister. Another confusing thing is,
the Government under the leadership of Mr.Lilo has rarely revealed to all
citizens the nature of his continues residing in the Hotel likewise the cost
that involved. Mr. Lilo has been staying in the hotel since he was a Minister of the crown since 2006. And taking up the PM’s title since November 2011 up to now, is approximately five months.
Five months is adequately enough for the Prime Minister’s residence to be completed. However, since last year work is still moving at a slow pace. It is also alleged that his close associates has involved in the repair work.
It is also known that the owner of the Honiara Hotel Sir Tommy Chan is the long time friend of Prime Minister Lilo. No doubt Mr. Lilo has directly appointed his son Laurie Chan as a Solomon Islands Ambassador to Taiwan last year (2011).
Prime Minister Lilo in response to these corruption allegations against him never at anytime gives a concrete answer to satisfy the people.
Reading and analyzing this information about Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, one can say that corruption is hiding behind the curtain in the political system of Solomon Islands. A particular government cannot stable when its own very leaders are labelled with corruption allegations.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteIt amazes me to see two national leaders marveled at each other over who`s right and who`s wrong. Indeed Dr Derrick Sikua is a man of criticism, thinking what he did is right for the nation.
ReplyDeleteOut of the six allegations and the one which raised most concern is the PM housed in a hotel. I think the PM should tell the truth. The interest of the public is to know how much is actually spent on the rental. This is where the responsible authority who deals with the administration work should convey it to the public. It is time we must tell the truth to save time and money rather discussing unnecessary issues.
The question is why this two pointing fingers to each other. They should focus in the interest of the nation. This fraction of argument is confusing. At this stage, who is right and wrong is still vague? I think they should refrain from their political mudslinging and settle their differences in a different channel rather using the media to confuse the public.
See how corrupt our PM is and his government. As a pure Solomon Islander,this is a slap on the face for all citizens of my beloved country.
ReplyDeleteThe PM and his government are robbing the people of this country through the tax money payed. what a shame!
All these money should have been put into good use for the Solomon Islands yet it just been wasted into some luxurious lifestyle of such a greedy PM and his cronies while the ordinary citizens of this country are struggling day in and out, just to put the food on the table and paying tax with the little salaries they earned.
If the PM really cared for his country and his people why should he waste a lot of the state's money to live in hotel while this Prime Minister's official Residence at Vava Ridge is just left unoccupied and perfectly in very good state.
His actions speaks more of what kind of person he is and it is sad to know this selfish and greedy attitudes of our PM and his government that are full of self minded. Our country and its people deserve far more better than this.