Now the Government is talking

Minister Leni clarifies
Now the government is talking, explaining that it is addressing some of the issues contained in the Guadalcanal Bona Fide Demands.

Following media reports that former Guadalcanal militants would cause some problems on the islands if government fails to address their concerns, Fisheries Minister Nollen Leni has came to defend the government. He says the government is dealing with the land issues. Among them is the transfer of the Mamara lands, West of Honiara and the Lungga lands to rightful owners.

Minister Nollen Leni says land titles will be transferred to the owners within the next few weeks. He then assures the people in Honiara that the former militants did not threaten anyone as speculated. He says what they did petitioned the Guadalcanal to present to the government some of the issues in the bona fide demands. Mr Leni says the government is doing all it can to address some of the demands including the state government. Many of the demands are linked to the state government system.

MyBlog comments
MyBlog published the letter which Minister Leni wrote to Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, Thursday 28 December 2006.

At least Government has responded to something close to the heart of the Guadalcanal people. The continuous neglect of the demands by successive government since independence in 1978, were among the things are had caused the recent social unrest in on Guadalcanal. MyBlog hopes this is the way forward to a positive future for Solomon Islanders.

Minister backs sacking of Provincial Assembly members
Provincial government minister Japhet Waipora has backed the decision of the Speaker of the Makira-Ulawa Provincial Assembly in sacking three provincial members.

According to Mr Waipora the action by Speaker John Basi is valid and lawful under to Section 15 of the Provincial Government Act. In a statement, he says he received documents from the speaker alleging that the three provincial members Daniel Nahusu, Mike Saiki and Charles Ureia were absent from office for six, five and four months consecutively. Mr Waipora says if the allegations were true, then the three members have breached the Provincial Government Act. He says the Speaker has the power under Section 16 of the Provincial Government.

MyBlog says had Speakers of other Provincial Assemblies knew their work, many former Provincial Assembly members may have been dismissed for similar offences. A thumbs to the Makira-Ulawa Provincial Assembly Speaker? Only the court could decide on that.

Provincial Governance
Temotu Province
Temotu Provincial Assembly has a new Speakers. He is Gabriel Teao.

Three candidates, Ataban Tropa, Gabriel Teao and Jonas Melatua contested the Speaker's post. In the first elimination round, Mr Teao polled eight votes and the other two candidates each polled four votes. A toss of a coin resulted in the elimination of Mr Melatua. In the second round of voting, Mr Teao polled 11 votes and Mr Tropa six votes.

Meanwhile, nomination for the Premier's position opened at ten o'clock this morning and will close 12 mid-day tomorrow.

Central Province
The Central Provincial Assembly will elect its Premier next Friday, 12 January.

Here is the procedure in installing the the new Provincial Assembly.
Monday 8 January - Members to take their oaths, following that nominations for the Speaker will open and close 4pm.
Wednesday 10 - Election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Assembly. Nomination of candidates for the Premier's post open 10am and will close 4.30pm.
Thursday 11 - This is a day of retreat for the members.
Friday 12 - Elections of Provincial Premier is set for 9am.

MyBlog comments
There appears to be a tug-of-war and a strong rivalry between two groups in the 10 seat Provincial Assembly for the Premiership post.

One group is led by the re-elected members of the out-going executive. This is the group led by the Care-taker Premier, Patrick Vasuni. The other group consists of new members led by lawyer Augustine Rose and a former General Manager of the national broadcaster, SIBC, Patteson Mae.

The later group's campaign platform is championing the need for a change.
Like other newly elected leaders, the trend is for clean sweep of alleged corruption and a new direction for the people. It cites the misuse of millions of dollars allocated the Provincial Headquarters building as an example.

However, the re-elected members have denied there was corruption in the former executive. Whatever, outcome emerges next Friday, the people have a right to know the answers to the many concerns raised in relation the governance of the province.

Happy surfing in Cyberspace.