Team leader and Director of Rural Development Division of MRD, Milfred Delemani presenting during an awareness session held for community leaders within Susubona ward.
HKH CONSTITUENTS URGES CAUTION AND COMPLIANCE WITH NEW CDF LAW
Constituents of Hograno-Kia-Havulei (HKH) Constituency are cautioned to comply with the CDF Act 2023 to avoid facing legal consequences.
Director of Rural Development Division of the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Milfred Delemani emphasized this during the series of CDF Act awareness currently underway in HKH constituency.
He said it is very important to comply than to face hefty penalties.
“This does not only apply for HKH constituents, but this law applies to all constituents across the 50 constituencies.”
The new CDF Act 2023 was passed by Parliament on 22 December 2023 and came into commencement on the 5th of January 2024.
The purposes of the new CDF Act 2023 are; to strengthen good governance; to ensure improved and effective delivery mechanisms of the Constituency Development Funds and to promote equal and inclusive participation of all Solomon Islanders in development.
Director Delemani highlighted that whatever offence (s) committed by a recipient (s) of the CDF after the commencement date will subject to penalties adding this does not only apply to constituents but Members of Parliament (MPs) and Public Officers are also subject to legal consequences if they commit an offence (s).
In summary the CDF Act 2023 specific penalties are as follows;
A Member of Parliament (MP), or a public officer or a fund (CDF) recipient commits an office if he or she:
- Misappropriates any funds or assets from the fund; or
- Advances materials and cash from a supplier without prior approval from the responsible ministry; or
- Fraudulently converts project assets or materials to his own use or to the use of some other person; or
- Deliberately victimises non-voters by excluding them from receiving Constituency Development Funds projects and funds without justifiable grounds; or
- Assists or causes a person to misappropriate or apply the funds otherwise than in the manner provided in this Act and Regulations.
The CDF Act 2023 also indicates maximum penalties as follow;
- For a Member of Parliament – $100,000 penalty units or 5 years imprisonment, or both.
- For a public officer – $50,000 penalty units or 3 years imprisonment, or both.
- For a fund recipient – $5,000 penalty units or 3 years imprisonment, or both.
Director Delemani further emphasised that, “now that we have a new Act, the responsibility is now on all of us to take responsibility and comply with the new CDF law to avoid legal penalties.”
He further clarified that we (constituents) should not be fearful of the law as it is there to act as a guide to our conducts in working with and applying the CDF in our development processes.
Meanwhile, Constituency Development Officer (CDO), Apollos Manegere thanked MRD through the awareness team for delivering the informative sessions.
The CDO said that such awareness is very important as it educates constituents on the new Act and offers the right information’s about how CDF is applied.
Mr. Manegere added that the series of awareness in collaboration with MRD is part of the HKH constituency office preparatory efforts to ensure constituents have a better understanding and information about the new CDF law before this year’s HKH CDF program can be implemented.
MRD will continue to undertake similar awareness talks in other constituencies and communities across the country in the future.
Commenced on October 26, the series of awareness at HKHC will run until November 8, 2024.
A community leader raises a point during an awareness session held at Kolomola community within Kolomola Ward on 27th October.
A female participant raises a question during an awareness session held at Kolomola community.
Some of the community leaders and chiefs during an awareness session held at Susubona Community within Susubona Ward on 31st October.
– MRD Press