Kemakeza into grasshopping politics

Mr Mark Kemakeza Minister for Mines and Energy

BY ANDREW FANASIA Jr
In association with Islands Sun

Former Minister for Mines and Energy, Mr Mark Kemakeza who made an early move to the opposition was just practicing his normal grasshopping politics by cross over to his former group.

Government House confirmed to Island Sun yesterday that Mr Kemakeza was sworn in as Minister for Mines of NCRA Government.

Mr Kemakeza was among the other first two who defected to the Opposition and had also resigned from his ministerial portfolio side last week.

When asked about the reason behind his switch, Opposition media and research officer, Mr George Atkin said that only the Leaders of the Opposition can comment on that matter.

With regards to number, Mr Atkin added, “Opposition still has the number to form the Government.”

He said that though Mr Kemakeza left the group, they remain with 26 members on their side while the Prime Minister Danny Philip side has 21 members.

Meanwhile, a lawyer by profession who withheld his name told Island Sun yesterday said that such person like Mr Kemakeza should not be counted in this game due to his grasshopping political game.

It has been revealed through our source a day after Mr Kemakeza join Opposition Mr Kemakeza demanded Opposition for some amount of money which was turned down by the leaders of the Opposition.

If this is true then Mr Kemakeza’s move to NCRA was because of money which depicts a bad leadership character that pursues his own interest.

Meanwhile, Solomon Islands politics have always been like this since the independence.

This problem is caused by party system which the CNURA tried to pass the party integrity bill last year but failed due to some of their members want freedom to move around just for the sake of their interest.

The problem with parties is that these virtues tend to get obscured by other negative aspects. First and foremost of which is the way in which political parties take on the characteristics of a bureaucracy.

They forget that their main (and ideally, sole) purpose is to represent the interests of their constituents or the country at large. Instead, parties often focus primarily on acquiring and maintaining power.

“This is exactly what is happening in Solomon Islands which caused our nation to head the wrong direction,” the lawyer said.

Lusibaea’s remission granted

By Andrew Fanasia Jr
In Association with Islands Sun Newspaper
Honiara, Solomon Islands

Two years and nine month imprison Member of Parliament for North Malaita who was release on license on the 14th of this month has been granted remission to one month one day.

These came after the Minister for Police and National Security granted a 95 percent remission after his release.

Speaker of the Parliament Sir Allan Kemakeza explained in a statement that the Minister granted the Mr Lusibaea further remission through powers vested on him under Section 38 of the Correctional Service Act and Regulation 198 of the Correctional Service Regulation.

He stated that the Correctional Service Act defines effective sentence as the term of imposed by the High Court, granted to every prisoner is to serve after taking into account remission granted under the Act.

Sir Allan said “this is in addition to a one third remission to the sentence imposed by the High Court, granted to every prisoner under section 37 of the Correctional Services act.”

He further explained that the Correctional Service Act defines effective sentence as the term of imprisonment that a prisoner is to serve after taking into account remission granted under the Act.

“Therefore it is this effective sentence of one month one day that Mr Lusibaea was released on licence to serve outside prison,” Sir Allan explained.

He added that Mr Lusibaea is free to perform functions and responsibilities as a Parliament member as the sentence is less than 6 months.

Meanwhile, Sir Allan stated that, the Police Minister exercised his powers under relevant laws and that he (Sir Allan) as the Speaker does not have the legal mandate to decide otherwise.

However, on the question of whether the Minister had exercised his discretionary power in a lawful manner.

“This is for the courts to decide and that only the courts have jurisdiction to make a decision on such matter,” Sir Allan said.

I will not resign: PM

BY ANDREW FANASIA Jr
In Association with Island Sun News
Honiara, Solomon Islands

As the political upheaval of the country intensifies, Solomon Islands
16th Prime Minister after 32 years of independence, Mr Danny Philip
said he has no reason to resign even though he is under intense
pressure following the defection of some his Ministers.

“I am not a weak leader or will even buckle up to what I termed as
cheap rhetoric in media by Mr Wale and his Cohorts,” Mr Philip
confidently said in a press conference yesterday.

This was following the comment made by acting leader of Opposition, Mr
Matthew Wale in a interview with One Television calling the PM to
resign.

“I want to assure the people of Solomon Islands that NCRA have
something for you,” he said yesterday.

Mr Philip has revealed that his government is commanding the support
of 24 members of parliament and that included Ngella MP, Mark Kemakeza
who revoked his own resignation on Saturday.

He also confirmed that among the 24, North Malaita Member of
Parliament Mr Jimmy Lusibaea is counted even though there are legal
implications with his issue.

Mr Philip however revealed that his backbencher, MP for East Makira,
Alfred Giro is still seating on the fence.

I want to appeal to the Opposition side to stop there misleading
allegations which aimed to destroy the public trust and confidence in
their Government.

“I am confidence and ready to act in the interest of my good people of
Solomon Islands, NCRA is here for the good citizen of Solomon
Islands,” Mr Philip confidently stated yesterday in a press
conference.

Mr Philip however appealed to the friends from outside (donor
countries) to stay away from this latest political upheaval.

“This does not mean I don’t like you, but experience has taught me
some lessons in the past,” Mr Philip said.

He made this appeal after rumors that the Opposition side is backed by
some influential countries from outside.

He added that, “let this political problem fixed by ourselves.”

Meanwhile, Mr Philip assured the people of Malaita that NCRA
Government will be coming out for you to establish some of the planned
industries to develop their resources.

Islands Sun understands that things might change in the next few days
as the battle is on between the current NCRA government and the
desperate Opposition side.

PM Slams Wale’s Critics

BY ANDREW FANASIA Jr
In Association with Islands Sun News
Honiara

Prime Minister, Mr Danny Philip responded to the tenuous allegations
being leveled at National Coalition for Rural Advancement (NGRA)
Government.

“I did not surprise as the Opposition’s agenda is to destabilize the
ruling coalition, everyone knows that it is the Opposition Deputy
leader from day one,” Mr Philip said yesterday during the press
conference attended by the local media and the nine NCRA Ministers.

He stressed that, they have not responded to these allegations due to
the fact that these issues have been dealt with adequately by
appropriate authorities.

The allegations which he (Mr Philip) referred to were the beche-de-mer
issue, Taiwanese Fishing boat, PNG Funding Chancery, Mr Jimmy
Lusibaea’s case, the National Bureau for Social and Economic Reform
(NBSER) and allegation labeled against PM for not attending the
Cabinet meetings.

With regards to the beche-de-mer issue, Mr Philip added, the Minister
exercised his authority based on the professional and legal advice
provided to him by both the AG’s Chamber and senior officials of the
Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

“The allegations on this issue are groundless because the deputy
leader of the Opposition has failed miserably to provide police with
evidence which he had promised,” Mr Philip said.
Mr Philip revealed that there is a second beche-de-mer consignment
which the Government will be taking appropriate action to address it.

Mr Philip added, in the case of the two Taiwan unlicensed Fishing
vessels, “due to the appeal made by Taiwan, in our view it was a
legitimate appeal, therefore the eventual fine was reduced to $1
million which was paid.”

He further stressed the $3 million which given to fund the PNG
Chancery building, “what Mr Mathew Wale and his cohorts never told the
public is the fact that PNG Government build our own Chancery in Port
Moresby without any single dollar from the Solomon Islands
Government.”

Mr Philip said that, the PNG Government is a genuine friend which
assisted so many Solomon Islands student through paying their fees in
many tertiary institutions in PNG over the past year.

“And for Mr Wale to claimed that the Prime Minister have received any
share from this $3 million as soon as our locally owned contractor,
Transworld got the money is a heap of crap to distort our Government,”
Mr Philip said.

“I want the put it straight to the deputy leader of Opposition that
the $3 million has never given to the contractor but was given
directly to the Government of PNG,” Mr Philip explained.

Meanwhile, Mr Philip told the press conference that anyone who has an
issue with the release of North Malaita Member of Parliament, Mr Jimmy
Lusibaea should seek remedy in the High Court.

“Because id its independence, neither the AG’s Chamber nor Cabinet can
interfere with its due process, the Government denies any
involvement,” Mr Philip confirmed.
The Opposition side also criticized the National Bureau for Social and
Economic Reform; they claimed that NCRA are experimenting and that
translating the NCRA Government policy has been delayed.

“As I said from the outset, Mr Wale has an agenda that is to
destabilize the government and what it is set out to do.

“In fact, the translation has been done; we were waiting for the next
meeting of Parliament when details of Bureau, what it will do, time
frame on projects and so on would be unveiled,” Mr Philip said.

Mr Philip stated that, “we are not experimenting; we are serious and
will deliver, but how can we focus when someone has brought his
personal agenda to destabilize and undermine the work of the
government is doing for Solomon Islands?”

Mr Philip however challenges the ringleader Mr Wale to be humble and
act like a Solomon Islander.

“If you want to challenge anything bring it and lets debate the issues
on the floor of the parliament, because that is the right place for us
to debate and not in the media,” Mr Philip stated yesterday.

Meanwhile PM Philip revealed to the media that they (NCRA) still have
24 members intact, however only nine were seen during the press
conference yesterday to show their support for the current Government.

MSG call on International Community to Understand

Foreign Minister of Fiji, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola:Fiji now holds the chairmanship of the MSG.

By Andrew Fanasia Jr.

The outgoing Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Chairman, Vanuatu Prime Minister, Mr. Kilman Sato has called on the international community to understand the Melanesian way.

The call was made following the reconciliation ceremony between Vanuatu and Fiji Government and the MSG Special Summit in Honiara on Wednesday.

The ceremony was organised by the Solomon Islands government to break the impasse between Vanuatu and Fiji over the MSG chairmanship.

There was a small leaders summit held in which they officially endorsed the chiefs’ declaration that Fiji now holds the chairmanship of the MSG.

 Mr. Sato stated that, the handing over of MSG Chairmanship to Fiji will cause criticism from the international community.

“But for us the people and Government of Vanuatu we believe in what we did today (Wednesday).”

“We believe in Fiji to take MSG into the next level for the good of the Melanesian people and the region,” Mr. Sato said when giving his final remarks during closing dinner hosted by the Government of Solomon Islands.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of Fiji, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola affirmed to the MSG members that Fiji will move MSG to the next level, “we are taking this chance very seriously.”

Mr. Kubuabola thanked the MSG members for accepting Fiji’s situation and their issues.

He also stressed that Fiji needs a change which they are working on it according to their timeline.

“We know the international community did not accept our road map for change but we believe they will understand our reform agendas,” Mr. Kubuabola said.

Mr. Kubuabola however said Fiji is encouraged by the reconciliation ceremony.

“This is a historic occasion, it should be a beacon of hope for the future, not only when dealing with MSG issues but for similar challenging issues in the wider Pacific Islands region,” Mr. Kubuabola said.