BY NED GAGAHE
PUBLIC Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman and Member of Parliament for Central Honiara, Gordon Darcy Lilo, has calls for stronger resourcing of parliamentary committees and greater respect for accountability during the Sine Die Motion in Parliament yesterday.
Lilo said year 2025 is a “very enriching year” for the PAC, highlighting its work in scrutinising supplementary budgets and the Appropriation Act, including the 2026 Supply Bill which has just been passed.
Lilo said Parliament carries a heavy responsibility in nationhood building, stressing that while statehood and nationhood are different concepts, all leaders and institutions have a duty to contribute to strengthening democracy.
“As members placed in state institutions, we carry a serious responsibility to perform our roles properly,” he said.
The Central Honiara MP praised the commitment of PAC members, the parliamentary secretariat, and partners such as the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the United Nations Development Programme for supporting the committee’s oversight work.
He also acknowledged the Speaker and Parliamentary Board for their continued backing.
Lilo said that budget scrutiny capacity across the Pacific region remains thin, but said Solomon Islands Parliament is making progress compared to some regional counterparts.
He said this progress must continue through parliamentary reforms, improved schemes of service, and ultimately greater institutional autonomy for Parliament.
A key theme of his address was the role of democracy, particularly the importance of minority voices in holding the majority to account.
“The principle of majority rule must not silence the minority. The minority must always have the space to scrutinise and hold those in power accountable. That is the beauty of democracy,” Lilo said.
He also echoed calls from other committee chairpersons for urgent resourcing of select committees, warning that without adequate support, the quality of legislation and oversight will suffer.
“If select committees are properly resourced, they will deliver quality work. Parliament is the highest accountable institution in this country, beyond this, there is none,” he said.
Lilo pleaded for continued support for parliamentary committees, particularly as workload increases with legislation, treaties, and international conventions requiring careful scrutiny.
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