21 Jul 2015

Solomons MPs run up huge hotel bill

4:51 pm on 21 July 2015

Three MPs in Solomon Islands are reported to have asked the Government to pick up their US$100,000 tab at the country's premier hotel.

Augustine Auga, David Dei Pacha and Bartholomew Parapolo are the ministers for agriculture, mines, and tourism and they have been named by the Opposition as having outstanding bills at the upmarket Heritage Park Hotel, dating back to January this year.

The Leader of the Opposition, Jeremiah Manele, says he is calling for the Government to justify any move to settle the bills and to identify where the money will be coming from.

"The ministers have already received their rental entitlements for that period. So that would be a question for the office of the prime minister but this is certainly something that is not budgeted for."

An initial attempt to get parliament to pay for the bills was rejected by the house with the parliamentary clerk, Clezy Rore, stating any post-election entitlements for MPs residing in hotels, ended after the formation of Government and the swearing in of its ministers.

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