Manasseh Sogavare has accepted “political responsibility” for financial and administrative shortcomings uncovered by a special audit into the 2023 Pacific Games.
The Opposition leader, who was prime minister at that time, as well as the minister responsible for the Games, spoke out after the audit uncovered serious weaknesses in financial management, procurement and record-keeping.
The Auditor General’s office released the report over the weekend.
“The Pacific Games were delivered under my leadership,” Sogavare said in a statement.
“I remain immensely proud of what Solomon Islands achieved, and the audit findings do not erase the historic contribution of our athletes, volunteers, officials and people,” he added.
“However, I cannot claim the success of the Games while distancing myself from the serious weaknesses now exposed by the Auditor General.
“I was Prime Minister and minister responsible, and I accept the political responsibility that comes with that office.”
Despite the many shortfalls, Sogavare said the 2023 Pacific Games remained one of Solomon Islands’ proudest national achievements.
He said Solomon Islands had demonstrated its capacity to host thousands of athletes and visitors and successfully deliver the largest regional sporting event ever held in the country.
However, he acknowledged that the standard achieved in hosting the Games was not matched in every aspect of their financial administration.
“Solomon Islanders were entitled to ask how serious failures in procurement, financial controls and record-keeping occurred under his ministerial leadership.
Responsibility Must be Established
Sogavare said major national events involved different levels of responsibility.
Ministers provided political leadership and oversight, while advisers provided advice and public officials and responsible authorities carried out administrative, financial and procurement functions in accordance with the law.
He said these distinctions did not remove ministerial accountability but were important in determining how particular decisions were made and where administrative or legal responsibility rested.
“The Games were delivered under my ministerial watch, and I accept political responsibility for the failure of oversight,” he said.
“The appropriate institutions must now examine the decisions, advice and administrative actions involved and establish the full facts through evidence and due process.”
Sogavare said both OUR Party-led governments – the DCGA and later the GNUT Government – had awaited the completion of the special audit, and he welcomed its finalisation and tabling in Parliament.
He said any matters referred for further investigation should now be handled by the institutions legally authorised to conduct those investigations.
At the same time, Sogavare cautioned against using the audit either to protect reputations or to prejudge individuals before investigations were completed.
“The report must neither be buried to protect reputations nor turned into a political weapon to condemn individuals before investigations are completed,” he said.
Sogavare said he would continue to defend the decision to host the Pacific Games and the legacy created by the event, but not the financial and procurement failures identified by the Auditor General.
“I will defend the decision to host the Pacific Games and the legacy it created.
“I will not defend the financial and procurement failures exposed by the Auditor General.
“The Games showed what Solomon Islands can achieve.
“This report shows where we fell short.
“We must confront both, establish how these failures occurred and ensure that the same weaknesses are not repeated in future major national events of this kind.”
