27 Feb 2013

Multiple Solomons groups express outrage over government Moro grant

1:56 pm on 27 February 2013

Numerous community groups in Solomon Islands are expressing anger over a government grant to the Gaena'alu or Moro Movement of Guadalcanal province.

The Solomon Star reports the government defending last week's 137,000 US dollar cash gift, saying it is money allocated in the 2013 budget for cultural empowerment and will be accounted for.

Our correspondent Koroi Hawkins says the fact that the gift was in cash and delivered by helicopter adds to its unorthodoxy.

"But the reason that this is such a big deal here is that there are a lot of communities, a lot of people who are asking for funds, who are applying with projects and that, and for one community to get such a big lot of funding is, in the eyes of I think a lot of people, unacceptable."

Koroi Hawkins says the leader of the opposition is suggesting the cash gift is related to government plans to allow mining in the eastern part of Guadalcanal.