Sogavare accepts political responsibility for Pacific Games oversight failures and welcomes the Special Audit Report.
Honiara, Solomon Islands –Opposition Leader Manasseh Sogavare MP has welcomed the Pacific Games Special Audit Report and accepted political responsibility as the minister responsible at the time.
Hon. Sogavare said the Pacific Games remain one of Solomon Islands’ proudest national achievements, but the serious failures identified in its financial management, procurement and record-keeping must be acknowledged.
“The Pacific Games were delivered under my leadership. I remain immensely proud of what Solomon Islands achieved, and the audit findings do not erase the historic contribution of our athletes, volunteers, officials and people,”. Sogavare said.
“However, I cannot claim the success of the Games while distancing myself from the serious weaknesses now exposed by the Auditor General. I was Prime Minister and minister responsible, and I accept the political responsibility that comes with that office.”
Sogavare said Solomon Islands demonstrated its ability to host thousands of athletes and visitors and successfully deliver the largest regional event ever undertaken by the country.
However, he acknowledged that the standard achieved in hosting the Games was not matched in all aspects of its financial administration.
He said the public is entitled to ask how serious failures in procurement, financial controls and record-keeping were allowed to occur under his ministerial leadership.
Sogavare said delivering a major national event involves different levels of responsibility. Ministers provide political leadership and oversight; advisers provide advice; and public officers and responsible authorities carry out administrative, financial and procurement functions in accordance with the law.
He said these different responsibilities do not remove ministerial accountability, but they are important when establishing how particular decisions were made and where administrative or legal responsibility rests.
“The Games were delivered under my ministerial watch, and I accept political responsibility for the failure of oversight. The appropriate institutions must now examine the decisions, advice and administrative actions involved and establish the full facts through evidence and due process,” he said.
Sogavare said both OUR Party-led governments, the DCGA and later the GNUT Government, had awaited the completion of the special audit. He welcomed its finalisation and tabling in Parliament.
He said any matters referred for further investigation must now be left to the institutions authorised by law to undertake that work.
He cautioned that the report must neither be buried to protect reputations nor turned into a political weapon to condemn individuals before investigations are completed.
“I will defend the decision to host the Pacific Games and the legacy it created. I will not defend the financial and procurement failures exposed by the Auditor General,” he said.
“The Games showed what Solomon Islands can achieve. This report shows where we fell short. We must confront both, establish how these failures occurred and ensure that the same weaknesses are not repeated in future major national events of this kind.”
SOURCE// Office of Opposition Press Release
