WE MUST COLLECTIVELT ADDRESS CORRUPTION: OPPOSITION

Mathew Wale made the call following the release of the 2010 index yesterday which ranked Solomon Islands 110 out of the 178 countries listed. (Pic: Supplied-Solomon Times)

Editor's Desk

The Opposition has called for a combined effort to improve Solomon Islands rating on the annual Transparency International Corruption Perception Index.

Deputy Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale made the call following the release of the 2010 index yesterday which ranked Solomon Islands 110 out of the 178 countries listed.

Mr Wale said it is unfortunate that the NCRA Government has no clear strategy to fight corruption.

He said the rating of Solomon Islands as one of the highly corrupt countries in the listing is a national embarrassment and highlights the need for the government must put in place a clear strategy to effectively combat and deter corruption.

Mr Wale said necessary resources must be allocated for the implementation of the strategy and it must involve all sectors of the society in order to achieve the desired result.

The Deputy Opposition Leader said corruption has deprived Solomon Islanders from a maximum benefit from the country’s abundant natural resources and the millions of dollars poured into the country annually by aid donors and other international organisations.

LAND DEALING COMMISSION OF INQUIRY TO BE SUSPENDED

Editor's Desk.

The Commission of Inquiry into Land dealings on Guadalcanal is to be suspended, the Office of the Prime Minister announced today.

“Serious allegations have been made, and, as a responsible government that we are, it is felt the only way to deal with this is to suspend the inquiry,” a spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office said.

“Accordingly, the Commission of Inquiry into Land Dealings on Guadalcanal is suspended for two months with immediate effect. Given the gravity of the allegations coming from within the Commission of Inquiry itself, we believe the decision to suspend it is warranted and provides an opportunity for everyone including staff members whose names have been linked to these allegations to clear their names,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the temporary reprieve [suspension] would give the Government time to investigate the range of allegations that the Counsel Assisting the Inquiry, Ruth Townsend, had made.

“This is an Inquiry, which was set up by the previous Administration. The decision by the Government to suspend it for two months is intended to ensure that the good intention of the Inquiry for a positive outcome is preserved,” he said.
A Taskforce would be put together to undertake this assignment.

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the Commission of Inquiry Into Land Dealings on Guadalcanal should resume after New Year.

Meanwhile the Government said today the other body, the Commission of Inquiry into RIPEL would be suspended indefinitely in line with the National Coalition for Reform and Advancement [NCRA] Government’s Policy.


“The Government has made it clear from the outset that it wants a new investor for RIPEL, hence we’ve taken the position that the Inquiry should stop to help save costs,” the spokesman said.

Public question ‘Forgiveness Bill’ Policy.

Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Manasseh Maelanga last Friday that the proposed contents are being considered and it could be introduced into parliament next year.

By Andrew Fanasia Jr.
Sub Editor
National Express News

The public and other prominent citizens have questioned the ‘Forgiveness Bill’ being proposed by the National Coalition for Reform and Advancement (NCRA) Government.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Manasseh Maelanga last Friday that the proposed contents are being considered and it could be introduced into parliament next year.

The forgiveness bill is likely to give amnesty to the perpetrators of crimes during the ethnic tension which was the main issue discussed during the forum.

A private lawyer, Andrew RadClyffe, argued that, it is not the job of the parliament to forgive, and he added that “granting the amnesty to the ethnic tension perpetrators will be unfair.”

“If there is a provision through the forgiveness bill for amnesty, it will be unfair to the four groups which exist today.”

“We have the first group of people who have served their term in prison, second once that are still in prison, third once that are waiting to be convicted and fourth once that are moving freely outside,” RadClyffe said.

Mr. Maelanga opening remarks stated that, the bill might provide a provision for the perpetrators to apply for immunity from prosecution and it might also allow those already convicted and still in prison to apply for pardon.

However, Mrs. Ruth Liloqula said “I don’t think this will give the nation lasting peace.”

“It will be a slap on the face of a mother who lost his son or daughter during the ethnic crisis,” Mrs. Liloqula said at the forum.

A lawyer by profession who want to remain unnamed told Express that if the proposed forgiveness bill is passed, the government must take into account the laws governing crimes in our country.
The lawyer said in any State, the constitution must prevail, “if the state forgives the perpetrators involved in the ethnic tension they are violating the law of basic human rights stated in our constitution.”

The lawyer said the proposed forgiveness bill will have some legal implication which results in conflicts of law.

Meanwhile, in the NCRA government policy statement handbook, it stated that the NCRA Government continues facilitate healing amongst our people with a view to enacting the ‘Forgiveness Bill’ to complement the task of the TRC thereby consolidating the country’s healing process.

MSG deferment was PM Philip’s decision: Bainimarama

Fiji’s leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama

Fiji’s leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama says the decision by Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Danny Philip to indefinitely postpone the Melanesian Spearhead Group’s (MSG) special leaders’ meeting was his own making.

Speaking to Fiji Live, Commodore Bainimarama said that while he was not in a position to comment on why the MSG was postponed, he acknowledged that the decision was made by PM Philip.

He also said that PM Philip and current MSG chair-Vanuatu Prime Minister, Edward Natapei had been in talks in the lead up to the postponement of the meet.

The MSG special leader’s meeting was to be held in Honiara this week but was put on hold by the Solomon Islands PM.

The meeting was to have seen the handover of the MSG chairmanship to the Solomon Islands who would then hand it over to Fiji.

Fiji was to have been represented by Minister Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola at the meeting in Honiara tomorrow.
Editor's Desk

Meanwhile, in the latest feat of MSG Chairmanship saga, Solomon Islands member of Parliament for Aoke Langalanga has lashes out at Commodore Bainimarama describing him as someone who wants countries of the MSG to bow down to his demands.

Matthew Wale made the statement in a reply to a question about his opinion regarding the recent MSG chairmanship impasse which Solomon Islands has agreed to settle between Fiji and Vanuatu.

Mr Wale told national broadcaster, SIBC his position is clear and that is, MSG countries should not allow Bainimarama to control them.

He said the MSG countries should learn from this and don't allow Commodore Bainimarama to dictate any matters regarding to the MSG.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/

Sogavare slams MSG

Manasseh Sogavare described the current MSG as a ‘laughing stock’.

Editor's Desk

MEMBER of Parliament (PM) for East Choiseul Constituency Manasseh Sogavare said the postponement of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) biannual leaders summit for the second time as just a tip of the iceberg in a systematic deterioration affecting the group.


He also described the current MSG as a ‘laughing stock’.

He made the comments yesterday after the proposed meeting set for this week was put on halt.

“This postponement may clearly be a systematic deterioration in the group’s resolve to stay united on issues affecting the Melanesia.

Sogavare said he did not blame Prime Minister Danny Phillips for requesting a postponement.

“Why do Solomon Islands be used as reconciliation ground for a blunder deliberately created by the current Chairman of MSG.

“As a matter of fact MSG has lost its coerciveness and has failed to be a collective voice of Melanesia on regional issues.

“It has hopelessly succumed to the pressure of external forces that always strive to destroy the organisation since its establishment.

“It is disappointing to note that these forces are seen to be winning,” he said.

Prime Minister of Vanuatu Edward Natapei is currently the Chair of MSG.

The former Prime Minister said MSG is now become a laughing stock.

“If we are not careful it will become an avenue through external interest will continue to undermine our resolve to put up a united front on regional issues through the mechanism of divide and rule.

“It is a shame for Melanesian leaders to simply fall aprt on the issue of Fiji’s chairmanship of the meeting.

“This shows how far removed and disinterest Melanesian Leaders are in understanding the position of Fiji.

“In other words, MSG has failed Fiji,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He pointed out that the Fiji issue can only be effectively addressed through active dialogue, consultation, and understanding and not isolationism.

“Leaders must understand that MSG is the only entity that is better placed in the region to engage Fiji in this dialogue.

“The leader of MSG must not confuse themselves with the wider agenda of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) in their dealing with each other on issues pertinent to Melanesia,” he said.

He added, MSG have a duty to handle the Fiji situation with the utmost sensitivity it deserves without being influenced by the wider agenda of the forum which has mishandled the situation in Fiji right from the very beginning.

Sogavare who was also a former Opposition leader in the last parliament stressed that the situation in Fiji is real, adding the issues that the interim government in tirelessly addressing are real and no amount of our concern to return Fiji to democracy ahead of a time scheduled agreeable to the Fiji Government would address.

“The MSG leaders must be prepared and deal with reality as far as Fiji concern, failing which they will join the queue of other Forum Leaders who suffer from idealism in their dealings with Fiji,” he said.