13 Mar 2007

Solomons prime minister stops Australian aid funded stocktake of government assets

8:14 pm on 13 March 2007

The Solomon Islands prime minister has stopped an Australian funded project in the country's lands department.

In a letter to the department, Manaseh Sogavare, demanded the project be halted and reviewed.

The lands and housing project funded by AUSaid under the mandate of the regional assistance mission or RAMSI was to stock take all government property and audit its assets.

However officials in the department of lands have revealed that cabinet is not happy with the project and wants it reviewed.

Our correspondent in Honiara says preliminary findings in the project reveal many government houses were sold, at less than their value, to government ministers and officials.