by Georgina Maka’a
This country needs investors if we are to progress.
So,let’s not kid ourselves with the rhetoric that we can do it ourselves, we need every player, especially investors who are willing to invest in our country.
These were the words of the Minister of Finance and Treasury, Manasseh Sogavare when responding to the recently published tax exemptions he granted to two Chinese business houses in Honiara.
Sogavare accused the media over what he described as “missing nearly 90% of the story and decided only to disseminate a fraction of the story and in the process become a party to the agenda of anyone who wants to take advantage of issues to achieve ulterior agendas”.
“This reckless reporting does very little to properly inform the public on issues of national interests,” the former prime minister, obviously disappointed, told reporters who attended his press conference yesterday.
“What will investors think of us when we are careless about the way we disseminate privileged information about the conduct of investors?” he asks.
Sogavare said the duty to be accountable to the people of this country, by the people who are entrusted with statutory powers under our parliamentary democracy is mandatory, because such powers are exercised on behalf of the people.
“I find careless attacks on my character and integrity very, very insulting and I have a duty to protect it.”
In July this year, Sogavare told parliament the Government has lost $83.6 million in the first four months of this year due to tax exemptions granted to certain business houses.
This, he said, includes $9.3 million of statutory exemptions, which means he as the minister has no power over it. $74.2 million were discretion exemptions – $8.4 million of which were through CDF purchases for MPs.
Sogavare promised to put an end to discretionary exemptions, which he said if allowed to continue until the end of the year would cost the government $222.6 million.
However, documents leaked to the Opposition showed Sogavare continues to grant duty exemptions after telling parliament he’ll put a stop to it.
Yesterday, he told reporters the exemptions he signed are for a Chinese business house that proposes to build a tourism facility and other infrastructures in Honiara that’s worth nearly $94 million in new investment.
Sogavare said tourism is an important sector that the Government wishes to promote and support.
*See our other reports on Sogavare’s press conference
