5 Nov 2012

Spat in Solomons over published list of MP rent defaulters

4:10 pm on 5 November 2012

The Solomon Islands opposition leader says the Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo, last week ordered himself and his cabinet be removed from a list of people who owe money for land rentals.

The list was published by local media last week.

Dr Derek Sikua has told the Solomon Star newspaper that the published list only contains the names of opposition and independent members of parliament.

He says the original list published by the Lands Ministry included the prime minister and cabinet members.

Dr Sikua has accused Mr Lilo of corruption but the prime minister denies the claims and says he never ordered anyone to omit anything from the list.

He says it was the first part of a long list that will be published on Wednesday.

Mr Lilo has accused Dr Sikua of being an outright liar who is trying to save face.