Cross-border voters benefit more from CDF

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By WILSON SAENI

A recent survey shows that funds are diverted out of Central Kwara’ae Constituency to cross border voters—leaving less resources on the ground to develop the constituency.

Cross border voters are entitled to receive CDF as reward for their ballots, revealed former Constituency Development Officer, David Maefunu.

He added: “Cross border voters are entitled to receive a share of the CDF even if they live outside of CKC.”

“CDF money belongs to the constituency, however, due to political reasons, CDF distribution only prioritises those who voted for the sitting MP.”

 “Pleasing the voters with CDF is paramount to keep voters together.”

“Keeping voters together is important to keep the MP in power,” the former CKC CDO revealed.

Constituents who took part in the survey claimed most of the housing project support went towards cross border voters who settled in the outskirts of Honiara.

They shared the view that those Central Kwar’ae people who live in communities in the outskirts of Honiara have received more support from the CKC CDF share compared to communities back home.

The CKC CDO further revealed that CKC CDF share was small compared to the CKC population size where he supported the notion that CDF share for populated constituencies like CKC should be increased to cater for the population size moving forward.

The CDO also revealed, those who didn’t vote for the former MP were left behind and became frustrated due to lack of support from the CKC.

He said the frustration of not benefiting from CDF funded projects has turned none-voters to become aggressive where he said some even threatened office bearers to give them projects.

Asked about what were some of the project areas CKC funded through its CDF share in the past five years; the CDO revealed the following; social projects, community projects, and individual projects.

He said the CKC also used the CDF to fund school fees, funerals, bride price payment, and even compensation payments where he admitted that some of the spending are well outside of CDF jurisdiction.

With that, the CDO concluded by saying politics in Solomon Islands goes along well with cultural practices where he said, “Our type of politics is heavily influenced by our culture which also influenced the distribution of CDF.”

He said the outside world viewed the strong intermingling in politics and culture in Solomon Islands as a corrupt practice, while Solomon Islanders viewed it as a normal acceptable practice which is part and parcel of Solomon Islands politics and culture.

The former CKC CDO concluded by saying, “anyone who wishes to become an MP in the future must know how to blend politics and culture together,” where he said this has been proven in the past that candidates who master the art of blending politics with culture always come up victorious during elections.

Meanwhile 50 people from a total of sixteen communities took part in the survey; 29 of them were males, while 21 of them are females.

Of the fifty participants surveyed, 30 of them have voted for the former MP, while 20 did not vote for the current MP.

Of the fifty participants surveyed, 22 of them received CDF funded projects, while 28 of them did not receive any CDF funded projects.

Edited by SBMOnline editor, [email protected]