3 May 2010

Solomons concern over Truth and Reconciliation delay

7:05 am on 3 May 2010

A spokesperson for the Solomon Islands government says its concerned the work of the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commisson is being delayed because of a lack of funds.

The Commission into the ethnic tensions was due to hold its first provincial hearing at the end of April in Malaita, but says it's had to postpone it until the end of May.

It says it's not receiving funding quickly enough from the government and the United Nations Development Programme, which is administering funds from other donors.

The Reconciliation Ministry's permanent secretary, Joy Kere, says the government's providing more than one million US dollars for the Commission, and there's been no delay in operational funding.

But she concedes she's concerned 600,000 dollars allocated for hearings, awareness programmes and workshops is still being processed.

"We are also equally concerned, the government and the ministry, because it's a shared responsibility and it's a shared desire to ensure we have this commission running and doing its work on time."

Joy Kere says the government's consulting with the Commision and the UNDP to ensure that funds are dispersed more quickly.