WE NEED QUALITY POLITICIANS: SOGAVARE

Andrew Fanasia Jr.

OUR Party has successfully launched its 2010 Election Campaign in Honiara this morning with a powerful reminder to nation to vote into its ninth parliament people who are serious about their parliamentary role.
The event held at the National Cultural Village following a float parade from King George to White River recorded a good turnout.
In a powerful key note address, the party’s president Manasseh Sogavare said parliament plays a pivotal role in the shaping of development policies and unless Solomon Islanders vote in quality leaders, the country will perpetuate the problems it has faced over the last 32 years.
“We need a parliament with a membership that cannot be bought or sold. We need a parliament that stands for what is right though the heavens fall.
“We need a parliament that upholds and protects the interests of this country. We need a parliament that is concerned about the welfare of our people and not one that pretends to do so but is actively involved in pursuing foreign interests in the pretext of maintaining good relationship.
“We need a parliament with membership that genuinely upholds Christian principles and not one that pretends to do so but is prepared to sacrifice these principles to gain favour.
“We need a parliament that uses its legislative powers responsibly instead of passing bills that have very little or nothing to do with the issues that really matter to addressing peace, progress and prosperity in Solomon Islands.
“We need a parliament that appreciates and fully understands the development status of the country and is willing to take and stand by tough economic decisions that are good for the country and not to be bogged down in the narrow interests of MPs.
“We need a parliament that recognises the potentials of all provinces in the country as worthy participants and contributors to the national wealth and takes steps to utilise these potentials. We need a parliament that understands the issues of concern to our provinces and takes steps to address them instead of paying lip service,” he said.
Mr Sogavare said OUR Party has a point to prove on the issue of seriousness about parliamentary role as the members of the immediate former Opposition Group who founded OUR Party outperformed the CNURA Government in their commitment to parliament business in the eighth parliament.
He said the nation must be rest assured the party has put together a team of men and women who are serious to fully and effectively represent it in the ninth parliament and to ensure its (party) policies are implemented.
The former opposition leader said the current poor state of the national economy is a reflection of bad political decisions and OUR Party is committed to change this status quo through its comprehensive, integrated and peace-conscious decentralisation policy.