Members of Parliament 's fare-welled with $10m

As the nation’s 49 MPs fare-welled each other in a marathon debate on the sine die motion last Friday, the Republic of China [Taiwan] also bid fare-well in style, releasing $10 million in constituency and rural development [RCDF] funding earlier that day.

The money was the second tranche of the $50 million Taiwan taxpayers contribute each year to community projects in the nation’s 50 constituencies.

Prime Minister, Derek Sikua, received a cheque for $10 million on behalf of MPs in a brief ceremony at his Office on Friday morning.

Each Constituency will receive $200, 000 out of this tranche, the second for this year.

The first, also totaling $10 million was paid to the Government in February.

In a brief statement released at the handing over ceremony, ROC [Taiwan] Ambassador, George Chan, “strongly urged those responsible officials and MPs to manage the funds properly and fairly in order to help rural people in their communities.”

Ambassador Chan said the $10 million reflected the full support by the Government of Taiwan for the Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement [CNURA] government “to implement the rural policy to help the rural advancement in the Solomon Islands.”

“The government of ROC [Taiwan] has committed itself to cooperate with CNURA government to enhance the livelihood of rural people of Solomon Islands. The fund has been initiated to help rural villagers and has been one of the projects which go right down to the core of rural areas,” he said.

“With proper administration, the fund will be contributing enormously to alleviate poverty of rural area and improve the quality of life for rural villagers,” Ambassador Chan said.

Although the timing for the release of the funding was problematic for the Government, insiders said there was no ulterior motive.

The insiders said Taiwan preprogrammed the release of its $50 million funding support in five equal tranches each year, beginning with the first $10 million in February.

The second tranche is released in April, the third in June with the fourth and fifth in August and October respectively.

“We have now released a total $20 million since February this year. The new government will get the remaining $30 million, which again will be released in three equal installments,” Ambassador Chan said.

Taiwan’s $50 million grant comprises the Rural Constituency Development Fund [$400, 000 a year], Micro Special Project [$200, 000 a year] and the Millennium Fund [$400, 000 a year].

It is not clear whether former MPs have collected their Constituency’s share of the fund or will have access to it, now that their tenure as elected MPs had ended at midnight on Saturday.

MPs concluded their debate on the sine die motion at about 3:30am on Saturday. A big bash followed on the grounds of Parliament House on Saturday evening.

Source: Alfred Sasako