Politics Archive April 2010

Former Opposition Leader and East Choiseul MP, Manasseh Sogavare has condemned the decision by the CNURA Government for the payment of the entire Rural Constituency Development Fund (RCDF)for the country's 50 constituencies for 2010.

A People's Alliance Party, PAP, government will remove and radically change the budgetary framework as it is "a complete insult to the people of Solomon Islands."

Transparency Solomon Islands, TSI, has expressed concerns over the 10 million dollars payout to members of parliament dished out by the Republic of China, Taiwan, last week before dissolution of parliament.

There has been mixed responses over the recent decision by Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua to sack key Ministers in his cabinet, as well as several backbenchers.

Speaker of Parliament, Sir Peter Kenilorea, has paid tribute to the outgoing members of the Eight Parliament of Solomon Islands for what he calls "mending the broken pieces of the Happy Isles."

The Prime Minister has replaced the five cabinet ministers he sacked on Wednesday.

The Solomon Islands Council of Trade Union, SICTU, the country's trade union umbrella body, will be meeting today to decide on a nation-wide strike in protest of the 11 percent salary increase to members of Parliament.

The National Government last Friday bid farewell to former Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, the late Honorable Edward Huni'ehu (MP) during a funeral service at the Central Church in Honiara.

The Solomon Islands parliament still has three bills to address before the house stands adjourned sine die at this final week of sitting for the C-NURA government.

A new political party, the Reform and Democratic Party of Solomon Islands, launched its manifesto in Honiara yesterday.

The Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Amendment Bill 2010 which was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday have sought to amend the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

The voter registration period of extension lapsed on the 12th April 2010 and the Electoral Commission is now in the second stage of voter registration.

Parliament has rejected the 2009 Constituency Boundaries Commission Report, CBC, which proposed to add 17 additional constituencies. Debate on the report went on until well after 8pm last night with a majority of MPs supporting the motion "to reject the CBC Report."

Minister for planning and aid coordination, Steve Abana, himself a key cabinet minister in the C-NURA government, has opposed the 2009 Constituency Boundaries Commission report.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission, Waeta Ben Tabusasi has defended the 11% increase to the salaries of all members of Parliament, saying MP's have not received a raise in their salaries in the last few years.

A long time outspoken Member of Parliament, Hon. Edward Huni'ehu, passed away last night after long illness.

Parties forming the current Coalition of National Unity and Rural Advancement (C-NURA) government have agreed in principal that they will contest the 2010 national general elections under a common platform.

Secretary General of the newly formed political party, People's Federation Party, Ruddolf Dorah, says the 2010 national general election provides an opportunity "for a fresh start for Solomon Islands."