Solomons govt going back to the basics for 2019 budget

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Manasseh Sogavare Photo: RNZ/ Koroi Hawkins

THE Solomon Islands government says it is going back to the basics for the last budget of its tenure.

Cuts to development spending and more resources for core ministry services were some of the promises made by finance minister Manasseh Sogavare before putting the almost $US500 million budget to its second reading last week.

The stripped back 2019 appropriation bill comes after a year of mass drug shortages at hospitals and health centres across the country.

Mr Sogavare said the theme of the budget was “resourcing the basic fundamentals”.

Meanwhile, the opposition leader Manasseh Maelanga has raised concern about the limited time left for passing the government’s remaining bills.

He said the lateness and even absences of some parliamentarians from sittings was worrying given parliament dissolves next month.

The house resumes on Tuesday next week.

The current special adjournment was made last week to allow the public accounts committee to deliberate on the buget and a supplementary appropriation bill, and to allow the prime minister to attend the APEC Summit in Papua New Guinea.

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