by Georgina Maka’a
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele took to parliament today to clarify why he has moved into a SBD$48,900 a month rented home when the state of his country’s economy was in terrible shape.
This was after Opposition leader Matthew Wale revealed the rental deal in a statement he issued yesterday.
“”I was disappointed and appalled by the disinformation the Opposition leader shared in his press release,” Manele, a seasoned diplomat who had served the country in various roles overseas before entering parliament, said.
“It is the responsibility of the State to house the Prime Minister and not the PM housing himself,” he added.
“In the absence of such residence, he continued, the state rents from the market an accommodation that is fitting for the head of State.
“This is the case regardless of who is the PM.”
Solomon Islands country does not have an official residence for its prime minister. Previous prime ministers chose to stay in their family properties and collected monthly rentals from the Government.
Manele said although he has a private property in Honiara’s Tasahe area, it has not met the minimum security and functionality standards.
“The official residence of the Prime Minister must meet two minimum requirements. First it has to meet security requirements administered and assessed by the Close Protection Department of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).
“And second, it must have the functionality of receiving guests and visiting dignitaries – this requirement is administered and assessed by the Protocol department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET).”
Manele also rejected Wale’s claim the rented property was owned by a foreigner, Zhu Feng Wu.
He said Wu is a Solomon Islands citizen.
Documents In-depth Solomons cited from Company Haus records show Wu, 41, was born in Guandong Province, China, but now holds Solomon Islands citizenship.
Those records show he attended Betikama College and Honiara High School in Honiara.
Manele said Wu’s residence is the cheapest executive residence that met the minimum standards for a Prime Minister’s residence.
“Other similar accommodations visited did not meet the security requirements, and they range from $75,000 per month upward.
“I personally pay 40.9 percent of the monthly rental from the housing allowance paid together with my salary.
“This is the same allowance paid to the other 49 members of parliament.
“I receive no personal benefit from this allowance, as it goes as my contribution to the monthly rental for the residence,” the prime minister explained.
He said he has already secured funding assistance from a donor to build a new official residence for the prime minister.
Work on this project, Manele said, is expected to start at the end of this year and complete in 2027.
He added he had also secured funding for official residences of the Governor General and the Chief Justice.
