Politics Archive September 2008

The Parliamentary Opposition leader, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare has criticized the Prime Minister, Derek Sikua's recent statement on the CNURA Government's future partnership plans with the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

In the first week of August the government's working committee on the integrity bill toured Papua New Guinea as part of its ongoing consultative and research process.

The Rennell and Bellona Provincial Government is planning to hold a consultation conference in Honiara next month to discuss issues of importance to the Province.

The National Parliamentary Opposition has questioned the National Government's usage of the $2.3 million dollars it allocated for the recent Premiers' Conference in Lata, Temotu Province.

The Prime Minister Dr. Derek Sikua arrives in Solomon Islands today after addressing the UN General Assembly for the first time since becoming Solomon Islands Prime Minister in December last year.

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Dr Derek Sikua has signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.

According to reports by the local media, Walter Folotalu is the new MP for the Lau/Baelelea constituency.

The Acting Police Commissioner Peter Marshall stated yesterday during a press conference that the actions of Dr. George Manimu may have been illegal.

The East Honiara Bye-Election has a new Member of Parliament, Silas Milikada, a private businessman, won comfortably with a margin of well over 2000 votes.

Counting will continue despite pressures from candidates contesting the East Honiara bye-election for a halt to proceedings citing corrupt practices and voter irregularities.

A second conference on the issue of 'Political stability and governance in Solomon Islands' was officially opened in Honiara yesterday.

It has been revealed that the 2009 Premier's conference will be hosted by the Central Province.

The East Honiara bye-election has taken an unusual turn late yesterday afternoon with Dr George Manimu, one of the twenty six candidates, demanding that the counting be stopped.

Yesterday, Police arrested six people for election related offences during the East Honiara By-Election.

As the day comes to an end, more and more people are crowding around the Honiara City Council, eager to hear the result of the Bye-Election for East Honiara.

The East Honiara Election is said to be fraught with voting irregularities, the most common being voters using different names to vote.

While curious voters await the result of the East Honiara election, police are keeping a watchful eye for possible disturbance.

The counting of the East Honiara Bye-Election is still continuing at the Honiara Town Council (HTC) Education Division conference room. Anxious supporters are currently gathered in front of the building, awaiting the outcome of the election.

The Premier of the Western Province, Hon. Alex Lokopio, is adamant that the Western Province is ready to adopt Federalism.

Police are urging members of the community supporting candidates contesting the East Honiara by-election to remain calm in the lead up to the announcement of the winner after the general behaviour during the voting was excellent.

Early this morning, East Honiara residents flooded their respective polling stations to cast their votes.

A Honiara resident, John Keha, has questioned and challenged the Honiara City Council to keep a promise it made in January that it will introduce and enforce by-laws against betel nut chewers for spitting in areas used by the public in Honiara.

The Solomon Island Government's Working Committee on Political Party Integrity Reform will convene a two day conference on political stability from Wednesday 24th to Thursday 25th this week.

The Acting Leader of the National Parliamentary Opposition Group, Japhet Waipora has described the response to his call on the Prime Minister to stop misleading the premiers on the Provincial Government system as laughable and badly reflects on the highest government office.

On the eve of the bye-elections, excited fans jam packed trucks, vans and cars to drive through town cheering and shouting their candidate's names.

RAMSI Special Coordinator, Tim George said to the Premier of Temotu, Hon. Johnson Levela, that it was a great privilege to visit his province and spend time with the people of Santa Cruz Island.

RAMSI Special Coordinator Tim George said the chance to meet with Premiers and the Mayor of Honiara at the Premiers conference in Lata was a valuable one.

A former logger in the Solomon Islands has been elected as the new leader of the Australian Federal Government Opposition in an unexpected snap internal party election that wrong footed the media and caught political commentators and critics unaware.

The Prime Minister Dr. Derek Sikua is expected to order the sacking of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Provincial Government Fred Ganate over the pornography incident during the Premier's conference in Lata.

The Parliamentary Opposition Group has described the Porn incident in Lata, Temotu as disgraceful and embarrassing.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Dr. Derek Sikua was among the many leaders yesterday in Parliament giving their opinions on the RAMSI Facilitation Act.

Yesterday, the Member of Parliament for Auki/LangaLanga, Hon. Matthew Wale was sworn in yesterday at the Government house as Minster for the Ministry of Education and Human Resources.

Justice David Cameron on Monday has reserved his judgment on the jailed Central Guadalcanal MP Peter Shanel for a later date.

The Solomon Islands Media organizations yesterday rejected Government efforts to control how they report the Constitutional Congress meetings this month.

The Acting Leader of the National Parliamentary Opposition Group, Japhet Waipora has accused the Prime Minister, Dr Derek Sikua of misleading the premiers on the provincial government system.

The Premier's Conference in Lata was cut short on its first day after obscene pictures began appearing on the screen during a Power Point Presentation.

The supporters of the Malaita Premier Richard Irosaea within the Malaita Provincial Assembly have declared the numbers game against Premier Irosaea as irrelevant.

The Prime Minister's Office has suspended a political appointee alleged to have been drinking in the office and misusing a government vehicle.

Reconciliation in relation to land, lost property, compensation, and the proposed state government system are expected to be key issues at the Premier's conference in Lata, Temotu.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has arrived in Temotu on Sunday as the chief guest to officially open the 2nd Annual Premiers Conference in Lata.

The Parliamentary Foreign Relations committee this week began its consultations on the review of the RAMSI Facilitation Act with Provincial Premiers.

The Opposition has said that it fully supports the Government's proposed plan to pass a law on political Integrity.

RAMSI Special Coordinator, Tim George said it was an honour to be co-host with Solomon Islands first Prime Minister and current Parliamentary Speaker, Sir Peter Kenilorea, at an event to mark five years of Regional Assistance Mission's partnership with Solomon Islands.

There have been speculations over the resignation of the Isabel Provincial Minister for Education, Michael Meredi.

The National Government is finalizing two new business laws aimed at reducing challenges that depressingly affect the country's present business environment.

President of Guadalcanal's Provincial Council of Women, Grenta Tome has condemned the recent arrest of an elderly Guadalcanal couple.

Current British High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, H.E Richard Lyne will be leaving the Solomon Islands after the completion of his duties in November 2008.

This information has been provided to the media to assist in locating persons against whom a warrant has been issued for their arrest.

The Working Committee on the Government's proposed Political Parties Integrity Bill is planning to hold a second and final consultation meeting at the end of September.

Overseas Heads of Diplomatic missions from the Solomon Islands are currently in Honiara to attend a two day consultation meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.

The Makira and Ulawa Provincial Premier, Thomas Weape, has described development in the Province since independence as stagnant.

No indication has been made from Sir Allan Kemakeza, the Solomon Islands former Prime Minister, the current Minister for Forests and the Member of Parliament for Savo-Russell Islands, to appeal the courts decision to sentence him for six months imprisonment.

The 2008 Annual Premier's Conference to be held in the Temotu Province, far east of the Solomon Islands, has been postponed for the 15th of September 2008 instead of September the 8th as planned.

The recent Parliamentary meeting which ran for more than a month successfully ended yesterday.

The 2009 Annual Premiers' Conference is set for its official opening by the Prime Minister, Dr. Derek Sikua, at the Temotu Provincial capital of Lata on Monday next week.

The leader of Opposition, Manasseh Sogavare has described the current Parliament meeting as very expensive with little output.

It has been confirmed that the Solomon Islands Former Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza will loose his Parliamentary seat.

The Samoan RAMSI police officer was today formally charged with manslaughter and dangerous driving causing death in relation to the accident that killed Solomon Islands nurse, Hilda Ilabae on the 13th of June 2008.

The Solomon Islands Opposition Leader, Manasseh Sogavare, lashed out at Government Parliamentarians for not attending the Parliament meetings.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Dr Derek Sikua yesterday moved the Sine Die motion signaling the end of Parliament.

The Office of the Ombudsman will continue to work with the Leadership Code Commission and the Office of the Auditor General to provide awareness on corruption.

H.E George Chan, Ambassador of Taiwan, has released the Phase III funds for the National Plantation Development Project, worth SBD$2 million and the fourth payment of SBD$10 million towards the 2008 Constituency and Rural Development Project to the Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Dr. Derek Sikua.