Honiara, Solomon Islands: Senior staff from the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) provided in-person support to the Solomon Islands Office of the Auditor General this week by advocating for legislative reform.
From 10 to 13 March, PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa, and Program Director, Meresimani Vosawale-Katuba, supported the local audit office with its stakeholder consultations on the Auditor-General Bill 2026, set to be introduced to the Parliament soon.
PASAI’s first strategic priority is supporting its member audit offices to pursue financial, organisational and legislative independence to operate effectively and report audit findings without limitation or interference.
Ms Lameko-Poutoa explained PASAI has previously provided legal expertise to draft amendments to the legislation that gives the audit office its mandate but that did not progress to Parliament.
“With the Government now indicating its intention to introduce a new Bill, the audit office’s consultations were a critical and timely opportunity for us to ensure the legislation reflects international standards and strengthens the office’s independence in both law and practice.
“While the Solomon Islands Office of the Auditor General has a degree of independence in its constitutional framework, it will continue to face practical constraints without financial and organisational independence written into a revised Act.
“We were here to support the reform process so it results in a robust and sustainable legislative framework for the Solomon Islands Office of the Auditor General,” she said.
The consultations included representatives from the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), various integrity institutions (such as the Office of the Ombudsman, the Leadership Code Commission, the Office of the Director of Prosecutions, the Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Political Parties Integrity Commissions and the Solomon Islands Financial Intelligence Unit) and various government ministries such as the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.
Ms Vosawale-Katuba said, “We came to advocate for the work of the audit office and highlight the importance of having a fully independent, well-resourced institution that can audit and report on public finances and the performance of the public sector.
“An audit office with operational autonomy, institutional independence and sustainable resourcing is a cornerstone of effective public sector accountability.”
PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa (far left); Program Director, Meresimani Vosawale-Katuba (second from left); Solomon Islands Auditor General, David Dennis (fourth from left); PAC Chairman, Hon Gordon Darcy Lilo (front centre); and other officials from the PAC and the Office of the Auditor General (image credit: Solomon Islands Office of the Auditor General)
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Contact information:
Meresimani Vosawale-Katuba, Program Director PASAI
E: Meresimani.VosawaleKatuba@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275
PDF version of this media release
