BY SAPT STAFF
THE draft Constituency Development Fund Legislation was presented to integrity institutions to see whether the draft legislation is aligned with the Public Financial Management Act 2013 and other areas for consideration.
Officials from Leadership Code Commission, Office of the Ombudsman, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Office of the Prime Minister & Cabinet, Office of the Auditor General, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Solomon Islands Commission Against Corruption, and Registrar of Political Parties took time thoroughly looking through the document on 3rd February.
The proposed CDF Legislation was drafted by the Ministry of Rural Development in consultation with the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC).
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, Samson Viulu says the draft legislation is aimed at ensuring the much-criticized CDF funding mechanism is properly and effectively governed and managed.
“It seeks to revise the current CDF Act and is intended to accompany the SICD Policy and drafting instructions, which will be submitted to the Office of the Attorney General.
“It is currently not finalized and is still undergoing consultation.
“This review was conducted by directly comparing the draft CDF legislation against the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA) 2013,” Permanent Secretary of MRD, he says
Viulu says consultations will focus on possible areas of concern such as the Accountability and Integrity institutions to provide precise views and contributions in order to provide clarity and guidance when it comes to the enforcement of the legislation.
“Views on fundamental areas that should be included in the revised CDF legislation are of paramount importance.
“Responses from these Accountability and Integrity institutions are overwhelming and encouraging.
“Most of the institutions agree that CDF is of great importance as it goes directly to rural people in constituencies, but does not have a proper governance structure.
“This comes back to the need of a proper governance structure to manage resources better, and improve accountability and compliance.
“And Importantly to ensure that the CDF Act is consistent with the Public Financial Management Act to make sure that the CDF Act does not encroach too much on other Acts, as this may lead to conflict,” he explains.
Viulu says MRD’s vision is to ensure all rural Solomon Islanders meaningfully participate in development activities to improve social and economic livelihood through CDF and other public funds accessed by constituencies.
