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.