Solomon Islanders or Moti

The Moti Saga
The issue of the suspended Attorney General Julian Moti's is something that had featured heavily in the media in the Pacific region.

This is particularly true in Solomon Islands, Australia, Papua New Guinea and to a lesser extent Vanuatu. The saga started in Port Moresby on 8th October where was arrested. Moti was supposed to appear in court, but he escaped court orders. To the lay person his escape from court hearing and subsequent secret flight into Solomon Islands is illegal. Moti Moti was last week cleared of the charges laid against him in Solomon Islands. The Honiara Magistrates court cleared him of the charges in relation to his entry into Solomon Islands on a PNG military aircraft.

The Commissioner of Police, Shane Castles however think otherwise. Mr Castles says that the decision by the court was a Notice of Discontinuation. He says it is not a "dismissal" of the charges. Mr Castles says it means the prosecution will not offer evidence and the charges are discharged at this time. He says police would investigate the permit document because he says it is suspicious.

Solomon Islanders vs Moti
The Courts in Solomon Islands seemed to have cleared Moti, giving the Australian government to step in and requested last Friday an extradition of its citizen from Solomon Islands.
Australia wants to try Moti in its courts on alleged child sex charges which was already cleared in a Vanuatu court in 1997. Foreign Affairs Minister Patterson Oti confirmed the request saying the cabinet will discuss it tomorrow before a formal announcement is made on the Solomon Islands government position on the issue.

The request for the extradition of Moti is now a test of wits between the Solomon Islands Government and the Australian Government. As some observers have commented on the issue, its Solomon Islands or Moti. Any decision that Caucus, Cabinet or the Solomon Islands Government make tomorrow on the extradition request, will have far reaching consequences for the country. Aid donors and development partners are watching the saga closely. Let's hope common sense prevails.

Moti has had close ties with past Solomon Islands governments. He was involved in various past projects such as the Mamara-Tasivarongo scheme and the Solomon Mutual Insurance.

No Elections on Malaita Today
The Returning Officer for the Malaita Provincial Assembly elections, Harold Leka, has confirmed that there were no elections for Wards Six to 33 today.

He says its was not possible to hold the elections today because among other things the old ballot boxes arrived late in provincial capital, Auki. Mr Leka says the boxes arrived in Auki at 10 o'clock last Friday night. He says his office had to employ some workers to prepare the boxes including repainting them. Mr Leka says his office is now waiting for additional funds from the Ministry of Provincial Government to run the elections for the remaining wards on Malaita.
He says if no additional is available by today, the elections are unlikely to be held this month. Mr Leka says there is a possibility the elections will be held early January 2007. The Minister of Provincial Government would endorse a new date for the elections.

The delay in holding the elections today may reflect some serious underlining flaws in the system. Workers of previous national elections have raised numerous claims about not receiving outstanding allowances for work they have done. If this is true, the relevant authorities must investigate and take appropriate action to rectify the situation.

Malaitans certainly need a new government to take them forward. The sooner there is a election the better it is for the future of the province.