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.