Central Malaita Student Association Blog Site

Monday: November 12, 2007
Pacific Magazine

A new but not too surprising twist has today emerged in the current Solomon Islands political crisis. Three government back bench MPs who announced their resignation yesterday have re-joined government and were swiftly sworn in as Cabinet ministers at Government House.

The three are Temotu Pele MP, Martin Maga who was given the Justice and Legal Affairs ministry; South Vella La Vella MP Trevor Olavae who took on the National Planning and Aid Coordination portfolio, and North Guadalcanal MP Martin Sopaghe who was given the Works and Infrastructure Development ministry. Sopaghe replaces East Kwaio MP, Stanley Sofu who was among the breakaway group of ministers.
At Government House this afternoon, about 14 government ministers were present, including Ngella MP, Mark Kemakeza who signed yesterday’s MOU between the defected ministers and the Opposition.

The Governor General had to lead Olavae into reading of the oaths of office and allegiance as he no longer has good eye sight due to a diabetic condition he has suffered for sometime – a clear indication that Sogavare is desperate to find Cabinet ministers.

But the Prime Minister maintains his defiance, saying he hopes other MPs who deserted him yesterday, including his deputy prime minister Toswell Kaua would return to him.

He said after the ceremony at Government House he was willing to talk to any of the breakaway ministers.

“I really want to know what really angered the group…Last night they came out in a media conference and basically said nothing. They continue to attack me over the housing property which I loaned. It is a loan of 2.9-million dollars we secured against our properties. The bank saw it fit to give us the loan so they gave us the loan. It’s not 8.3 million dollars or anyone else giving us the money,” he said.

He said discussions are going on between him and other MPs. He would not specify if those MPs were part of the breakaway faction or from the Opposition.

“This thing just happened over the weekend and people are to shock, not knowing where to go because they are confused. They are trying to find out what are the real issues. As days will go, you will find out there’s no reason why this group walked out of government. It will boil down to that. I feel sorry for people who are being misled by the Opposition. They will find out that they are left out in the cold,” Mr Sogavare said.

The Prime Minister said it was too early at this stage to give credit to who might claim to have the numbers to form a new government because Solomon Islands politics was unique for last minute crossovers.

The Opposition says none of their members are crossing the floor and they still have the majority with the nine defected ministers.

Meanwhile, Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena has called on politicians in the national Parliament to resolve the political crisis. He also asked the prime minister to prove to him that he still has majority support of MPs to remain in government by replacing those who announced their resignation by tomorrow.

The Governor General in a national address on state-owned SIBC said he has no reason to intervene in the crisis at this stage unless he is sure elected leaders cannot resolve the current political crisis. Sir Nathaniel made the comments after several meetings with both the Parliamentary Opposition Group and the government.

"As Governor General I don't see it as a Constitutional Crisis, its political crisis. They are two different things. The numbers form political crisis, therefore they are elected with a mandate from our people to sort out the political chaos. They owe this nation that responsibility to sort out themselves, before we talk about going to Parliament for a meeting".

Sir Nathaniel has demanded ministers resigning from the government submit their resignation letters on ministerial letterheads. Sir Nathaniel says he has conveyed this demand to the Deputy Prime Minister who has signed up with the Opposition Group Toswel Kaua when they met this morning. He confirmed only receiving resignation letters from two ministers, Gordon Darcy Lilo and Steve Abana.

"The Ministers who said they have resigned must bring their letters to me, not to give the letters to someone to bring to me under the Constitution. And because they were Minister when they put their signatures on their letters, they must write the letters on the letterheads of the Ministries they resigned from to make it legal, because they write as Ministers of Her Majesty. They must write on their Ministries' letterhead which they took their oath to Her Majesty to serve in the Ministries and the government,” he said.

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