From bad to worse: Wale says gov’ts track record speaks for itself

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LEADER of Opposition Hon Matthew Wale says the Government’s track record over the past nine years is getting from bad to worse.

Speaking in Parliament this week, Hon Wale has questioned whether the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2024 is going to substantively address the concerns attached to the ailing state of our economy.

“ I am disheartened. The Minister told us that ‘all is not gloom’, and we must hope for better ahead – but hoping in hope alone doesn’t seem to have done anything. Government’s track record speaks for itself on this,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said the current state of our roads, healthcare and hardships faced each day by citizens of this country is a disturbing situation.

Hon Wale has highlighted the very poor state of our public healthcare as an example.

“If you are having surgery at the National Referral Hospital, you are specifically instructed to bring your own supplies for such a surgery. This is at the NRH. How much worse must it be at provincial hospitals and clinics? This is not a new situation, nor is it a recent problem. It is a problem that has become particularly worse in the prior 9 years under the last two governments,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said medicines and medical supplies do not seem to meet the threshold of priority expenditures by government.

Hon Wale said it is hard to understand how such a situation has remained so bad for so long.

He said statement after statement of government addressing this situation have been made over the last nine years, both in Parliament and in the media, but the situation seems to be getting worse.

“Many Solomon Islanders die preventable deaths, simply because the medicines are not available. This situation has continued for so long because it has been acceptable to government. One therefore must ask, how can this be an acceptable situation to government? Hon Wale questioned.

The Opposition Leader said an allocation of $11m towards medicines and medical supplies is grossly inadequate to meet the need in the healthcare system.

He said the gross underinvestment in healthcare over so long could not be fixed with band-aid.

Hon Wale adds the state of our roads is just horrible – there is no other word to properly describe it.

Again, he said this is not a new phenomenon.

He said whilst there are current work on parts of our roads, at the very least, the government must take urgent steps to make our roads passable to avoid traffic.

Hon Wale said the procurement process, as important as it is, seems to contribute to the horrible state of our roads.

ENDS//