MALAITA Premier Daniel Suidani is seeking a judicial review of the constitutionality of the controversial Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
He expressed his Government’s intention, Monday.
Suidani said the national constitution provides for three arms of the Government – the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary.
He pointed out these three arms have powers and functions that are separated but supported each other, making sure there are checks and balances in the governing of the country.
But he said CDF is a scheme where the elected members of parliament who are legislators have been allocated funding to carry out activities in the name of development in their constituencies.
In other words, politicians have taken on a role that should be of public servants serving under the executive.
This is a welcoming development.
We encourage Suidani to pursue the matter on behalf of Solomon Islanders.
CDF is the biggest fraud to have happened in the life of this nation.
It has enriched mostly politicians while denying ordinary Solomon Islanders the much-needed economic development they deserve.
We don’t have to look elsewhere to see the evidence that CDF is not achieving its intended purpose.
The evidence is right before our eyes in the 50 constituencies.
That despite the millions of development funds allocated under the scheme each year, there’s nothing CDF could show for in the constituencies.
It’s a scheme that is controlled and dictated by politicians for their own political ends.
Since the politicians are in control of it, and is difficult to end the scheme, let’s take it to the courts.
This is why the whole nation must stand behind Suidani’s intention.
If the courts rule the scheme is illegal, those development funds could be put to better use for the benefit of our country.
Removing the scheme from them would also allow them to concentrate of their legislative role.
