A proposed $1.5 million increase in office-rent funding for the Ministry of Forestry and Research has come under scrutiny at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), with lawmakers questioning a $100,000-a-month rental arrangement and whether proper procedures were followed.
The ministry appeared before PAC on Tuesday to defend its supplementary funding request. According to the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill, the ministry’s original office-rent allocation was $350,000, with a further $1.5 million requested, bringing the revised allocation to $1.85 million.
The Bill states that the additional funding is to cater for 14 months of office rental for the Timber Utilization Department and JICA volunteers under the Ministry.
During the PAC hearing, however, committee members raised questions about the rental arrangement, the suitability of the property and whether the required procurement and planning processes had been followed.
PAC Chairman Dr. Paul Bosawai described the size of the request as “not normal”, signalling that the committee would closely examine the expenditure before finalising its findings for Parliament.
At the centre of the questioning was a 14-month rental arrangement signed in November last year.
Committee members sought clarification on several issues, including whether:
- The property was originally a private residence before being converted into office accommodation.
- The required Honiara City Council (HCC) commercial zoning, physical planning and other approvals had been obtained.
- Proper procurement procedures, including competitive quotations, were followed before the lease was entered into.
Committee members also sought supporting documents relating to the procurement process, the property’s approvals and the lease arrangement.
The questioning focused on whether the ministry had complied with the required procedures before committing public funds to the rental.
Forestry Permanent Secretary Richardson Raomae told the committee that the ministry’s accommodation challenges had developed over many years and had become more difficult as its workforce expanded.
He said that despite Forestry becoming an independent ministry more than two decades ago, its staff had continued to share limited office space with the Ministry of Mines.
“Our accommodation challenges have developed over many years,” Raomae told the committee.
Raomae said repeated proposals for a dedicated Forestry headquarters had not resulted in a permanent solution.
He also said a major headquarters project supported by international development partner KOICA had been halted following a stop notice.
The Permanent Secretary further pointed to difficulties with provincial offices, saying Forestry offices in Taro and Kirakira had been condemned, leaving staff facing difficult working conditions.
Leader of the Official Opposition Manasseh Sogavare acknowledged the difficult conditions faced by Forestry officers but stressed that operational challenges must still be addressed within established financial and procurement requirements.
“Our responsibility is to ensure public funds are spent in accordance with established laws and procedures,” Sogavare said.
His comments came as PAC members continued to examine whether the ministry’s rental commitment had complied with the necessary procedures.
The supplementary request is separate from the ministry’s original $350,000 office-rent allocation.
The Appropriation Bill records the $1.5 million as supplementary funding, resulting in a revised office-rent allocation of $1.85 million.
The Bill’s explanatory note says the revised budget provides funding for 14 months of office rental for the Timber Utilization Department and JICA volunteers under the Ministry.
During the PAC hearing, ministry officials also explained that the additional provision was intended to cater for the rental commitment and allow for possible changes that may arise during the period.
The rental figure discussed at the hearing was $100,000 per month.
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