Manele says use of ESP is regrettable, not fully to its purpose

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has expressed regret over the poor execution of the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) as stated in the Auditor General Report released recently.

The issue surrounding the report is among the agendas that Manele commented on when speaking to the media upon his arrival from two overseas engagements at the Honiara International airport this afternoon.

He said the ESP achieved its purpose to certain extent to keep the economy afloat during the covid-19 pandemic but its execution was poor.

“The ESP that was meant to keep the economy afloat during the global covid pandemic, to a certain extent, it did that.”

“It is very unfortunate and regrettable that while the intention of the ESP was noble from what is reported, its execution was poor,” Manele admitted.

Manele said that he was shocked from what he was hearing from revelations stated in the report.

He explained that there are constitutional and statutory bodies that are legally mandated to determine the best way to address the serious allegations raised in the report.

These constitutional and statutory bodies are the police, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Leadership Code Commission, Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption and Public Service Commission.

He encouraged the responsible constitutional and statutory bodies to continue from what the AG office has found.

“The due processes must be respected and completed so that those who are found guilty are held to account,” Manele warned.

The Prime Minister thanked the Office of the Auditor General for discharging its constitutional duty to audit the ESP fund.

“The Office of the Auditor General is independent and is not subjected to the direction or control of any other person or authority as stated in the constitution.”

The Prime Minister was informed by the AG office that a copy of the report has been submitted to the Speaker of Parliament to have the report tabled in parliament.

The Leader of Opposition has already put on notice a motion to debate the report.

ENDS///