-Transparency Solomon Islands calls for revocation of pay raise for parliamentarians
-TSI reminds PM Wale of his victory speech promising to be servant of the people, not their lord
BY IRWIN ANGIKI
Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) calls for the revocation of the 6 percent pay rise awarded to parliamentarians by the Parliamentary Entitlement Commission (PEC).
TSI describes the pay rise as an ‘unjust burden’ for taxpayers given that people ‘continue to struggle with the rising cost of living and the increasing financial pressures facing families across the country’.
Prime Minister Matthew Wale who is on an international tour of the United States and Japan with four other Malaitan government MPs, has not commented on this issue.
In a statement yesterday TSI urged PEC to revoke the award ‘for the common good’.
“PEC having the legal right to make such awards does not make this decision a right one for the development of Solomon Islands. The decision must be viewed within the broader economic and social realities facing the people of Solomon Islands.
TSI also questioned the lack of transparency in how PEC came to its decision to award the parliamentarians the pay raise.
“The public who are the taxpayers deserves to know how these considerations were applied in arriving at the latest increase. Did the PEC take into account their fight and struggles for social services when deciding on this increase.
“Did PEC consult or call for submission from civil society like the previous chairmanship did or is this going to be the new mode of operation – complete lack of transparency and accountability.”
6 percent pay raise
In-depth Solomons exposed the matter on July 20, reporting on the 6 percent pay raise awarded by PEC to MPs, the prime minister, deputy PM, government ministers, opposition leader, members of opposition. The last pay raise was in 2024, In-depth Solomons reported.
Fronting media on Wednesday this week, PEC Chairman Nigel Maezama said it had held extensive consultation with the Central Bank (CBSI), the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Service, the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Public Service Commission.
Mr Maezama said CBSI advised that the 6 percent increase was reasonable compensation for the two years (2024 and 2025) in which the parliamentarians had not had a pay rise.
Maezama said the Ministry of Finance also confirmed that the pay increase can be accommodated in the national budget.
He said the pay increase was implemented seven months ago, although the official narrative said the salary increase took effect on April 1, 2026.
Maezama also clarified that parliamentarians’ salaries are taxed.
Parliamentarians’ salaries are to be reviewed every year according to the Constitution, section 69B.
PEC explained that the 6 percent increase reflected two years’ worth of cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) at 3 percent per year. Last year there was no increase due to administrative delays.
Champion critic of MPs’ pay raise silent
Meanwhile, PM Matthew Wale has been silent this week to the issue. This has not gone unnoticed with members of public calling him out because he was the country’s strongest critic of PEC awards when the incumbent was Opposition Leader.
No response has been forthcoming to Island Sun’s questions through PM Wale’s press secretariat this week.
In his statement on January 3, 2023 against PEC’s proposal to increase MPs’ salaries, Wale who was opposition leader then said: “Ordinary Solomon Islanders are struggling with just putting food on the table and such increases to MPs are divorced from the economic realities faced by Solomon Islanders.”
While launching the CARE coalition on February 14, 2024, Wale said he would abolish PEC if his group came into government.
“How can we justify such increases when our healthcare system is in crisis, when our roads are deteriorating, and when our children’s education is compromised? This is a slap in the face to every Solomon Islander struggling to make ends meet in this struggling economy,” Wale said.
New pattern of self-contradiction in GREAT
TSI has slammed a forming pattern with the new GREAT government in which words contradict actions.
“It is now becoming more and more often that Prime Minister is saying one thing, the GREAT Policy another or nothing at all and those working the Machinery of Government are doing the opposite or doing nothing,” TSI statement yesterday said.
“Prime Minister Hon Matthew Wale expressed in his victory speech to the nation that elected leaders are servants of the people, not their lords, they must continue to remind their leaders of their roles and responsibilities.
“This speech carries a significant importance in relation to the increased salary. It is important that this principle of servant leadership is reflected not only in words but also in decisions and actions.
“A salary increase for political leaders, at a time when families are struggling to afford basic necessities, is nothing more than leaders putting their own interests ahead of the people they represent.
“TSI therefore calls on the Government to ensure that the principle of being a government of the people and not the people’s lords, is reflected in its approach to public remuneration, economic policy and social justice.”
PEC’s latest increase sees the following salary levels:
-Prime Minister’s annual salary now stands at $454,659.40, translating to a fortnightly salary of approximately $17,000.
-Deputy Prime Minister: $408,687.10
-Ministers, Leader of Opposition, Leader of Independent Group: $354,912.78
-Deputy Speaker, Chairperson of Parliamentary Standing Committees: $320,279.37
-Ordinary Members of Parliament: $288,615.02
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