Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) has demanded the Government account for its SBD$75 million Tropical Cyclone Maila recovery fund.
And it said affected families in Western and Choiseul provinces remain “unfinished” and in the dark.
Months after the disaster hit the nation’s western region, TSI says many families are still waiting for help, with little public information available on how much of the Special Fund Account has been spent or when actual relief will arrive.
“For families living with damaged homes and uncertain futures, recovery cannot be measured by announcements, funding allocations, or public statements,” TSI said in a statement.
“It must be measured by whether assistance reaches the people who need it,” the statement added.
Initial assessments identified about 1,300 damaged homes, with the Government promising building materials and labor.
However, TSI said it noted that as of late October 2026, it could not verify if the Special Fund was even operational or if any materials had been delivered.
Following media reports that bureaucratic delays had stalled the funds, the watchdog is demanding the Ministry of Finance and the National Disaster Council publish a clear progress update.
TSI wants to know how much has been spent, the operational status of the fund, and exactly who is getting help.
They have also called for strict safeguards to prevent favoritism, political interference, and duplicated claims.
Additionally, the group urged the Government to resolve its administrative disputes with Western Province Premier Billy Veo over who controls the funds, arguing that “institutional debate” should not delay help to the vulnerable.
“TSI believes no eligible family… should be overlooked because it lacks connections or influence,” the watchdog stated, while urging the Government to “publish the update, answer the outstanding questions, and deliver the assistance.”
Late last month, David Hiriasia, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) and Chairman of the National Disaster Council (NDC) told the media not a single cent of the SBD$75 million has been spent.
Hiriasia said the Government is still finalizing the establishment of the National Disaster Special Fund account with the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI).
“Once this CBSI account is formally activated, procurement is expected to begin immediately,” he said.
The Government has stated that shelter remains the absolute highest priority for families affected.
The NDC, working with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), has finalized a standard two-bedroom, cyclone- and earthquake-resilient design that includes a veranda, costing roughly $35,000 to $40,000 per home.
