17 Jan 2019

Solomons voters pre-occupied with slush fund - Transparency

11:17 am on 17 January 2019

The watchdog group Transparency Solomon Islands says many people still don't understand that constituency development funds are often used by MPs to sway voters.

Vote counting underway in Solomon Islands

Voting in Solomon Islands Photo: RNZI

Transparency has been conducting civic awareness for a number of years and is upping its work as this year's election approaches.

Transparency spokesperson, Ruth Liloqula, said the controversial funds were a hot topic among villagers, who had forgotten that MPs are elected to represent them.

She said the money was mostly spent by sitting MPs to secure re-election and little went to development.

Ms Liloqula said the funds came from the pockets of ordinary Solomon Islanders.

"That's the message and it is important for them to exercise their right, to register and go and vote because power is vested in the people of Solomon Islands," she said.

"If they do not want what they see now then they need to ask the questions that need to be asked, and the things that need to be said, and exercise that right."

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