The Native Iowan

Sogavare:“The government need to clearly set a time frame and provide a more detailed outline of what it needs to achieve in some of its reform focuses.

THE National Coalition for Reform Advancement (NCRA) is working on a basic platform set out in their policy document known a ‘reform’ which MP for East Choiseul Manasseh Sogavare said is implausible to achieve.

Speaking during the Sine die motion moved by the Prime Minister in Parliament on Wednesday this week Mr Sogavare said the budget setting does not reflect what was preached by the NCRA government ‘Reform’.

“Looking at the budget, there seem to be spending on the same areas, especially business spending,” he said.

He said the government must deliver reform as was preached.

He said the reforms stated by the government were fundamental reforms and cannot be achieved easily.

“The government need to clearly set a time frame and provide a more detailed outline of what it needs to achieve in some of its reform focuses.

“Reform is a very powerful exercise which means overhauling, reorganising or resetting and if the government fails to handle it properly, it will really disturb other programs.

“And reforms must be in areas that are important to address issues that we cannot afford and are careless about.

“Reform should focus only on areas to improve the ability to achieve national objectives.

“There must be a meaningful reform.”

Mr Sogavare said the reform process must start with giving answers to some questions

“What do we want to achieve? Are the areas identified absolutely necessary to address the country’s problems? Is there a common understanding on the problems?”

He said the government may not do justice if it addresses wrong problems.

“How are we going to strategies our reforms? What is the time frame? What role would aid donors play and who will carry the burden?

“We must have clear focus; address structural institutions, legal or strategic issues.

“We must take it to the global scale, whereby reform must not affect how we work with the international community.

“This is because Solomon Islands is just another country that competes to survive.”

He said the NCRA has not spell out clearly a time frame, has no specific objectives identified in their policy statement.

“It must be known because they must be consistent with national objectives.”

He said biggest challenge on the preached reforms is changing the concern legislations to suit the reform areas.

“The reform comes with changing of some legislation and in NCRA’s case; there are 41 legislations (bills) that needs to be reformed before the reforms can be achieved.

“This mean the government has to come up with a clear time table because it is unachievable within the remaining years.

“This means parliament must be called to meet regularly like 2 to 3 times a year.

“So it is important that govt come up with timetable and a legislative committee.”

The Parliament meeting which was the second of the current house ended on Wednesday.