Political Stand-off Affects Investment

Canberra-Honiara row affects investment

Like a wounded beast the political row between Honiara and Canberra is rearing its head in anger. Various authorities including the Parliamentary Opposition, the Central Bank, the Solomon Islands Chambers of Commerce, NGOs and individuals have sensed that there is danger ahead. They have been and are calling on the government to quickly resolved the situation for the good of all parties, especially Solomon Islands.

Opposition calls on government
The Opposition continues to call on the government to quickly resolve the political stand-off with Australia.

Opposition spokesman on on Provincial Government and Rural Development, Clement Kengava says unless the row is resolved soon, the Government may find it difficult to put together and implement its rural area focused "Bottom-up-Approach" development. Mr Kengava says the government should now concentrate its efforts on domestic issues such as ridding corruption in the Public Service, unemployment, support for Provincial Governments and preparing the 2007 National Budget.

He says the Government must realize that a protracted diplomatic row with Australia will only bring economic and social hardships to Solomon Islands in the long-term.

Isabel Provincial Election
The care-taker Premier James Habu has been nominated unopposed for the coming Provincial Assembly election on 5th December.

A total of 71 candidates icluding five women are contesting the 16 Ward Assembly. The highest contested wards are Japuana and Sigana with 7 candidates each and the least contested are Kia and Kaloka wards with three candidates each.

Hograno/Kia/Havulei Constituency -- Ward/Candidate - 71
1. Kia -- 3 candidates; 2. Baolo -- 5 candidates; 13. Kolomola -- 5 candidates; 14. Kolotubi -- 4 candidates; 15. Susubona -- 4 candidates; 16. Samasodu -- 4 candidates

Maringe/Kokota Constituency -- Ward/Candidate
3. Kokota -- 1 candidate; 4. Hovikoilo -- 4 candidate; 05. Buala -- 5 candidate, 6. Tirotonga -- 4 candidates; 7. Koviloko -- 6 candidates; 8. Kmaga -- 4 candidates

Gao/Bugotu Constituency -- Ward/Canadidates
9. Kaloka -- 3 candidates; 10. Tatamba -- 4 candidates; 11. Sigana -- 7 candidates; 12. Japuana -- 7 candidates

Central Provincial Election
Fifty candidates have so far been accepted to contest the Central Provincial election on 5th December.

They include 34 from the five wards in the Florida group and 16 for the three wards in the Russell Islands. No nominations have yet been received for the two wards on Savo Island. The highest contested ward on Gela is the South Gela ward with nine candidates and the least is Sandfly and Buena Vista ward with four candidates. In the Russell Islands the highest contested ward is Banika ward with seven candidates and the least contested is Lavukal with four candidates.

Joe