MALAITA Ma’asina Forum (MMF) has hit back at Grassroots Association of Solomon Islands (GASI) after it defended its director, Johnny Sy.
MMF last week called on the government to remove Sy from Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) board after it allegedly used his influence to import Pacific rice from overseas.
However, Grassroots Association of Solomon Islands said there is no ground for his removal and accused MMF president, Charles Dausabea for number of outstanding issues in the past.
One of the accusations was the the $100,000 Indigenous Chamber of Commerce received from SIPA under former chief executive officer, Colin Yow.
Dausabea, who is also the chairman of Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, said they never asked for the money.
He said Yow gave the money through his legal advisor Charles Ashley, because he had seen the importance of the work done by Indigenous Chamber.
“We used the money to run our office, toured five provinces and get a warehouse to sell our rice,” Dausabea said.
GASI president, Henry Maniasi also accused Dausabea of collecting $1000 membership fee from voters of East Honiara when he was the Member of Parliament.
Maniasi said Dausabea promised to give them project money if they paid their membership fees in the Trade Union.
However, Dausabea said it’s not a trade union but a credit union.
“I paid $100 for 500 memberships to set up the organization.
“However, Maniasi should ask RAMSI to give him the answers because the union stopped after they arrested me and stayed away for nine months before my case was acquitted,” Dausabea said.
He said the credit union stopped after RAMSI arrested him.
Furthermore, Maniasi said Mr Sy is a businessman and he is entitled to buy rice from anywhere as long as the arrangement is done within the purview of the law.
Maniasi said as far as he knew, the rice Mr Dausabea is talking about was imported by a company called JQY.
However, Dausabea said why the rice was seen in containers at Sy’s yard at Burns creek?
“I got the picture of the rice at his yard.
“I know more about Sy’s involvement than you Maniasi,” Dausabea said.
He said Maniasi should stop influenced by Sy’s because the resources of this country like logs were ripped off by this person in the logging industry.
Sy is the president of Solomon Forest Association and consular of Philippines.
He also owns business in the country.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
