LOOKING at the political history of instability in the country, how differently would your party lead our country from the past government?
Dr Alice Pollard posed this question to a team of panelist during ‘Voice Blo U’ – an audience-led interactive session in Honiara recently.
In his response to the question, Vice President of the Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (SIPRA), Francis Tekatoha said stability is crucial for any government to function.
“It is a reference to how stable Members of Parliament are in relation to which group they are aligned with, which government they are part of or have moved out from and generally how they conduct themselves along party lines,” Mr Tekatoha said.
He iterated that when political stability is disturbed, the impacts can be felt far and wide because it does not only affect how they relate to each other in Parliament but important still, to the wider community.
Mr Tekatoha added that as far as SIPRA is concerned, political stability can only be achieved by strengthening the mechanisms of democracy in the country.
“This is to make sure that parliamentarians are not given room to move between parties once they are elected under the banner of their respective parties,” he said.
“Once we reach this stage, then true stability can be realised and this would allow for the general government machinery to function.
“Both the Electoral Act and the Political Party Integrity Act failed to address grass-hopping in parliament and there is need to patch these loopholes if we are to achieve genuine stability,” he said.
Veteran Journalist Alfred Sasako in his contribution to the question said,” They have been going around in circles.
“Whilst most of them are tempted to look outside their shores for answers, the evils this country’s leadership is trying to get rid-off are basically within this country particularly embedded within their laws.”
Alfred Sasako is contesting the East Kwaio Seat under the Kadere Party Banner.
By Samson Sade
Solomon Star, Honiara
