Transparency International is skeptical of the Solomon Islands Prime Minister's claim he was not involved in the awarding of a 7,000 US dollar grant to MPs spouses.
The Prime Minister Derek Sikua has welcomed the High Court's decision to quash the Parliamentary Entitlement Commission's resolution to award the grant.
He says he was not involved in the Commission's awarding of the grant, even though he has the right to appoint the chairman and two other commission members.
But Transparency Solomon Islands executive officer Ellison Gauwane is questioning the Prime Minister's comments.
"I find it hard to accept it on the basis that he was the one who appointed officers to that commission and I'm sure he has information about the award that the commission was putting forward for approval. But I can understand that he wants to keep the image of the government clean in the eyes of the public."
Ellison Gauwane says the spousal grant caused a public outcry and the High Court ruling will be satisfying for many people.
