BY NED GAGAHE
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele announced that the total cost of his official trip to Saudi Arabia and the UAE was SBD$2.1 million.
He revealed this yesterday during a media conference with the local media in response to media concerns about the trip’s expenses.
The Prime Minister also revealed that Saudi Arabia will provide USD 1 million (about SBD 8.3 million) in immediate budget support.
PM Manele stated that this support, while modest, is crucial given the country’s tight budgetary constraints and financial challenges.
He defended the trip stating that the money already exceeds the cost of his trip by more than SBD 6 million, or 300%.
“Saudi Arabia provided an immediate budget support of USD 1 million, that is about SBD 8.3 million. This money will be deposited into our central bank account as soon as we provide the account for the funds to be remitted to.
“You could say that this is very small or this is very little, but it’s something especially given the tight budgetary constraints and the financial situation that we are facing.
“So, from this perspective alone, the grant funding of SBD8.3 million achieved during my visit already surpassed the cost of my delegation’s trip of about USD 2.1 million that the media was complaining about by more than SBD 6 million or 300 percent.
“However, the most important immediate benefit that will result in longer-term benefits is the appreciation by the Saudi and UAE authorities of my visit to them only five months after my election as Prime Minister.
“To these leaders they saw or to these countries they saw my visit as a genuine gesture of friendship, recognition of their status in the world and a commitment to work with them. It is these types of attributes that will determine longer-term benefits from such visits.
Prime Minister Manele said in terms of short to medium-term benefits, support to the 2025 Forum on Sports Legacy, Saudi Arabia has indicated its support to the government in the hosting of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in the Solomon Islands in next year.
“They have also indicated support to a legacy programme through the National Hosting Authority for the use of the Pacific Games 2023 facilities.
“While we are still rehearsing on the actual amounts, we anticipate substantial financial support on these priorities of more than USD 8.4 million in grant funding. That is approximately SBD 70 million.
