Wale encourages ministers to take responsibility seriously

Leader of Opposition Hon Matthew Wale said the government’s ambitious policy promises can only be delivered by government ministries. 

Speaking in Parliament in response to the Speech from the Throne on Monday this week, Hon Wale, therefore, urged ministers to provide political leadership and direction to ministries in their delivery of government policy ambitions. 

Hon Wale said ministers themselves must also be well versed with government policies. 

“When ministers are incompetent, lazy, absent, or indifferent, it naturally follows that their ministries’ efforts to deliver on promises are likely to reflect it,” he said.

Hon Wale has encouraged ministers to take their responsibilities seriously. 

The Opposition Leader also urged the Prime Minister as coordinating minister, to ensure that ministers turn up to work on time, attend important meetings, and provide leadership and direction. 

He said the people of Solomon Islands expect this. 

“It is disrespectful to the people of Solomon Islands when ministers do not take their responsibilities seriously, and the Prime Minister is indifferent to the lack of performance of ministers,” he said.

Hon Wale said nobody expects ministers to be experts on the ministries they’re responsible for. 

But he said Solomon Islanders expect their ministers to make it their responsibility to know and understand what their obligations are, so that they can make good decisions. 

“Ministers must not abdicate their leadership responsibilities to Permanent Secretaries. Both have their roles and need each other to effectively deliver on government policy promises,” Hon Wale said.

ENDS//

Opposition statement