Government is set to table the new Constituency Development Funds Bill 2023 when parliament resumes next week.
The new bill was designed to ensure accountable and stricter use of rural constituency development funds, which over the years has been used by Members of Parliament as a slush fund to buy votes and keep supporters happy.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) Dr Samson Viulu said the bill is expected to become law from 1 January 2024 once parliament passes it.
“There are new strict measures in the new CDF Act that will come into force when it commences with the hope of a much-improved delivery of services under the CDF program,” Viulu said in a statement his office issued today.
“It is a milestone achievement for our country in terms of strengthening the governance of one of the much-criticised public funds in the history of our independent state,” Viulu added.
CDF accounts for about 60 per cent of the country’s annual development budget. It’s a source of funding allocated to develop the country’s 50 constituencies.
Each constituency is allocated up to $7 million a year. Its use and spending is at the discretion of the MPs.
But despite the significance of the funds, it has nothing to show for in terms of development in the constituencies.
Except for a few schools and other small community projects, the millions of dollars simply disappeared into thin air.
Over the years, there have been nation-wide calls for CDF to be abolished or removed from the control of MPs.
The new CDF bill was a direct response to those calls.
Work on reforming CDF commenced in August last year by MRD with the formulation of the first ever Solomon Islands Constituency Development (SICD) Policy 2023-2032, and drafting of instructions for the CDF Bill 2023.
Government, through Cabinet, approved the policy (SICD) in March this year, setting the platform for the ministry to carry out review work on the CDF legislation 2023.
Viulu said the new bill once passed will improve the CDF delivery mechanisms as well as pave the way for more positive changes in our rural communities to ensure Solomon Islanders become meaningfully participated in development activities to improve their social and economic livelihood.
“The new bill, amongst other things, will confine Members of Parliament to their role as lawmakers, while providing an oversight to the implementation of the CDF program,” Viulu explained.
He added most of the responsibilities in the implementation of the CDF program has been delegated to public servants, constituency committees and the people.
“It is expected that these changes will further improve good governance, including transparency and accountability on how the funds are used to assist and empower our rural folks.
“Furthermore, it will prevent any misconduct, misappropriation of funds and any activities that are not aligned to the Public Finance Management Act 2013 (PFMA).
“Our rural people also need to understand that all parties involved in the CDF programme under MRD will be held accountable.
“This new bill will be applied to our MPs, Government officials, suppliers and beneficiaries,” Viulu pointed out.