Sasako speaks of his sacking
GOVERNMENT media consultant Alfred Sasako has blamed the deputy prime minister Douglas Ete for his sacking.
He said this on Tuesday when confirming receiving his termination letter, which he said was dated 27 July 2015.
“The letter backdated to 27th July was signed by the Special Secretary to the Prime Minister (SSPM),” Mr Sasako said.
“It is my belief that the letter was finally issued following a meeting this morning between the SSPM and Deputy Prime Minister who engineered my premature termination,” he added.
Mr Sasako claimed no reasons or grounds were given for the termination.
He said clause 17(b) of his contract was cited, but this particular clause stipulates the duty and responsibilities of each party in the event the engagement was prematurely terminated.
He explained there are three grounds provided for in the contract for termination – (1) medical grounds, (2) non-performance and (3) misconduct in office. None was cited in the letter.
“It is my belief that I had not breached any of the three grounds which must be read together with the duties and responsibilities of each party stipulated in clauses 17(a) and (b) to the Agreement, which was duly vetted by the Attorney General’s Chamber before it was signed in June this year.
“I have three years and four months left on my contract when under undue pressure from the deputy Prime Minister I had to be made a scapegoat through this termination.
“I simply wish to remind the deputy Prime Minister and MP for East Honiara that he may have the power to manipulate the system. I don’t.
“But I do have the pen, which throughout history has been described as being mightier than the sword.
“Let the music start.”
Mr Ete could not be reached in time, Tuesday for comments.
However, the Solomon Star understands Mr Ete believes an article published in the Island Sun recently about his recent trip to Japan to attend PALM was penned by Mr Sasako.
The article was critical of Mr Ete’s dress code, quoting diplomatic sources as saying “Mr Ete’s dress code was a diplomatic embarrassment.
The article carried not by-line.
Mr Ete has since came out in the media to response to the article and its content.
Mr Sasako has denied writing the article.
Officials from the Prime Minister’s Office are refusing to comment on the issue.
By CHARLES KADAMANA
