7 Jan 2003

The Solomon Islands government says it cannot be blamed for mounting debts

10:23 am on 7 January 2003

The Solomon Islands government says it cannot be blamed for all the country's mounting debts.

The government is facing increased criticism of what is seen as its inability to pay its debts, especially in the area of rentals.

Landlords have attacked the government for failing to honour lease agreements.

The special secretary to the Prime Minister, Edward Kingmele, says to blame the government for rental arrears and other debts is unfair as many were incurred as far back as 1995.

He says the government will honour the debts when it can