Opposition says provincial elections oversight ‘inexcusable’

THE Parliamentary Opposition Group says it is inexcusable that the Western and Choiseul provincial elections are not provided for in the 2017 Budget.

In a statement yesterday, the Opposition Group has described the Government’s action as reckless and demonstrates incompetence, which underpins question raised previously about the credibility of the 2017 Budget.

“How can the Government not budget for these two provincial elections? These are statutory obligations that should not be overlooked. It only shows a total lack of planning, incompetence and very poor budgeting by the Government,” it said.

The Opposition Group in a statement said this matter has been raised by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in his report to Parliament in November 2016.

The statement added that the Opposition is stunned by the fact that no allocation had been proposed in the Supplementary Budget passed by Parliament recently.

“The Government owes an explanation to the Western and Choiseul Provincial Governments and their people, as to why these two important obligations have not been budgeted for.”

“The Opposition is surprised that the Government has overlooked these important events that are legal requirements stipulated under our very own Constitution. It is inexcusable and only comes to show a Government that is careless,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Opposition said the Government must address this situation immediately to avoid any legal problems if those two provincial elections due in September this year are not held as scheduled.

–OPPOSITION PRESS