Solomon Islands rejects Police Head

Government closes tap on expats
The Sogavare government is certainly keeping to its promise to down sized the number of expatriates funded under RAMSI and working in various government Ministries.

Not only that, this also goes for diplomats who over step what the Solomon Islands government says is a sovereign issue. This is particularly so for Australian. So far the country had witnessed the expulsion of former Australian High Commissioner to Honiara Patrick Cole.

Another one bites the dust
Today, the government announced that Police Commissioner Shane Castles is now an "undesirable immigrant".

The declaration was made Friday 22nd December by Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration Minister, Patteson Oti. He says " in view of the sensitivity of the matter," he was "not at liberty to publicly disclose all of the reasons why Mr Castles had to be declared an undesirable immigrant. Mr Oti says Mr Castles' his return and continued presence in Solomon Islands was considered prejudicial to the peace, defence, public safety, public order, public morality, security and good government of Solomon Islands.

Minister Oti says there is nothing exceptional or discriminatory about the use of our statutory powers on this occasion. The power to control the admission and expulsion of undesirable aliens is one of the essential attributes of national sovereignty and utilized by all civilized nationals.

He say Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, Civil Aviation and border control officials, the Police Force, all commercial airlines, RAMSI as well as Mr Castles have been notified of his decision and the penal consequences of the defiance or breach of Solomon Islands laws.

Mr Castle, an Australian, is currently on leave in Australia.

MyBlog comments
MyBlog joins other Solomon Islanders that this latest action by the government to banned Mr Castes entering the country does not deepen the already deteriorating relations with Australia. Or could this action have any adverse consequences on existing relations and assistance from Australia? MyBlog hopes this doesn't happen.

Solomon Islanders wait in anticipation.