By EDNAL PALMER
Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Jeremiah Manele and his Government for National Unity & Transformation (GNUT) have spent over $SBD2.1 million of tax payer money in the past five months, on overseas trips.
Of that spending, the highest was incurred on the large delegation led by Manele, to China in July this year.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by 14 Government Ministers, four Members of Parliament (MP) and senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Foreign Affairs. That trip which was extended to cover the Pacific Leaders Meeting in Japan costed tax payers over $SBD1.2 million.
Airfares for this visit cost over $SBD547,000, Per diem Allowances over $SBD308,000 and Special Imprest over $SBD 400,000.
These figures were revealed in Parliament this morning in response to questions raised by Opposition Leader Mathew Wale in relation to overseas trips, their costs and outcomes expected.
Manele said as the head of the country’s executive government, he is obligated to attend some annual mandatory engagements overseas.
“To date, I have taken four overseas trips since taking office, which included the state visits to Australia and People’s Republic of China, Japan for the PALM and Tonga for the PIF.”
The state visit to Australia costed tax payers over $SBD 369,000 – over $SBD123,000 of which was spent on airfares, over $SBD 97, 000 on per diem allowances and over $SBD 149,000 on special Imprest.
Cost on attending the recent Pacific Islands Forum Meeting in Tonga was over $SBD400,000. Some of the internal costs for the state visits were shouldered by the host countries.
The expenses were in relation to the four trips he led in the past five months since taking power.
He said report on the overall cost of trips taken by other government ministers and government officials is being compiled.
But Manele claimed that short, medium and long-term results of the visits outweigh the costs.
“Results and outcomes are enormous for the Solomon Islands. Australia, China and Japan have reaffirmed their bilateral relations with the Solomon Islands.
“From the trips, I believe there will be increased development assistances coming to the Solomon Islands bilaterally, regionally and multilaterally.
“The fruits and results of these diplomacy will be achieved over time in the future and cannot be realized now.”
FEATURED IMAGE: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, and Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct. 9, 2019. Credit: Thomas Peter/Pool Photo via AP