Transparency Solomons hails Sogavare's election

Transcript

Transparency International Solomon Islands is optimistic that the election of prime minister Manasseh Sogavare will advance the fight against corruption in the country.

TSI Chief Executive Daniel Fenua says Sogavare is one of the most outspoken and exemplary critics of corruption in the country with a good track record over his consecutive terms as a parliamentarian since he was first elected as member for East Choiseul in 1997.

He spoke with Koroi Hawkins about the NGO's hopes for Solomon Islands under Sogavare's Democratic Coalition for Change government.

DANIEL FENUA: I think this is, this is a really a good chance of change that people have been calling for in this country. And we at transparency, we see that the elected prime minister Mr Sogavare is really a good advocator against corruption, you know, recently just before the house was round up, he gave very strong statements about the kind of leaderships this country needs and the fact that corruption has been rooted into our government system and really need to be addressed. He will be a person that we can, organisations like us and like minded people in this country, who are serious about addressing corruption in this country, that we can work along with the government and we look forward to working with them.

KOROI HAWKINS: And I understand you also conducted a survey on the attendance of parliamentarians and their contribution to debates. How did Sogavare do in that, that survey?

DF: I think Sogavare did very well and for these two surveys that one being carried out in 2010 and the recent one just this year, Sogavare performed very well and he actually topped the list of attenders and contributions as well in the floor of parliament. And we see his election to that post as something that come, came at no surprise at all. And I think a lot of people like you have heard from quite an increasing number of sentiments. People that cheered him when he was elected the Prime Minister, I think most of them basically because of his performance right at the parliament level and his strong statement that he issued out to the public where people are really happy about.

KH: And in terms of legislation or changes that you'd like to see in the next four years under his government. What would you be calling on Sogavare and the coalition for change government to do?

DF: I think we really see poor governance, there is much poor governance in our country and that corruption is really the major cause of many obstacles to development or undermine development in this country. And we, as an organisation we see the reform of key institutions like institutions that are being delegated or committed to address areas of good governance and at the same time institutions that should enforce the law being you know reformed to meet the challenges, contemporary challenges. And at the same time the review or the reforms of the anti-corruption legislations that have many, a number of loopholes. And then at the same time we are looking forward for, this is our wish and this our hope that the new government will actually introduce a new independent commission against corruption that will be independent and that will be responsible to penalise to prosecute to investigate independently those who love to engage in corruption.