NATIONAL PARLIAMENT OF
DAILY HANSARD
THIRD MEETING – EIGHTH SESSION
The
Speaker, Rt Hon Sir Peter Kenilorea took the Chair at
Prayers.
ATTENDANCE
At prayers all were present with the exception of the
Ministers of Education & Human Resources, Infrastructure & Development,
Mines & Energy, Communication, Aviation & Meteorology, Provincial
Government & Constituency Development and the Members for West New
Georgia/Vona Vona, West Guadalcanal, Savo/Russell, Small Malaita, East Are Are,
North Malaita, South Vella La Vella, North Guadalcanal and Shortlands.
PRESENTATION
OF REPORT
Report on “The Governors-General (Pensions) and
Benefits) Bill 2007” (National Parliament Paper No. 22 of 2007)
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Mr Speaker: Honorable
Members before we proceed on to our question session this morning, I simply want
to acknowledge the presence of the honorable Speaker of the Central Islands
Provincial Assembly, Honorable John Bosamata in our presence at the public gallery
this morning.
(applause)
RETURN OF ALIENATED
LANDS
23. Mr KENGAVA to the Minister for Lands and Survey:
Can the Minister inform this House whether alienated lands shall be
returned to original landowners? If so,
what will happen to public land usages owned by churches, government and
registered communities under perpetual ownership?
Hon BOSETO: Mr Speaker, the
first part of the question is to do with the return of alienated lands back to
original landowners where they belong before these customary lands were
alienated from them. The second part,
what will happen to those who have been using these alienated lands as public
lands under the government perpetual title?
My
answer to the first half, Mr Speaker, is yes.
Since the demand to return alienated lands to the original landowners
have been in the agenda of the Ministry of Lands and Survey for many years, the
Grand Coalition for Change Government has included in its Policy No. 9.2(f),
which says; ‘Review the effectiveness of the Policy of returning alienated
lands to original landowners as many returned lands have not been put to
productive use’.
Mr Speaker, in order for the Government
through the Ministry of Lands and Survey would formulate a comprehensive and
responsible policy to guide the process of returning alienated lands, the
Ministry of Lands and Survey needs proper research into how these alienated
lands throughout our country had been alienated and acquired at the first
place. I hope this research must start
immediately during the third quarter of this year 2007.
Mr Speaker, research should have
been done during the second half of 2006 last year but because of the slowness of
administration, it was impossible to be done in time as it was scheduled.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry in its
research work must develop policies to deal with the various categories of
alienated lands namely:
·
Alienated land, the
subject of purchase by traders;
·
Alienated land, the
subject of purchase by the crown;
·
Alienated land,
the subject of native leases;
·
Alienated land,
the subject of the Wasteland Ordinances of Great Britain;
·
Alienated land,
the subject of traditional and transaction made between indigenous people;
·
Alienated land,
the subject of the land acquisition under the Lands and Titles Act;
·
Alienated land,
the subject of the lands settlement schemes under the Lands and Titles Act; and
now we can include
·
Alienated land,
under the Customary Land Recording Act 1994
Mr Speaker, the second part of the
question will be answered during the process of returning perpetual titles to
recognized and identified original landowners.
Therefore, Mr Speaker, I have no answer to inform the Parliament at this
stage.
Mr Tozaka: Some of the
alienated lands have been converted to 75 Fixed Term Estate title in return for
development purposes. What mechanisms
does the Ministry have in checking on the development programs of alienated
lands making sure they abide by that agreement when they were converted to
perpetual estate, the 75 lease agreement?
Hon Boseto: It is still in
the process as some of the claims are fixed term because there are people who
actually claimed the lands already developed and also fixed titles. That is still under process of discussion.
Mr Kengava: In the event
that lands are returned to original landowners, will there be conditions to
that?
Hon Boseto: Yes, I think
so there would be some conditions. Some
conditions put by the government in relation to the developers or
investors. Some conditions will be put in
relation to developing the area perhaps before the complete transfer of the
perpetual titles. That is why I said it will
involve research which I have mentioned.
We have to come up with proper formulation of the policy to accommodate all
these categories.
Mr Kengava: My concern is
those lands currently used by Churches and Schools, what is the condition on
that?
Hon Boseto: Mr Speaker,
about Churches, I do not know how it was given to them but perhaps giver gave
it to the Churches as a gift because of the Good News. That is why I said that research is needed to
find out how the Churches acquired the land at the first place. Is it because of the people’s acceptance of
the Gospel or the missionaries? It is a
blessing to have perpetual titles over those lands but research is needed. The agenda has been lying there for many
years and so this government must be serious in addressing the various
categories that I have mentioned.
Mr Kengava: Mr Speaker, before
I thank the Minister, I would like to say that this is a concern because even
before the government is in the process of returning alienated lands, certain
landowners around the country are already claiming ownership of those lands and
this is posing fear in the communities.
The government must take very serious and careful
consideration before doing that, and it must be clear to the public that the
process is not taking place right now because the government still needs to do
some research. With that I thank the
Minister for his answers.
Question No. 24 deferred
35.
Mr FONO to the Minister for
Home Affairs: Why has it taken too long
for the re-development of the
Hon GHIRO: Mr Speaker, at
the outset the issue of China Town Redevelopment is a matter that directly
comes under the Honiara City Council and the Country Planning Committee, which
of course is a portfolio function of the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Housing.
Mr Speaker, my Ministry just like
every other stakeholder of the project is just eager to know when the
redevelopment will start. My Ministry is
interested in the China Redevelopment Project including my good honorable, the
Leader of Opposition for the simple reason that the Honiara City Council for
which
Mr
Speaker, the plan to redevelop the
The
China Town Redevelopment plan is an approved amendment to the Plan 1676A which
is a Legal Planning scheme in
My good Leader of Opposition I have
nothing to say about this redevelopment because this redevelopment scheme is
under my good friend, the Minister of Lands, Survey and Housing and so he would
be in a good position to let us know when the development will start.
Mr Fono: Was there any
consultation between your Ministry and the Ministry of Lands to find answers to
this question?
Hon Ghiro: As I have said
earlier on I have consulted the City Council relating to this issue but again
it is not under my portfolio. So the
Minister of Lands would be in a position to let us know about the redevelopment
of the
Hon Boseto: Mr Speaker, I
think it would be better if the Leader of Opposition formulates a question for
me and I will give you a good response to the question later.
Mr Kengava: Supplementary
question to the Minister for Home Affairs.
Is finding money the problem in the rebuilding of the
Hon Ghiro: I am not in a
position to say something about compensation because it is a matter the Cabinet
will deal with.
Hon Sogavare: Mr Speaker,
the issue of compensation is a matter that will be addressed under the
Commission of Inquiry that is set up to investigate that matter.
Mr Kengava: If I may put
it in another way. Is finding money the
problem in helping owners of the
Hon Sogavare: Mr Speaker,
the issue of money is not really the issue of the Chinese. In fact they have come to see the government
that they are prepared to go ahead and work on rebuilding the
Mr Fono: Mr Speaker, before
I thank the Ministers and the Prime Minister, I would have thought that if a
Minister knows that a question is not within his portfolio he should liaise
with the other Minister so that answers given on questions are reasonable and
proper. With that Mr Speaker, I thank
the Ministers and the honorable Prime Minister for their answers.
37.
Mr TANEKO to the Minister for
Police and National Security: Can the
Minister update this House the timeframe for Lofung Police Station construction
of Police residences and Station in the
Hon TOSIKA: Mr Speaker, in fact this is his project as a
former Minister for Police during his time.
This project did not take off until now.
The Government in 2006 has already sent people down to Lofung which is owned
by Fisheries and there is an understanding between Fisheries and the Ministry
of Police to acquire this place from them in November 2006.
Work
has already started. There is allocation
in the budget for about $3.5million for Lofung in Cluten bay. So do not worry because the project is taking
off the ground, people are now on site, and as soon as the budget is passed
everything should be in place. Project
formulation and land acquisition was already done with the understanding
between Fisheries and Police. We have
already paid Fisheries to relocate them and the Police Station will be located
there to look after our people at the border.
Sir Kemakeza: Mr Speaker, my question is in two parts. Since the hard working Minister confirmed to
the House that $3.5million is for the Police Station and residence for police
officers, who will be manning the station?
Hon Tosika: As it is. We cannot send Police Officers to live in the
station. It is quite uncommon for any
Police Station outside especially in a place like Cluten bay where there is no
other place. So the sensible thing is
for the project to cover residences for the officers.
Mr Taneko: Mr Speaker, the Minister in his answer said the
Station will be shifted to the Fisheries area rather than at Lofung. Before the Lofung Station will move to
Fisheries, was there consultation made to really ascertain whether the place is
suitable for the Police Station and for the future development of Shortlands as
well. Is it the right place? Who confirmed it is the right place?
Hon Tosika: Mr Speaker, I am surprised because this
project is the project of the person asking the question when he was the
Minister of Police. During his time the site
was identified, negotiations and conclusion was done prior to this government
coming into power. When we came into
power we renegotiated the project with Fisheries because at this point in time Fisheries
is in
Now
we are asking Fisheries to move out so that the Police Station will be set up
there. I have been in the Shortlands for
a year as a Customs Officer looking after the border and Lofung is a place
where I usually walked around shooting doves and so I know that place very well.
It has more space to accommodate the
station and for expansion as well. The
locality is safe as it is inside a bay and so it has safe surroundings. It is properly sheltered and is an ideal
place and locality for a police station.
Mr Taneko: Mr Speaker, before I thank the Minister for
answering the question, you have rightly mentioned that you have been there in
Lofung. Lofung is a very open place and
previously it was a PPF station. But now
it is going to be shifted to Cluten, which is true that a wharf can be built
and the patrol boat can be based there.
But family-wise I do not think it is really suitable because of the
mountain near by. The way I see it Mr
Speaker it is a bit too close to the mountain, not enough space for children to
play. As a Member of Parliament I think
I should be consulted after the feasibility study was done, and when that did
not happen, and it is our project, the previous government, I was not really
impressed.
I
was thinking that the station will be still stationed at Lofung where there is
enough space to build a school, sports field, a big area and any future
development for Shortlands for my people, that place should be the right place
for a growth centre. Since donor’s money
is going to be used, I think the government of the day should really consider
the right place to build the station. Thank you for answering the question.
Question No.39
Mr Gukuna: Mr Speaker, since this question was put on
notice, I have obtained some information which I need to strengthen my position
on the question and so I wish to withdraw the question at the moment.
HOSPITAL –
38. Mr KOLI to the Minister for Health and Medical Services: Can the Minister inform Parliament of any plans
by the Government to build a hospital specifically for the people of
Hon SOALAOI: Mr
Speaker, I rise to respond to the question by the Member for
Mr Speaker, the Ministry is currently looking at the
The Ministry has given the go ahead to Don Bosco in
2006 to construct the hospital and it should be ready for use by the
Mr Koli: You mentioned
the newly constructed mini hospital in the Guadalcanal Plains. In terms of location, the Guadalcanal Plains
is just close to
Hon Soalaoi: Mr Speaker,
the approval given by the Ministry to construct the infrastructure is based on
the utilization benchmark used by the Ministry to determine upgrading of lower
levels of medical centres to another stage, in this case to become a mini
hospital. There are other area health
centres around
Like I said earlier on, the Ministry is still waiting
to know where the headquarters of the
Mr Koli: Mr Speaker, I
would like to thank the Minister for his answers. Thank you.
LEGAL DRAFTSMAN – SALARY AND
ENTITLEMENTS
Mr Gukuna: Point of
order Mr Speaker. Last week when we
discussed the salaries of the political appointees, the Government issued a
statement saying it is unethical to talk about it. I just wonder whether this question will
contravene the Government’s statement of last week.
Mr Speaker: I
think it is a matter of publication of the salaries before they were authorized
that was discussed last week.
Mr Zama:
Mr Speaker, I think that point
of order is out of order.
41.
Mr
Hon DARCY: Mr Speaker, I
am just wondering whether under Standing Order 22(k) the information that is required
in this question can be obtained in documents that are easily accessible from
the public office.
Mr Speaker: I
suppose the honorable Member finds it hard to have access to this
information. In terms of salaries in
budget documents, for example, only statutory salaries are actually specified
and not all public offices. In that case,
that kind of information is not readily available, and so he can ask the
question. If it was the statutory
salaries then your point would be taken to this effect.
Hon Darcy: Mr Speaker,
with your ruling I further seek your guidance whether this question should be
addressed to the Minister of Finance or to the Public Service because the
contract was really signed by the Public Service Division with the holder of
the position.
Mr Speaker: Minister of
Public Service, do you have information now.
Hon SANGA: Mr Speaker, I
would like to go back again to the point raised by the Minister of
Finance. I have the documents available
with me right now - the contract that was signed by the Legal Draftsman and the
copy of the salary structures that was given the okay by the Cabinet - that was
the last exercise in the re-leveling of the Public Service salaries, and also
information regarding the re-grading salary which can be found in the Establishment
Register of the Public Service. I have
the documents with me now, and if it is okay with you I could provide the
information to the questioner.
Mr Speaker: It is up to
the questioner whether he wants to accept it or he wants to hear you. Do you want a physical presentation or answer
in writing to you?
Mr Zama: Mr Speaker, I
did not quite get what the two Ministers are trying to say - the Minister of
Finance and the Minister of Public Service, and then somebody interjected in
which made me confused. But if it has
been the way that Parliament has been presenting information on paper, and if
it is for public consumption, why should we be so conscious as this will be the
first time we are holding things up.
I think this question is in the interest of the public
and is also in the interest of the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. This needs to be brought to the surface so
that we are all accountable and transparent in every things.
Mr Speaker, I just want to know the issue of the engagement
of this officer, and whether he is a public officer and is paid by public funds
we need to know. I have almost 10
supplementary questions on this question and that is why I would like if I
could talk with the two Ministers so that they are properly prepared with good answers
which I would like them to find.
I want the Parliament to know and for budget purposes
for 2008, we need to get proper information on this kind of funding arrangement
and in terms of appointment, localization programs for the Attorney General’s Office,
all these things is what I want to ask on the floor of Parliament so that we
are all aware. But Mr Speaker, I give
them time, and if you can assure me that this will appear again on the order
paper tomorrow then I will defer it today so that I talk with them and they
prepare some good answers for Parliament.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker: The Minister
is ready to answer your question.
Hon SANGA Mr Speaker, the answer I have before me is as
follows. The position of the Legal
Draftsman at the time when the contract was signed in 2005 was Level 10 in the
Public Service Salary Scale.
The current incumbent is paid under that Agreement
around the level of 10.5 on the normal Public Service Salary scale but under a
contract so the contract specifically spelt out that his basic salary is $48,848.86. That position has changed since the
re-leveling of the Public Service Salary Structure so that his basic salary is
now graded at SS2, and in terms of the award according to the salary points, it
is at SS2.10.
Since the current incumbent Legal Draftsman is an
expatriate, his salary is supplemented under the Local Supplementation Scheme,
which brings the total package of the Legal Draftsman under that contract and
it was signed at $766,000 per annum. If
the basic salary is excluded from the local supplementation component, the
supplementation could be at $717,151.14.
However, Mr Speaker it is very important to note that under the contract,
the sum paid as local supplementation includes the cost of accommodation,
vehicle maintenance, traveling, cost of utilities - that is water, gas and
electricity and wages payable to domestic staff, gratuity and terminal grant. That is the answer I have.
Mr Zama: Mr Speaker,
supplementary question. What are the duties
of the Legal Draftsman?
Hon Sanga: Mr Speaker, a Legal Draftsman by the terminology is a
person who drafts legal documents and other instruments. That basically is his role as a draftsman.
Mr Zama: Mr Speaker, I
know that the current incumbent has been on the position for some times. How many Solomon Islanders have been trained for
this position? How many Solomon
Islanders have been trained during the time this incumbent is in position?
Hon Sanga: There is
shortage of expertise of a legal draftsman and women. We as a government including the last
government have attempted to try and train our own legal draftsman. We have actually sent two officers who have
been qualified as draftsman but they have since left the government service and
we have another person who is working with the current Legal Draftsman.
Mr DAUSABEA: Mr Speaker,
upon hearing the figure announced by the Minister for Public Service, can you
confirm that this officer is the highest paid officer within the Government Service?
Hon Sanga: Mr Speaker,
this officer plus other officers whose skills and expertise are not available
in the country, one of those officers was paid under local
supplementation. And local
supplementation scheme is rarely used. It
is only used when we feel that we do not have local expertise available.
Mr Zama: Mr Speaker, is
the government having any localization program for this position? Mr Speaker, the current incumbent has been on
the position for sometimes and from normal practice, when someone is in a
position and they are expatriates or from outside, there is always the
understanding that somebody has to understudy to take up the position.
But what I understand is that a few of our people have
not been able to take that position and so we need to know the government’s
localization program of this position. If
this person is just too indispensable then it is a problem of the
government. What is the localization
program of the government?
Hon Sanga: Mr Speaker,
this position like every other position within the Service filled by expatriate
officers is subject to review all the time.
Now in this case when this government came in, there is already a
standing contract with the officer and I think the concerns that are raised in
the House are very important and we will take note of them.
Mr Zama: Mr Speaker,
before I thank the government and the Ministers, in my view and from what I
heard from the answers, this office is one of the highly paid offices in the
Public Service, and at the rate the government is taking in outsourcing its
work, there is now the need that if we continue to outsource our work is not
good enough because our local people who can do the job are readily available.
In my view, with that kind of level
of salary we can engage 10 legal officer posts in the Public Service. But what I want to raise is that there is real
need for the government to look at this position and further review the
contract because it is becoming expensive. Talking about affordability and sustainability
in our programs and positions, this is one position, in my view, that needs to
be seriously looked into in terms of government’s affordability.
The question of localization also needs
to be seriously looked into as well and if the current incumbent is an
impediment to the progress and development of this office, then that also needs
to come under the spotlight. But that said,
I would like to thank the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Public Service
and any other Ministers who have in one way or the other contributed their
thoughts in putting together the answers and the officers who have assisted their
Ministers on this question. I would like
to thank them from the bottom of my heart for making that effort. Thank you very much.
BILLS
Bills
– First Reading
The
Statistics (Amendment) Bill 2007
The
Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2007
Bills
– Committee Stage
The
2007 Appropriation Bill 2007
(Committee of Supply continues)
Head
285 – Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey
Mr Kengava: Mr Chairman, accounting
code 4070. Can the Minister enlighten me
on what Retirement LSB is?
Hon Boseto: Mr Chairman, that is for those who have not yet been
paid their retirement.
Hon Sogavare: Mr Chairman,
that is long service benefits for some employees.
Sir Kemakeza: Mr Chairman,
accounting code 6089 – land acquisition.
There is a big reduction here than the last budget. I want to know what projects would this $2.7million
go for. If they are ongoing projects and
were also reduced then he should also inform Parliament.
Hon Boseto: Mr Chairman,
the Budget Division made the reduction because what has been budgeted for last
year has not been spent. We wanted to
spend it but there were some disputes and so it slowed it down. It was reduced to enable us spend it this
year.
Mr Lonamei: Mr Chairman,
subhead 6095 – site development fund.
Are they going down to the provinces too or who is going to be funded
under this?
Hon Boseto: Mr Chairman,
that is fund for
Mr Tozaka: Mr Chairman,
page 345 1010 - civil service salaries. Just
a general question referring to the Establishment Register. I noticed that there are outstanding vacancies
to be filled especially in the accounts cadre.
What is the Ministry’s effort in filling these positions?
Hon Sogavare: Mr Chairman,
normal government recruitment will happen.
The vacant posts are indicated there and we will recruit officers, and
there is a pool of resources under the Public Service of $10 million to cater
for vacant posts to be filled.
Mr Kwanairara: Mr Chairman,
I would like to ask the Minister about the establishment and the non
establishment register too on page 137.
It says under the Tribal Lands Recording all those posts have been
transferred or deployed to the Land Reform Unit. Does that mean there will be no work done
under Tribal Land Recording?
Hon Boseto: Mr Chairman,
our plan is that land recording will be deployed to the newly established Land Reform
Division. It will be taken care of there.
Mr Tozaka: Mr Chairman, on
page 137 of the establishment register in relation to the Registrar General’s
post. That post has been vacant for
quite a while, and it is a very important post being acted upon at the moment by
administrative convenience. May be the
Minister for Public Service would help here on the time this important post
would be filled.
Hon Boseto: Mr Chairman,
the information I have here is that the Judiciary will be involved in the
appointment of the Registrar General, and that is why the delay.
Mr Tozaka: Mr Chairman,
can the Honourable Minister repeat his answer?
I did not hear what he said in filling in this post on the Registrar
General’s post?
Hon Boseto: Mr Chairman,
the Judiciary and Legal Services Commission will appoint the Registrar General
because it is a legal position.
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
what the Minister is saying is that we are still in the process of making the
appointment of the position of the Registrar General, and it will be done
through the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.
Sir Kemakeza: Mr Chairman, there
is a big reduction on income. What is
the cause of this big reduction on income? the Minister of Finance wants money and the
Minister must collect all the dues he can collect? Is it because the actuals of last year
dropped or activities are no longer there as they have been taken over by
private firms or is it because of non collection? Which ones of these is the cause of this reduction
in income Mr Chairman?
Hon Boseto: Mr Chairman,
we have not increased our charges but we have increased the estimates as the
fees are not collected. Cheques are not
accepted by bank. I am sorry about this
but we are not well prepared.
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
income on lands for last year. What is
provided for this year is real income for the previous year. In fact, for sometime there has been some
over-estimation of the arrears on land rentals and premiums when in fact the
real income that is due to the government on this particular item is just what
has been provided for in the 2007 budget.
We are basically budgeting for the realistic income that we would expect
to collect from this particular Ministry.
Sir Kemakeza: Mr Chairman,
I did not get the proper answers from the two Ministers because reduction in
revenue can be in three areas. The first
is when services provided for by the Department are no longer there as they are
now carried out by the private sector. The
second is that the collection of last year, the performance of collection is
not as expected and therefore it decreased.
The last one is when officers did not collect money last year. There is somebody who is supposed to pay the
dues to the government but officers did not collect the most needed revenues. Which of these three is the cause of this reduction? It is a simple thing, Mr Chairman.
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
I have already said what that reduction is.
It is based on what was really collected in 2007, which means that may be
the figures for 2006 have been over-estimated as income when in fact it was not
supposed to be the figure that was estimated in the previous years.
In relation to whether or not we
have actually subcontracted the collection of income, you cannot do that in the
Ministry of Lands because payment has to be made to the government. It cannot be subcontracted or outsourced to
any other revenue collecting agents to collect the fees. It is not income of that nature.
The real reason for this reduction is that this is the
real income that has been collected in 2006, and therefore we do not want to
over estimate the figures for 2007 otherwise we will bring false expectations
to the public and also in the way this budget is assembled.
Mr Riumana: Mr Chairman,
my question is again on income. Does the
Ministry have any mechanism or systems put in place to monitor and coordinate
the collection of incomes?
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
the whole framework of financial management of the government is to consolidate
the collection of revenue. I do not
really understand what the Member is talking about but if you look at the whole
framework of financial management, it provides for a very tight process of
payment of revenue to the government.
There is no room for outsourcing unless of course in the areas of tax
where you believe you can outsource it to other agents to collect it. But it is very tightly put together in an
established system.
Mr Chairman, in terms of the overall financial
management framework the government has, as provided for under the Financial
Instructions, it is a very, very consolidated process of collection of
government revenue.
Mr Fono: Mr Chairman,
the Minister’s answer is not quite acceptable because if you look at the income
actuals in 2005 it is $1.3 million. It
means that is what was actually collected. The revised estimate for 2006 was even over a
million dollar. But this year we only
estimated $375,000. In relation to the
question of the Deputy Speaker, the MP for Savo/Russells, that explanation is
not straight. It would only mean that
you have reduced the fees?
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
no. In fact the situation of 2005 and
2006 are the remaining arrears that have been collected and therefore it makes
that difference. All the arrears that
have been previously assessed have been collected in the fiscal years of 2005
and 2006, which means that there are no arrears, unless of course there are
arrears in previous years, which can be easily adjusted in the current
year. There is no real difference in the
way this revenue is put together.
Sir Kemakeza: Mr Chairman,
I was also waiting for the Leader of the Opposition because I was not happy
with the Minister’s answers. The answers
are not straight and do not make sense.
Even if activities are taken over by the private sector, which he also
gave a wrong explanation because I did not ask subcontracting of the collection
of revenue. For example, take one of the
items there, Mr Chairman, valuation. A
lot of people are now doing valuation work and so people go to them and
therefore they do not go to the government for this service. That is what I meant and therefore, the reason
for this reduction in revenue. If that
is the explanation then it makes sense to me because the first explanation does
not justify the actuals. If arrears of
2005 are collected and therefore the actual is there then it might make some
sense. But I am still not satisfied with
the answers by the Minister of Finance.
I think the Minister of Lands might have a good answer because the
Minister of Finance is starting to guess.
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
valuation is a service that can be outsourced.
But when the valuation work is carried out the fees must be paid to the
government. The fee is not paid to the
person that has been outsourced to carry out the valuation service. The service can be outsourced but the fees
for engaging that service, as if it is done by government officers but done by
a private sector, must be paid to the government. Do not confuse us on this thing.
Mr Gukuna: Mr Chairman,
can I suggest that the money was lost because no one is working in that Division. There is no salary there as it appeared and
so there is no one working in that division.
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
there cannot be other reasons except the fact that arrears of previous years
have been collected, and arrears can be dated back some three, four years prior
to 2006 or 2005.
What we are saying is that by 2005 and 2006 those
areas have been paid by those who owed the government the money. When it comes to 2007 we feel that the realistic
estimate for revenue on these particular items is what is reflected in
2007. There may be some adjustments on
previous years, and that is the immediate previous year or 2006 which can change
the amount slightly but not substantially as what may have been perceived by all
the questioners.
Mr Kwanairara: Mr Chairman, accounting
code 3225 - protective clothing and safety equipment. Are people in provincial towns and the
Country Planning Boards going to use protective clothing and safety equipments?
Hon Boseto: Mr Chairman, this
is provision for the uniforms of surveyors.
Mr Tozaka: Mr Chairman,
just a clarification from the Honorable Minister on physical planners for the
provinces. Do we provide planners for
provinces as well?
Hon Boseto: Yes, Mr
Chairman, I think is provision for the overall approach to physical
planning. The information I have is that
we are going to have a workshop on overall planning. .
Mr Rini:
Accounting code 0060 on page
356 and also accounting code 0238. The
first one is premiums on estates, which increases to $1,152,834. What is this increase? Premium is related to new lands that people
apply for. I know that government land
in
Hon Boseto: The reduction
is because of land acquisition, and so this estimate is reduced in relation to
that one. What is the other question?
Mr Rini: The first question
is on increase on estates. An increase premium
fee depends on the availability of lands. Government lands in
Hon Boseto: This is not
new land but those who have not been paying their land rents. That is what we are going to collect.
What should be done is that we are going to collect
the arrears which should bring us to normal and that is what that increase is
for.
Mr Gukuna: Page 355, accounting
code 2030 - tribal land recording. The
commitment this year is the same as last year.
In the budget speech there is intention by the government to move towards
speeding up land recording and using land as collaterals for the credit schemes
he promised. However, it appears to me
now that there is no commitment according to the budget. Can the Minister confirm whether there is
going to be land recording or will it be the same as last year?
Hon Boseto: After this
budget is passed we are going to look at it holistically with the collaborative
approach of the newly established Land Reform Unit.
The Land Reform Bill will come probably in mid this
year but we are working towards that which involve the legal framework of the
nine provinces to participate in land recording as they are much closure to customary
land than the Ministry. But there would
be more and more information coming through between now and the mid of this
year.
The provinces, Members of the Parliament and provincial
members will take part in the whole process of land recording.
Mr Taneko: Still on the
same question, can the Minister confirm if tribal recording is legal now, can it
be used for collateral?
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
what we are planning to do is to start off with the drafting of the legislation
first which we hope to table in July, the middle of this year. For the time being it does not require or
there may not be a need to put in any provision here, but after the passage of
the Bill, we can look into other budgetary requirements to enforce the implementation
of that legislation when it comes into force.
Mr Gukuna: Mr Chairman,
the question is similar to the questions we have already asked. I note there is a significant increase on
income on accounting code 0060 - premium on estates. Do we have more estates now so that we are increasing
the premiums? How does that big increase
come about? It is good news that we will
get more income, but how does that come about?
Mr Boseto: Mr Chairman
what page is that please?
Mr Gukuna: Page 356 accounting
code 0060.
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
I think the Minister has already explained that we would expect to speed up the
registration of some of the land known as Tasahe II. I think you would be aware of Tashahe II. Also if you look at the Development Budget we
have made allocation for the registration of all unauthorized public land in
Mr Gukuna: The
registration process can take very long.
Can the Minister confirm that there is a high chance this amount will
remain unfunded this year. Because
depending on registration sometimes can take very long.
Hon Darcy: On the
question of funding, if we do not believe that the budget will not have the
revenue strength to fund it then we would not have put it in the budget.
We are confident to ensure the affordability of this
budget is funded and that is why we put it there. We are confident that whatever provision of
expenditure put in there can be easily matched by the revenue strength of the
budget in the current year.
Mr Rini: I am still on
those pages. I would just like to ask
the Minister about these two departments - the Western Region Lands Centre and
also the Northern Region Lands Centre. According
to the establishment the Western Region covers
Hon Boseto: Mr Chairman,
what I have been saying is that the establishment of the Land Reform Unit is
going to be looked into. I said that we
have to work through legal framework to establish it so that all the provinces
are involved. I am not quite sure about
the title Western Region because I know that we use ‘provincial’ so we have to
look into that one.
Let the budget pass and when we come to realigning the
approach to the normal single framework of each province, all the
constituencies that are going to participate in this reform. This is not going to be fragmented but done
in an integrated approach.
Mr Tozaka: Mr Chairman,
my question is in relation to the vacancies, the posts. I am quite worried that the sight here is not
very good.
I am generally talking about the Establishment Register
on pages 137 and 138 where you can see many vacant posts in this department,
and they have been there for quite a long time, I gather and these posts are
specialized posts in the Lands Division.
Is the Minister saying that he is going to advertise
these posts in the open market or is he going to appoint people because these
are special cadres? The practice in the
past is to fill the posts and then send the people for in service training to
PNG or to the USP. Can he explain?
Hon Boseto: Mr Chairman,
can we discuss the budget and ask questions on the budget. Is that a budget question?
Mr Tozaka: It is part of
the budget.
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
those posts have been there for some time.
We understand that there may be the need to upgrade the levels of some
of these posts so that we can attract qualified people to mann these positions.
I think there has been some significant improvement in
the way the grading of these posts have been provided for in the budget, and we
do not see any reason as to why the current grading would discourage good
qualified people to mann these positions.
But if we go through the year and find that it has
been a disincentive to officers then obviously the process is there for review
and upgrading of these positions and can be reflected in future budgets.
Mr Fono: Mr Chairman, page
362, can the Minister explain why is there no estimate for rental charges as
income under Housing, accounting code 0218.
Are we not going to collect any rental charges this year? We have been $400,000 plus over the last
years and the actuals for 2005 was $449,000.00. Why is that we do not have any estimates for
it this.
Hon Darcy: Those figures
have been posted to other charges. It
has been incorporated in other fees and charges. The Government even does not have any houses that
being rented out in the open market. All
houses are fully occupied by government employees and government ministries. But may be figures of that kind have been
posted to other charges. So it would be reflected
on pages 356 and 352.
Mr Fono: What other
charges is the Minister of Finance referring to? The other charges I can see here are on page
356 and it is even lower than what was actually collected under rental charges
revised estimates in 2005.
Can you be specific as to which accounting code does rental
charges come under, under different divisions that we have just gone
through?
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
other charges on Page 352. I think one
thing we must also note is that we have gone through the process of cleaning up
all revenue heads in the last six months of 2006, so that where appropriate,
revenues are supposed to be charged to a particular head in the budget. That is what you see in the budget.
Even though you see zero provisions there may be
through the posting exercise and cleaning up of the revenue subheads, those
revenues have been allocated to the appropriate heads rather than what we have
seen in the past.
Mr Gukuna: I notice that
the housing development provision do not appear in 2005 and 2006 and then it
comes up again this year. I interpret
this as a new department that has just been established. Can the Minister explain the rationale behind
this?
Hon Boseto: Mr Chairman,
as far as I know this is a newly established unit since last year.
Mr Gukuna: Mr Chairman,
I am not happy with that answer because this new division will cost more than
half a million dollars, and just to say it is a new department is not enough.
Of course, I can interpret it as explained as a new
department but I want a bit more, the rationale behind it. Why did the Ministry see it fit that it
should come in this year?
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
the whole intention of this new policy is to take stock of all government
properties. If you look at what is
intended to be spent here it is only half a million dollars but if you look at
the overall valuation of all government properties, it is more than half a
million, it could $10 or $20million.
The whole idea is for the government to take stock of
all its properties and then properly manage and develop them to improve
government services. That is the whole
intention. It is a matter that has been
neglected for some time, and I am sure we will all appreciate the fact that government
assets have not been properly accounted and managed and therefore have given
rise to a very huge depreciation in terms of asset management. Mr Chairman, that is really the intention of
this policy. We believe it is a good
approach so that the government can actually see what is really there for the government
to deliver its services to the public.
Mr Gukuna: Just a follow
up question, and I accept the explanation by the Minister. Is this division going to deal only with agriculture
houses? I understand that the Department
of Infrastructure also deals with housing. Is this specifically for the Department of
Agriculture or for every houses.
Hon Darcy: No, it is for
the entire properties of the government, the housing properties of the government,
and not only for one ministry. As you
know the function of property valuation is vested in the Ministry of Lands and
therefore it is better placed with the responsibility of managing government
assets.
Mr Tozaka: Page 362
accounting code 2002 - Repair of Government Housing. In the Ministry of Infrastructure &
Development there is also repair of government housing, and so there is a
duplication of two subheads. What is the
difference between this one here and the one under the Ministry of
Infrastructure? I would have thought
that repairing of government houses comes under the Ministry of Infrastructure
and Development.
Hon Darcy: The entire
budgetary heads have subheads labeled as repair of government housing. So it is not only specific to this particular
head here. If you look at other
ministries, they also have subheads which says repair of government
housing. This is only a standby
provision. It is a new division and if
the capacity of this division is built up and we see there is justification to
boost this particular provision we will decide at that time.
Head 285 - $12,088,977 agreed to
Head
286 - Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination
Mr Fono: I notice that there is no longer allocation for
national planning, national reform. I
understand that it is a policy decision to relocate national planning function
to the Prime Minister’s Office. Can the
Minister explain the justification for that relocation of the national planning
function to the Prime Minister’s Office?
Hon Abana: This
component has been moved to the Prime Minister’s Office in line with the policy
of the government.
Mr Gukuna: Page 367 –
Under headquarters, only salary costs appear here but there are no costs to
take care of their work. What will these
people do? Just pay them without doing
any work?
Hon Abana: This is
because the new arrangement for headquarter and admin has moved to the Ministry
of Planning.
Mr Fono: Page 370 –
Office Rent is $244,724.00. Can the
Minister confirm that the current office occupied by the Ministry of Planning at
the
Hon Abana: This year we
anticipate an increase in rental for that office, and that is the reason why
there is a slight increase of $7,000. I
do not have the actual figures on what the Leader of Opposition is asking
concerning EU assistance on rental but I will make that available to the honorable
Leader of Opposition.
Mr Hilly: Mr Chairman,
just an explanation of the format of this division where under expenditure is
Civil Service Salaries and further down are the other common charges. I take it that those charges are for those
people working inside the office are using.
On page 367 we have under expenditure civil service
salaries, housing allowances and so on, but there is no money voted for
administration people in the Headquarters and Administration. When we come to page 368, under National
Reform, I understand this has been transferred to the Prime Minister’s
Office. When we come to page 369 there
is the civil service salaries but there are no common subheads that officers
will use in their work in the office. I
just want to get clarification from the Minister as to why we have this format
that common provisions are given to the various subheads for the people we are
voting money for?
Hon Abana: The Ministry
of Planning is just a small Ministry and therefore all those charges come under
one head - Administration.
Mr Fono: PDU
Monitoring Grant. Can the Minister
confirm whether the Ministry continues to monitor the PDU funded projects? And if so, how many projects still exist
under PDU may be in the late 80’s or early 90’s? There is still allocation for this under accounting
code 4116 amounting to $33,238.
Hon Abana: A slight correction
here. It is supposed to be the
Monitoring grants for the provinces. The
PDU grant is no longer there.
Mr Chairman: Just delete
the letters ‘PDU’ and so it should be just ‘monitoring grant’.
Mr Kwanairara: Page 370 accounting
code 2024 – Entertainment, which has a slight increase. What kind of entertainment is this?
Hon Abana: As you might
have heard that we are increasing the length of time for dialogue with aid
donors, and so we must entertain them. That
is the reason for the slight increase.
Mr Gukuna: I understand
that before the budget is drawn up they will have to hold meetings with aid
donors. I might have missed it but I do
not see any provision to meet the cost of this meeting.
Hon Abana: At the
beginning of this year we organized the first meeting with donors at the Iron
Bottom Sound Hotel and the second one to follow suit should be one week from
now and it is accommodated under that head.
Mr Fono: Just a
general question. Planning is very
important in terms of the Government’s strategies. I notice quite a lot of vacant posts in the Establishment. What guarantee does the Minister have from
the Public Service that these posts will be filled? Most of these posts have been vacant since
2005 and 2006 period and they appear again under the Establishment this year.
Hon Abana: The Leader of
Opposition would know during his time that it is not easy to recruit the right
officers. It is very challenging to
recruit new officers. Last year we made
progress by recruiting at least nine officers.
This year we will continue to recruit and fill the vacant posts under
the Establishment. I can assure the
Leader of Opposition that certainly we will try our best to recruit so that the
Ministry can come up with the expected performance this year.
Mr Hilly: Mr Chairman,
I notice that National Planning is on page 370 and also page 371 but then we
skip to page 373. I just want to ask the
wisdom of the Minister because it is causing confusion to some of us. Are the expenditures on page 373 especially on
civil service salaries that should be on page 370? What is the wisdom here?
Hon Abana: It is the
same one based on the understanding that Planning component moved to the Prime
Minister’s Office and the staffing at present, because of the difficulty in
recruitment will still be there.
Head 286- $1,682,637agreed to
Head
287: Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Mr Boyers: Page 378
Accounting Code 2013 - telephones and faxes.
I note throughout the Ministry’s heads that there is absolutely no provision
for telephone and faxes. Telephone
numbers are in the phone book, IT replacement and computers are there and the email
is there, but why did the Ministry not budget for telephone and faxes for
communication?
Hon Rogosomani: I think it is
include under the water provision. They
are all under that provision.
Mr Fono: Page 378,
looking through the budget itself I fail to see the payroll cost for headquarters
and admin under pages 378 and 379. Is
there any explanation for that?
Hon Rogosomani: At this point
in time they are all absorbed under the various divisions.
Mr Fono: Do you mean
to say that there is no provision for payroll for under secretaries and the admin
staff in your establishment? The posts
are there in the establishment for Under Secretary, Executive Personal
Secretary on page 146 in the Establishment.
Why did they not appear in the recurrent budget under Headquarters and
Admin? I fail to see it in other
different departments too because they have their own civil salaries but I do
not see the salaries for Admin and Headquarters and that is why I am asking
whether the Minister can inform us where the Admin Staff Civil Service salaries
are absorbed under?
Hon Darcy: They are all
incorporated under the Tourism Division on page 384. You will see a slight improvement for salary
provision in there.
Mr Rini: Page 382
Accounting Code 6076 - Artifacts and Display.
Can the Ministry explain what this allocation is for?
Hon Rogosomani: It is for the
artifacts that are on display in the Museum.
Mr Rini: On page 384 –
Head 4094 - Eco-tourism Development Grants.
I want the Minister to explain what is the procedure for people in the
rural areas to access this fund?
Hon Rogosomani: This
allocation is for the officers and is not for projects.
Mr Hilly: Subvention to
Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau has no provision. We understand that the Visitors Bureau is a
very important office trying to attract visitors into this country. Is the Visitors Bureau able now to finance
its own work?
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman, the
Government’s policy on subventions to statutory bodies has already been announced.
It is not that they will not be given
subventions. The statutory bodies must
first show good governance and proper auditing of their accounts before the
government will consider the costs that it can subvent and subsidize.
It is not right to say that it has been excluded from
the provisions. There is a zero
provision there which means that it can be supplemented. So a zero provision is still there because it
has to start from zero, one, two, and going up, so it is still there.
Mr Gukuna: Mr Chairman,
page 384 accounting code 2018 - Publicity and Promotion. Tourism is all about promotion and
publicity. Do you think this amount is
enough or are you going to increase it?
Hon Rogosomani: Mr Chairman,
this allocation as you can see is not enough. But at least we have something to start with.
Mr Fono: Mr Chairman,
I will go back to the item the Member for Marovo has asked on eco-tourism
development grant. The Minister said
that this is for projects but for officers.
If so why use the word ‘grants’?
Or is it only officers that are entitled to build eco-tourisms? That is my first question.
The second question is on general
grants of $540,000. What procedures do
people need to follow in order to get assistance under this general grant?
Hon Rogosomani: Mr Chairman,
I think that is a mistake or error in account coding.
Mr Speaker: But should
there be a proper figure?
Mr Fono: Mr Chairman, this
eco-tourism development, if the word ‘grant’ is removed why is it for officers? Touring and traveling is there.
Hon Rogosomani: This provision
is to assist officers when they go for tours and visits.
Mr Gukuna: Mr Chairman,
I come again on general grant. My
understanding is that some officers in the Ministry have some good connections
with only a few operators and they have been drawing this fund years and
years. When some good ones applied they were
rejected but when their friends applied the grant just flowed.
Can the Minister and his officers ensure that these
funds are not used by these people because there are some genuine people who
have been excluded? Can the Minister
confirm that they are doing something to try and keep track on this important
fund?
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
we will take note of that concern but we are not aware of any scheme like that
going on with operators and officers.
Mr Hilly: Mr Chairman,
culture promotion - code 6159. Can the
Minister explain what they are going to do here?
Hon Rogosomani: Mr Chairman, as
time goes on things change and so are our traditions and cultures because of
influences from outside at this present time we are living in. Therefore, my Ministry is looking at
promoting our cultures so that at least we can maintain the values of our
cultures which are starting lose their value at this time.
Mr Hilly: Very nice, but
my simple question is, how are you going to do it?
Hon Rogosomani: Mr Chairman,
this should enable setups within our villages which will help our old people to
be involved and with the elders in the communities to promote and maintain our
cultures.
Head 287- $3,046,975 agreed to
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
I beg to move that further proceedings of the committee of supply be suspended
until
Committee of Supply suspended until
Head
288: - Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Employment
Mr Hilly: Mr Chairman,
I noticed on page 395 trade facilitation and trade mission. Is trade still part of the department or has
it moved?
Hon Agovaka: Mr Chairman,
internal trade is still with Commerce and external trade is with Foreign
Affairs.
Mr Hilly: Mr Chairman, I
would have thought that trade mission implies external trade.
Hon Agovaka: Yes, Mr Chairman.
Mr Hilly: If it is yes,
why is it still with the Department when it is now under Foreign Affairs?
Hon Agovaka: Mr Chairman, the
Ministry still assists on trade missions in consultation with the Foreign
Affairs Ministry. We still consult with trade
missions through Foreign Affairs.
Mr Kwanairara: Mr Chairman,
accounting code 6151 - provincial trade fairs. How many provinces will benefit from this
allocation under this head? Is this only
for
Hon Agovaka: Mr Chairman, this
is to cater for provincial trade fairs during provinces’ Second Appointed days
for those that apply seeking this fund.
Mr Hilly: Mr Chairman,
is this a new initiative?
Hon Agovaka: Mr Chairman,
it is a newly created vote for 2007.
Mr Hilly: Internal marketing,
what are you going to market? Can the
Minister explain?
Hon Agovaka: Mr Chairman,
internal marketing is to assist SMEs to cater for outsourcing of technical
assistance in areas like processing of various products. For example, cassava, kava and also training
in areas of marketing and preservation and also to assist in marketing and
promoting of local products especially by provinces and also to cater for
product analysis and testing and assessments.
Mr Hilly: Mr Chairman,
if people in the rural areas come up with a commodity that they would want to
find a market for whether in Honiara or overseas, can this vote help them
finance such undertakings?
Hon Agovaka: Yes, Mr
Chairman.
Mr Kwanairara: Mr Chairman, accounting
code 4091 and 4092. I fail to see any
provision for these two items in the 2007 budget. Have they been transferred elsewhere?
Hon Agovaka: Mr Chairman,
assistance to small businesses has been scrapped off. The government has initiated the loan
guarantee scheme in replacement of these.
Mr Hilly: Page 398 –
cooperative reform administration. Are
we going to strengthen this department again?
Hon Agovaka: Yes, Mr
Chairman.
Mr Kwanairara: Mr Chairman,
just for clarification purposes under income - work permit application
fees. I think this is collected by the Treasury
because the procedure is such that the fees are paid at the Treasury.
Hon Agovaka: Mr Chairman,
work permit as income caters for work permit approvals and it is under the
Labor Division.
Mr Hilly: Mr Chairman,
I can see here the Department also doing training. There is a subhead for training - local
in-service and training – SICHE fees. How
do you award this training to students?
Is it for students leaving schools or for working people? How do you identify the students to be
trained?
Hon Agovaka: Mr Chairman,
I think this particular item comes under Labour, and it is to cater for
in-service fees for our Labour staff that have been selected to do in-service training
not only at the SICHE but the USP as well.
Mr Hilly: Mr Chairman,
before I understand that the Labor Division organizes training and at the end
of the trainings they were awarded certificates either in electrician, plumbing
or whatever. Is this part of that or is
it an old system that is no longer in operation?
Hon Agovaka: This caters
for college fees for our sponsored students.
Accounting code 4009 is provision for fees of all our sponsored students
at the SICHE.
Mr Hilly: Mr Chairman,
item 2082 - sitting allowances attracts $60,000. What is this sitting allowance for?
Hon Agovaka: The item
sitting allowance has been catered for elsewhere.
Mr Hilly: So is there a
provision for sitting allowance. If it
is for a board or corporation because they would hold meetings then I can see
some sense in here but sitting allowance for a common subhead of the department
is what I do not understand.
Hon Agovaka: The sitting
allowance here is for the Trade Disputes Panel Committee.
Mr Kwanairara: Mr Chairman,
provincial accommodation renovations. Is
this for renovating of houses in the provinces?
Hon Agovaka: This is to
renovate provincial accommodations, the tied houses that we have in the
provinces.
Mr Hilly: Mr Chairman,
page 406 - assistance to consumer group.
Is this the price control unit that used to control the price of goods and
also check the sources of some of the foods that come into the country? Is this accounting code 4093 to help
consumers and also help the division to check on the price of goods?
Hon Agovaka: Mr Chairman, assistance
to consumer group is mainly to assist interested consumer groups.
Mr Gukuna: One of the
complaints of the Price Control Unit is that they do not have a vehicle to go around
checking the price of goods in shops, and I can see here that there is no
provision to cater for that complaint.
This is the persistent complain of this division. They always complain when queries are put to
them that they do not have a vehicle. I
agree with them, and this needs to be strengthened, and one of these measures
that should be taken is to give them a vehicle.
Is there any possibility of attending to this important complaint?
Hon Agovaka: Mr Chairman,
we have noted deficiencies in the division in terms of logistic and we will assist
by providing vehicle to this particular division. We have already purchased vehicles for our
Labor Division and the Administration and we are going to assist this unit by
getting a vehicle for the unit that you mentioned.
Head 288 - $10,852,705 agreed to
Head
289: Ministry of Communication, Aviation
and Meteorology
Hon Vahoe: Mr Chairman,
I beg to move that head 289 be reduced by $11 million in respect of subhead
0511 item 8200. The reason for this
amendment is simply that it is a statutory expenditure and it was included in
my Ministry budget by mistake. Mr Chairman, with that I beg to move.
Mr Chairman: An amendment
has been moved by the Honourable Minister for Communication, Aviation and
Meteorology that head 289 be reduced by $11million in respect of subhead 0511
item 8200.
Amendment to Head 289 was carried
Mr Gukuna: Mr Chairman,
the same question keeps coming up. Water
has a provision of nearly half a million dollars. Last year there was only a provision of
$36,000, but this year it is $442,000.
There needs to be some clarification as to why this big increase in
water.
Hon Vahoe: Mr Chairman, there
is increase on water charges here because of the high consumption of water at
the international airport which has been centralized too at headquarters.
Mr Gukuna: Mr Chairman,
same question. Is it the same with
electricity and gas too?
Hon Vahoe: Mr Chairman,
yes, it also applies to electricity and gas.
Mr Rini: Mr Chairman, Telekom
license fees. Is Telekom paying this to
the government now because in the past Telekom did not pay this to the
government but it just offset it with the Government’s bills? Is Telekom now paying this revenue to the
consolidated fund?
Hon Darcy: Yes, Mr
Chairman, it did pay directly to the consolidated fund.
Mr Rini: Mr Chairman,
maintenance of airfields – provincial with an allocation of $1.2 million. Can the Minister identify the airfields in
the provinces that you are going to be maintenance?
Hon Vahoe: Mr Chairman, this
maintenance covers airfields that the government is taking care of.
Mr Hilly: Mr Chairman,
accounting code 8200 that the Minister has just moved amendment on. I just want the Minister to explain more civil
aviation special fund - statutory expenditure.
Is this special fund established under the Public Finance and Audit
Act? How do we vote money on it?
Hon Darcy: This special
fund, as I am sure Members in the last term would recall is a special fund that
is established by an act of Parliament within the Civil Aviation Act pursuant
to Section 100 of the Constitution which provides for Parliament to make
provision for special funds. That is
where this fund is being established. It
is not established under the Public Finance and Audit Act. It is established through an act of Parliament
within the Civil Aviation Act.
The expenditure of this fund is not something for
Parliament to vote on but for purposes of managing expenditures of government
resources, we have included this as information in the development budget. Where it will be expended is detailed in the
development budget.
Mr Zama: Page 147
accounting code 6151 -
Hon Vahoe: It has been
reallocated to maintenance of airfields - provincial under accounting code 2159.
Mr Zama: This is a
concern because last year it appeared as a separate item and the other item on
maintenance of provincial airfields is an ongoing separate line item. I just want to be absolutely sure that the maintenance
of Munda airport must continue otherwise it is being tucked into that item and
then forgotten.
Hon Vahoe: Munda is
classified as a provincial airport.
Mr Kwanairara: Can
we go back to page 418 accounting codes 3090 and 3091 – consumables - upper Air
and consumables - surface?
Hon Vahoe: Consumables is
funded under the US Global Climate observing system. This is a funded project that funded the
renovation of the upper air station that is completed. Part of the funding is to meet the cost of consumables
include weather balloons.
Mr Rini: Page 418
accounting code 3500 Automatic Weather Station.
These stations are very, very important for weather condition in
Hon Vahoe: That item was
underutilized last year.
Head 289 - $10,135,956 agreed to
Head
290: Ministry of Fisheries and Marine
Resources -
Mr Rini: Page 426 –
Income - Fisheries Licenses (Overseas). There is a very big increase here. Can the Minister explain where that extra
revenue will come from?
Hon Leni: We have a new
bilateral fisheries agreement signed last year and also from the European
Union. We are expecting an increase in
revenue that will come into Fisheries because of this new bilateral agreement.
Mr Zama: On this
bilateral income, otherwise we just put in figures that would unnecessarily
inflate the numbers. Is the Government
absolutely sure and does it have any confirmation from our bilateral partners
to think that, that is what will be received by government? Is there any confirmation on the bilateral treaties?
Hon Leni: Every
bilateral agreement deals with boats, and so each specific bilateral agreement
tells us how many vessels they will employ.
Based on those vessels we have fixed rates on the licenses.
Calculation is based on the number of vessels tied up
with each bilateral agreement. What we
have here in front of us is not very far from the true information that we need
to collect in revenue this year. If some
Members are not really sure I can photocopy the documents and put it in your
pigeon holes.
Mr Zama: I want the
Minister to just give us a little indication otherwise it will take your time photocopying
it. Just announce it to us so that we
all can hear it in the Chamber.
Hon Leni: The time to announce it should be during question
time. If you want this information then
put it as a question and I will read everyone to you. But if you want it I can read it to you. Japan we have 35 purseiners - 25 long line,
total revenue expected is $173,000yen and in terms of Solomon Dollar it is
about $11million, Taiwanese 33% purseiners, 7 long line, total expected revenue
is SI$5 million, Korea has 27 purseiners with expected revenue of $3 million
and New Zealand has 4 purseiners and we are expecting half a million dollars. From European Union we are expecting $4
million, the USA Bilateral Treaty we are expecting $....... and FSM Arrangement
we are expecting $6 million except for others.
Our local fishing companies like Mako, Global Investment, NFD and Soltai
vessels also form part of the revenue that will be coming in.
All
in all our expectation is that we think the sum of $48 million will be coming
in as revenue this year. But not
forgetting as well that other revenues will come after calculation of what is
inside our agreement that anything over and above US$8,000 per metric ton, 6%
of that will also be paid to us but we did not include this because if that
comes in it will be counted as a bonus.
What we have here is really the right figure we expect to collect this
year. I hope the Member is satisfied
with the answers, but if not I will give him a copy.
Mr Gukuna: Accounting
code 0111 - FFA Receipts. Is this a new
income item or what is it?
Hon Leni: What normally
happens is that the bilateral agreements that come under
Mr Rini: This is just a
general question on the Department. If
you look into this Department, the Fisheries Management Policy it is a very,
very important part in the Ministry. It
is this Ministry that collects this $53 million. But when you look at other expenditures,
especially other charges, there is a reduction of $1.6 million. Can the Minister explain as to why there is a
big reduction on other charges in this particular Department?
Mr Rini: If you look at
this budget under this division - Fisheries Management Policy. This division of the Ministry is very, very
important because it is this division that is going to collect $53million in
this year’s budget under Fisheries.
My question is, why is there a reduction on other
charges. For instance, the money that
those people are supposed to use is reduced by $1.6 million.
Hon Leni: That is not
true. It is not a reduction. Actually, there is a restructure in the
Ministry. We have separated the
Management Policy and have come up with two new divisions that will share the
responsibility.
Mr Tozaka: Just a
general question to the Minister. It is
almost the same situation as the Ministry of Lands on specialized manpower
requirement for the Fisheries Department that looks as though nearly half of
the posts here are vacant. I know that
you might also find it difficult to fill them but may be with the reform
program you are now embarking you have may plans to fill these posts. You might want to explain how you are going to
fill these important posts especially in the provinces as well.
Hon Leni: The Ministry
had already had an interview for recruitment in December last year. We are now going to get people in to fill the
vacant posts. In terms of funds provided
for the vacant posts, it is with the Public Service already.
Mr Koli: Mr Chairman,
just a general question on provincial fisheries. As you know some of the fisheries centres are
dormant, they are no longer operating. Does
the Ministry any plans to reactivate such fisheries centres?
Hon Leni: Fisheries
Centres Rehabilitation Program is ongoing.
Our usual friend, the Japanese Program continues to upgrade the
Fisheries Centres. But we are also
asking for cooperation from the communities concerned where some fisheries
centres especially on
Mr Riumana: Still on provincial
fisheries centres. Is there any
allocation for improvement of the centres?
I have not seen it in the Budget.
Hon Leni: Like I said it
is an ongoing project. This project
continues from the previous years.
Mr Kengava: I want to go
back to page 431 on accounting code 6096 – Community Education of about $180,000. I just want the Minister to give us some idea
how will he carry out this community education.
Hon Leni: Fisheries is about
performing sustainable management in the harvesting of our marine resources. The basic thing is for people in the village to
understand this very well so that they do not over harvest the resources. To do this, the Ministry needs to educate
people through workshops, demonstration and also printing of leaflets to be
given to the communities. This funding
may be is not adequate but we also have funds that will help this allocation
through the PDF. PDF for your
information is the money paid from bilateral aids into the FFA account. When we need the money, we would ask for it
and it will be given to us. May be the
amount is not enough but it will be supplemented by PDF and its work is to
educate the rural communities.
Mr Riumana: Accounting
Code 4193 – Community Based Management Program.
Can the Minister explain to us what this management program is?
Hon Leni: I think this is
also for the same reason. To use
community leaders and people to work with fisheries officials in the Ministry
to train the local communities in the rural areas especially the resource
owners where operation is taking place in their area. We are trying to put this in place now with
this restructure in the Ministry. To
start, may be this allocation is small but we are hoping that the result of
this year’s budget will help us improve and develop the areas that needs
improvement in the future.
Mr Gukuna: On page 433 is
a new division. I just wonder what
exactly is this Inshore Fisheries Management. It sounds like it has good potentials but I
just want to know what is this.
Hon Leni: Fisheries is to
do with harvesting of marine resources that are not in our deep waters. Looking at this, not every community lives
along the seaside. Some of our people do
not live close to the seaside. Anything
to do with coastal or may be in land will be taken care of by this group. All our approaches have only been looking at deep
sea harvesting of tuna and so forth.
This time we are trying to bring them much closer so that local people can
have the ability to extend their hands in harvesting their marine resources.
Mr Riumana: Sir, I would just
like to ask a general question on accounting code 327 – Research
Equipment. There is allocation here for
research equipment, but there is no allocation here for research activities. What are we going to do with the equipments
when there is no actual conduct of research activities?
Hon Leni: Research
activity is already ongoing now. What we
need are the equipments. This provision
is specifically for some projects in our development program for purchasing of equipment
to research into pearl farming, seaweed farming, and other new projects the Department
is trying to accomplish during the course of this year and the future.
Some of the equipments are very expensive. I cannot further explain it because I am not a
technical man. But that allocation is
for those kinds of equipment to advance the projects that we have in the
development projects.
Mr Kwanairara: Port sampling
observers. What is this?
Hon Leni: When the fishing
boats come into the country, in the Solomon harbour, our officers will go
inside the boats. These officers will
sample the fish and then compile a report to the Ministry for our purpose but it
also helps the FFA and the other regional fisheries bodies to take into account
the records. The work of the fisheries observers
is to sample the fish on board the vessels. This is the provision to help them do their
work. They do not only perform their
work here. Suppose the boats come they
board the vessels and can go to another country. When they reach another country they have to
come back this is the provision that would cater for such expenses. If they drop off at
Mr Gukuna: All these
provisions are for offshore fisheries management and it looks like it is a very
important part of fisheries. These boats
have anchored in
Hon Leni: I think it is
telling us that it was also done in previous times. This time you can see full loads of ships
anchored inside the harbor. In the past
you would not see this because all the agreements that we have doing were not right. This is the first time we are being
transparent about these things so that a report is compiled on the bilateral
agreements. And so they are happy with
those things.
In the past transshipment was done on high seas where
we cannot see it. Now in this agreement transshipment
must be done at a port either in
Mr Fono: Is the
Minister aware that stevedoring transshipment that used to be done by locals is
now done by a foreign company. I am
raising this so that the Minister investigates it. Just a general question that stevedoring on
transshipment is an activity that only locals are supposed to be involved in it.
Hon Leni: I will take
note of that concern and find out.
Mr Kwanairara: Have we got
any fish collection vessel?
Hon Leni: This is a new
one where feasibility study project is going on at this time funded by
JICA. This is to help JICA to collect
samples throughout the country when this feasibility study is being carried
out.
Head 290 - $6,629,961 agreed to
Head
291: Ministry of Public Service
Mr Kwanairara: Overtime
seems to increase this year. Can the
Minister explain?
Hon Sanga: Overtime
is still an entitlement of officers.
Mr Kwanairara: Accounting
code 1100 – Do not Use. Is that a typing
error?
Hon Sanga: I think that
is what it is.
Mr Tozaka: Page 445
Accounting Code 1113 - Local Supplementation Scheme. How many officers are paid under this scheme
at the moment apart from the ones we talked about?
Hon Sanga: This Local
Supplementation Scheme is what we used to engage experts in the fields that we
are not able to find locally. It is
additional provision to the local salaries, and a case in point is a case of a
question this morning, the Legal Draftsman.
Mr Tozaka: Apart from the
Legal Draftsman, is there any one else paid under the scheme?
Hon Sanga: Yes, Mr
Chairman, usually doctors are funded under this scheme.
Mr Fono: Page 447 - IPAM
-
Hon Sanga: We are also of
the same view like the Leader of Opposition except having to deal with a tight
budget, that is the allocation this year for IPAM, but we also have another
allocation for general training on page 445 which we can use if there is shortage
of funds in IPAM.
Mr Gukuna: Page 451 on overtime
– there is a big provision for overtime.
It appears that this very important division needs a lot of overtime. I would like to suggest to the Minister if he
could consider employing two or three other people to lighten the work load.
Hon Sanga: Mr Chairman,
that division is a current division within the Department. In relation to officers, there is a slight
increase on salaries but that division deals with the services within the
Public Service that is inclusive of Industrial Relations, inspections and so
on.
Head 291 - $22,824,553.00 agreed to
Head 292 - Ministry of Justice and Legal
Affairs - $9,807,061 agreed to
Head
293 – Ministry of Home Affairs
Mr Tozaka: Page 476 - National
Disaster Council. In relation to the
Establishment Register on Provincial Disaster Coordinator posts. There are 10 new vacant posts there, can the
Minister explain the National Disaster Coordinating Agent of the National
Disaster Council in the Provinces? Are
they reforming them?
Hon Ghiro: (inaudible)
Mr Dausabea: Page 477 just
a general question to the Minister concern.
Is there a Censorship Board now in place to censor films?
Hon Ghiro: (inaudible)
Mr Koli: Accounting
Codes 4137 and 4141 - South Pacific Games.
Are these provisions to cater for the South Pacific Games this year because
there is no provision for these?
Hon Ghiro: (inaudible)
Mr Gukuna: People from
outside especially members of the Charity Fund are saying that their money is
under the budget of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which I do not see in the
budget. Can the Minister confirm this so
that the people will here that there is no money for them in the budget?
Hon Ghiro: What is the accounting
code?
Mr Gukuna: It is just a
general question. The Charity Fund
Members outside are saying that if the budget is passed their money is under Ministry
of Home Affairs. Can you confirm that
they do not have any money in the budget?
Hon Ghiro: That question
is being repeated in Parliament several times and the answer is, no. My Ministry is not responsible for that fund.
Head 293 - $8,518,550.00 agreed to
Head 294 - Ministry of National Unity,
Reconciliation and Peace agree to - $4,617,765.0000 agreed to
Head 295 – Ministry of
Mines and Energy
Mr Gukuna: Mr Chairman,
under income, accounting code 0065 - Petroleum Storage Fees. Where will this money come from?
Hon
Mr Dausabea: Mr Chairman, I
would just like to know if there is a time frame for the relocation of the two
depots. Will they still be at the same
location or are they going to be relocated?
Hon
Mr Tozaka: Mr Chairman, accounting
code 6089 - land acquisition. Is land
acquisition under this division? I would
have though land acquisition is a function under the Ministry of Lands.
Hon
Mr Gukuna: Mr Chairman,
the Komarindi Project at one stage is a very good project. It provides a lot of potential for supplying
energy to the city. I might have missed
it but I fail to see anything about it in this budget. Have we put it away or what is our intention
about this important Komarindi Project?
Hon
Mr Tozaka: Mr Chairman,
just on land acquisition again. Are you
saying that this provision is budgeted for by the Ministry but the actual process
of acquiring land is a normal process under the Commissioner of Lands?
Hon
Mr Gukuna: Mr Chairman,
page 506 – Seismology Costs. We have a
lot of earthquakes now. Why is there no
provision for seismology?
Hon
Head 295- $4,918,036 agreed to
Head 296 – National Judiciary -
$6,118,969 agreed to
The Schedule with the sum of $781,379,243
being the total of the Recurrent Expenditures agreed to
The Schedule agreed to
Hon Darcy: Mr Chairman,
I beg to move that further proceedings of the Committee of Supply be adjourned
to
Parliament is resumed
Hon Sogavare: Mr Speaker, I
beg to move that this House do now adjourn.
The House adjourned at