LEADER of Opposition Hon Matthew Wale says recent revelations of OUR Party’s offshore business account in Singapore is ‘shocking’.
Hon Wale has described as a tragic example of leaders selling the sovereignty of Solomon Islands to foreigners for 30 pieces of silver.
Hon Wale made this comment following an online investigative media piece from In-depth Solomons revealing Our Party’s offshore business account named ‘OUR INTERNTIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND PTE. LTD’.
In the investigative article, Hon. Sogavare confirmed that Hon. Jimson Tanangada had discussed with him the idea of setting up the Singapore Company to raise funds for OUR party.
Hon. Wale said it is clear that Hon. Jimson Tanangada is a liar, when he said it is a private company because Hon. Sogavare admitted it.
“We have reason to doubt the truthfulness of Hon. Sogavare’s statement that he did not know anything about the Singapore Company beyond the discussions with Hon. Tanangada. We know Tanangada is a liar, but it is most unlikely that he acted on his own in a matter of such gravity. It is most unlikely that he would have used Hon. Sogavare’s son without the father’s permission,” Hon Wale said.
The opposition leader said for a political party to raise funds overseas for its activities is selling the sovereignty of Solomon Islands and there is no doubt about that.
Hon Wale said it ought to be illegal.
“This silence in the law is based on the assumption for many years that no one will ever think to do such a thing. The fact that OUR party was willing to do this reflects their desperation to hold on to power, whatever the cost. The people of Solomon Islands must be very concerned by this behaviour, and demand accountability from OUR party, Hon. Tanangada & Hon. Sogavare. Those who donate funds to this Singapore Company do it with strings attached. They are interested in various licences and business activities and special treatment,” he said.
The Opposition Leader said perhaps some of the exemptions issued this year are linked to the Singapore donors.
He said the relationships generated by donations to the Singapore company account are likely a hotbed of corruption and undermining of the governance of Solomon Islands.
Hon Wale has called on Hon. Tanangada to publish the bank statements of the Singapore company’s bank account to show funds going in and out.
He also urged Hon. Tanangada to state who the donors to the Singapore account are and the amounts they donated.
“I am calling on Tanangada to state who were the beneficiaries of the Singapore account. If Hon. Tanangada refuses to publish these then it is clear he wants to hide the dubious activity conducted through this OUR party Singapore company and account,” Hon Wale said.
The Opposition Leader said bad leadership is directly related to the bad governance of Solomon Islands.
He said the result is life is very hard for the vast majority of Solomon Islanders, yet their government serves foreign interests without shame.
Hon Wale also called on the Prime Minister to publicly and truthfully state what he knows about the OUR party Singapore company and account.
He said the Prime Minister cannot hide away from this matter, as he is part of OUR party and likely benefited from the dirty money raised through the OUR party Singapore company and account.
“ Just when we thought things are really bad with this government, we discover worse. When will this end? New Members of Parliament who are in government have lent their support to this activity and bad governance by remaining in government. Their constituents have a responsibility to speak to them about it. How long will they continue to prop up this stinking and smelly government?” Hon Wale said.
The Opposition Leader is calling on the Political Parties Commission, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Finance Intelligence Unit, and RSIPF to collaborate in investigating the clandestine Singapore OUR INTERNTIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND PTE. LTD.
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