The party of the Solomon Islands' caretaker Rural Development Minister is calling for funds to be distributed to constituencies through his ministry rather than MPs.
Last week Fred Fono, who's also the caretaker deputy prime minister, said each MP had received more than 800,000 US dollars from several funds to distribute to their constituencies during the last parliament.
Mr Fono, who is the leader of the People's Congress Party, rejects criticism that the funding has not resulted in improvements in rural development.
But he agrees not all MPs are able to manage projects, and says his ministry should take over that responsibility.
"The Ministry of Rural Development and Constituency Development would be administering the funds but allocations are based on constituencies so that it's equitably distributed throughout the country. You give it through the provincial government it will end up in the provincial headquarters and nothing would reach the remote rural villages."
Fred Fono says MPs could determine the funding priorities through their constituency committees.
