Politics Archive February 2011

The Opposition has denied government claims that it is playing politics.

The Government Caucus has welcomed three former Opposition MPs who have decided to join the Danny Philip-led National Coalition for Rural Advancement (NCRA) government.

A prominent Honiara based lawyer says the Leadership Code Commission (LCC) has the power to investigate members of parliament who switched sides frequently during the recent political wrangling.

Noting that foreign aid accounts for over 60 per cent of the development budget of the Solomon Islands, an independent United Nations expert today called on the Government and its donor partners to design a strategy to help break the cycle of aid dependency.

MP for East Kwaio Constituency Stanley Festus Sofu has further strengthened the NCRA government after being sworn-in as Minister for the Ministry of Public Service this morning.

Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon Peter Shanel Agovaka, on Saturday, met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and held bilateral meetings with his Indian Colleague, Foreign Minister Krishna.

The Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, Andrew Muaki, has revealed that there are strong indications that at least three more members of the Parliamentary Opposition Group will join the NCRA government.

The Australian High Commission is pleased to announce its support for the Emu Harbour Health Centre, Western Province.

The National Coalition for Rural Advancement (NCRA) government has regained numerical strength after four MPs defected from the Opposition. The numbers now stand at 26 - 22 in favor of the Danny Philip led NCRA government.

The NCRA Government has called on authorities and leaders of the country not to scare people unnecessarily.

Parliament will convene on the 28th of March 2011.

Prime Minister Danny Phillip has agreed to move on with Australia and focus on their bilateral relationship.

Hotel bills incurred by the Parliamentary Opposition at the Heritage Park Hotel will be met by its members.

The Australian High Commissioner, Frank Ingruber, has stated that an article which appeared in the Solomon Star newspaper on 12 February about his meeting on 10 February with the Prime Minister, Hon Danny Philip, was a misrepresentation of that meeting.

Police have denied any involvement in the much publicised "intelligence report," which has alleged that there is a wide network set out to topple the current Danny Philip led government.

The Australian High Commissioner, Frank Ingruber, held separate meetings with Prime Minister Danny Philip and Foreign Minister Peter Shanel late yesterday afternoon.

Speaker of Parliament, Sir Allan Kemakeza is now pressured to act on the recently filed no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister Danny Philip.

The Government is demanding the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Wale, disclose details of his dealings with Canberra to topple the government, saying the people of Solomon Islands are entitled to know.

The Parliamentary Secretary for the Pacific, Richard Marles, last night, summoned Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia, Beraki Jino.

The Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) is conducting a series of induction training for new Members of Provincial Assemblies (MPAs) starting this week.

The Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands has released a Media release following reports by a local paper this morning .

"Members of Parliament need to be active in meeting with their voters and representing their issues in parliament," says Sir Peter Kenilorea.

In a twist of events over the weekend, a planned media conference by the Opposition for Friday night had to be cancelled following a near- brawl at the Heritage Park Hotel.

A Judicial review of the criminal charges against the North Malaita Member of Parliament, Hon. Jimmy Lusibaea will be presented before the High Court this Wednesday.

The Police have strongly denied media reports that two former ministers, Douglas Ete and Bodo Dettke, were targeted by gunmen when shots were fired from a taxi.

The petition sent to the Governor General by the Opposition asking that he intervenes in the current political instability and to call parliament to sit is still not clear.

Chairman of the Correctional Service's Parole Board, Philip Tegavota has resigned from the post less than three weeks after the board's controversial recommendation to release jailed North Malaita MP, Jimmy Lusibaea, on license and a 95 per cent remission of his sentence.