Member of Parliament for East Central Guadalcanal Hon Ishmael Avui

MEMBER of Parliament for East Central Guadalcanal Hon Ishmael Avui has strongly recommended not giving Constituency Development Funds (CDF) to ministries.

He made the statement when contributing on the Sine Die motion moved by the Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare this week in Parliament.

“Mr Speaker, there were commendable points raised in Parliament on the motion by the Leader of Independent on the CDF.

“Immediate steps now should be taken by Parliament and perhaps the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) to have a Bi-partisan group established,” said Hon Avui.

This he added is the most unfair rural funding scheme as there are constituencies with varying demographics and there would be difficulties to administer them.

“I would like to urge us work on this important matter and I offer myself to be a member of the Bi-partisan group on this CDF.

“Sir, there is growing concern by the Public on this funding source,” Avui added.

He then assured critiques on CDF that if the funding source is moved to ministries or another agency to administer, his people will never benefit from it.

He added that it is only within this timeframe that development can be seen in his constituency.

“What is only needed is to improve how people in the constituency should involve managing and accounting for its usage.

“So do not give CDFs to Ministries, they too are a black-hole,” Hon Ishmael Avui said.