By Ednal Palmer

Solomon Islands Opposition Leader Mathew Wale has urged the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) to strategically consider averting inflation and the high cost of living plaguing the country.

During his debate on the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2024 this week, Wale said ordinary citizens are really struggling under the weight of high cost of living.

“Ordinary citizens will attest to the fact that there’s no growth in the economy. They are struggling daily to make ends meet. Let’s be honest with ourselves,” he said.

He added that majority of Solomon Islands workers barely make ends meet – something he said is not news to all the Members of Parliament.

“Public servants live on borrowing and a hand to mouth basis.”

The Minister of Finance when introducing the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2024 this week said the economy is “gradually recovering”.

But the Opposition Leader said there’s stark difference from what is being officially reported and the reality face by people.

“RCDF cannot fix this, it’s the structure of the physical policy and budget in consistent with monetary policy that the CBSI must pursue.

“We run the risk or we are now in the situation where 99 percent of the population is waiting for crumbs to fall off the table.”

The Aoke-Lanaga Langa MP added that the situation is preventable or avoidable. 

“We can’t blame people for being lazy, no! Our economy is not conducive to create job opportunities. We have enough resources and people but we’re not creating the opportunities.

“It obviously is not a matter that can be addressed with a simplistic knee-jerk reaction but it’s a structural defect in our economy, and there’s no indication that the government has the appetite to address it,” he added.

The Opposition Leader therefore urged the government to engage “radical economists”. 

“Radical in a sense that they can help us rise from ashes, not those so call IMF and World bank specialists who are paid millions to give us advise to keep us poor.”

Debate on the Bill continues this week.

Under the 2024 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2024, the Government is seeking parliamentary approval of more than $113million to keep its services going until the end of the year.