These are the 50 men that the people of Solomon Islands elected to represent them in Parliament. But it seems that they are the reasons why Solomon Islands never developed and currently having financial problems. When bureaucracy is growing exponentially, it is hard to focus on the fundamental issues facing the ordinary people. For instance, the former government appointed a "child-molester" without the consent of the people and sparked nationwide outrage. That decision (and others) resulted in the downfall of the previous government who exited on a successful Motion-of-no-Confidence. Immediately, after this government was organized, Ministers of various Ministries began looking for ways to rack-up as much money as possible. The media quickly exposed this. Minister Hon. Huniehu was exposed appointing his wife to two boards regulating two of the most important industries in Solomon Islands. Again, this government and the entire Parliament voted to increase their (MPs) Salary and payment for their own WIVES! Why are Solomon Islands outrage?
First of all, public figures (male/female) are either appointed or elected-they are either MPs or public servants. Spouses of Members of Parliament are neither elected nor appointed individuals and the Constitution of Solomon Islands doesn't give special treatment to MPs' spouses. This is a new political culture that now taking over Solomon Islands' political arena. It started with previous governments and become profoundly popular in the last and the current governments. In it, spouses are involved in programs sponsored by the government with public (people's) money. For instance, previously, a number of MP spouses, led by the Wife of the Prime Minister, went to Taiwan to attend certain programs that the government argued would help Solomon Islands. Such move also met with serious criticism from the public as it was not only irrelevant, it was a waste of public money.
But are the wives of Members of Parliament entitled to public money to pay for their work at home? the answer is simply NO! It is preposterous to think that their (MPs) wives should be paid for keeping their homes in order. These women probably the most fortunate of all the women in Solomon Islands. They have all the luxury in the world; the washing machines, driers, cars, and the money. Majority of Solomon Islands' women don't have that luxury and are working hard to provide for their own family than the MPs' wives. These ordinary women need the money more than the MP's wives. It is relevant, however, to believe that MPs are stealing public money using the entitlement argument.
Secondly, this new culture could only take form with a weaker check-and-balance system (CNB). CNB is an effective political tool that keeps government's activities in line with the rule of law and the application of the nation's constitution. In our case, the CNB is no where to be found. It may be the result of wantokism or bribery (speculation). This lack of CNB on government's activities resulted in corruption as seen in the past appointments of a child-molester to the office of the Attorney General in the SI. The Solomon Island's government should explain as to why MPs' Salary took a sudden hike when the country's economy is in shambles, and why their spouses received special treatments or are paid huge sum of money from the public fund.
Finally, an independent group should be appointed to investigate these allegations and explain to the people of Solomon Islands and aid donors where they got the money to pay their spouses. If the government is using money given to Solomon Islands for developmental purposes, someone needs will have to pay for this. Or else, leaders who instigated this program should face ethical charges in court.
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