In an effort to deliver his 11th hour election promises, Malaita Premier Fini and his deputy will travel to China to negotiate funding for the various projects outlined in MNGFR’s policy document
THE Malaita Premier, Martin Fini and his Deputy, Joe Heroau, will fly to China in the coming weeks to negotiate funding for their 11th hour government’s 12 doable projects, it was revealed.
Information obtained by Solomon Star Auki claimed that Premier Fini and the Deputy Premier Heroau are currently in Honiara to work on their travel documents to undertake the trip.
On Monday this week, the duo confirmed that they will be making a trip to China but did not release details about it.
Premier Fini when asked about the trip said it is too early to talk about visit to China.
He declines to make further comments as he is not prepared for such visit.
It was revealed that the Premier and Deputy Premier are capitalising on the trip to negotiate China funding for various projects on Malaita in the 11th hour rule of MNGFR.
When the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) under the leadership of Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, switched the countries diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China in September 2019, the former Malaita Provincial Government (MPG) under the leadership of Daniel Suidani refused to accept Chinese investors into Malaita.
The Suidani-led MARA government then came up with a document called the Auki Communique to prevent China from funding projects in Malaita.
This anti-Beijing stance has attracted three motions of no confidence against the former Premier and his MARA government.
The first two motions of no confidence were defeated but the third motion caught the MARA government off-guard, prompting the swift downfall of the Suidani-led MARA early this year.
The successful third motion of no confidence saw a new government formed and the MPA for Ward 3, Martin Fini, elected as Premier. Upon his election as premier, Fini announced that his government is open to engage with the National Government and all stakeholders, including the country’s bilateral partners, to develop Malaita. He also announced his government’s removal of the Auki Communique.
Thereafter Premier Fini led his executive members on a trip to Honiara to meet with DCGA government and the Chinese Embassy officials in Honiara.
With only a month left before the Malaita Provincial Assembly is dissolved in June, the Fini-led MNGFR launched its policy translation document last week, announcing 12 doable projects that it will deliver even with the limited time it has left in office.
With the trip to China looming, many have expressed the view that the MNGFR are on a ‘fishing trip to China’ to negotiate funding for the 12 doable projects.
In the meantime, the Malaita Province Minister for Commerce, Edward Misite’e, has confirmed that he will also’ join a trip to China’ at a date yet to be confirmed. Solomon Star Auki was unable to confirm if MPA Misite’e is referring to the same trip by Premier Fini and Deputy Premier Heroau.
While Premier Fini and Deputy Premier Heroau have their eyes fixed on their China trip, the former Premier, Daniel Suidani is touring the United States of America.
By WILSON SAENI in Auki
