MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) is helping the
Solomon Islands Government to get their 2003 Budget up and running, the
Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mrs Chris Gallus said today from the
Solomon Islands Ministry of Finance in Honiara.
'With the help of 16 Australian advisers, expenditure is being reduced and
revenue enhanced,' Mrs Gallus said.
'Australians are working with the Solomon Islands Government to stabilise the
budget and ensure government can perform basic functions.
'People who have not been paid for months are finally being paid, and a
budget plan for the December quarter and 2004 has been prepared.
'Technical assistance from Australians working with the Ministry of Finance
is ensuring debt is being managed and payroll lists are being reconciled.
'Australia, through RAMSI, also recently cleared the way for the World Bank
and the Asian Development Bank to continue working with Solomon Islands, by
organizing for payment of debt arrears of A$4.6 million,' Mrs Gallus said.
Mrs Gallus is in Honiara as part of a ministerial visit to see first hand
RAMSI's and Australia's development assistance to Solomon Islands.
Media contact:
Shane Fairlie (Office of Mrs Gallus) 02 6277 4840 or 0408 680
442
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489
Dominic Morice (RAMSI, Honiara) (0011) 677 72160