THE Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Peter Shanel Agovaka has called on the Member of Parliament (MP) for East Honiara, Morris Toiraena to elaborate on his call for “change.”
This follows MP Toiraena’s appeal to his colleagues to transform the spirit of Parliament, which he described as being perceived by the public as a house influenced by ‘self-interest, corruption, and personal gain.’
Speaking during the sine die motion debate in Parliament last month, Minister Shanel criticised MP Toiraena for failing to provide clarity on the change for which he advocates.
He argued that tangible developments, such as the construction of the National Sports Stadium, roads, and bridges by both past (Democratic Coalition for Change Government) and present government (Government for National Unity and Transformation) represent real change.
“All trade agreements we’ve signed, including those for agriculture and fisheries, and our non-reciprocal agreements—these are the changes we’ve achieved,” Minister Agovaka said.
Minister Agovaka emphasised the need for MPs to substantiate their claims when addressing Parliament.
“If you want to talk about change, it has to go beyond mere symbolism, such as a dress code in Parliament,” he remarked.
Regarding allegations of corruption, Minister Agovaka challenged MP Toiraena to provide evidence.
“If you have any evidence of corruption involving Members of Parliament, our judiciary, the Ombudsman Commission, and the Leadership Code Commission are all available for such matters.
“Don’t make sweeping statements in Parliament without presenting evidence,” he stated.
However, MP Toiraena clarified that his remarks were intended to reflect public sentiment.
After eight months in office, he observed that the people perceive Parliament as a place imbued with a ‘spirit’ that corrupts even those with noble intentions.
“From the perspective of our people, this house has a spirit. When someone enters, even a priest or pastor, they believe that person will eventually succumb to corruption, self-serving behaviour, or other vices.
“This perception exists because of the culture that has been ingrained in this house over past terms,” MP Toiraena said.
MP Toiraena urged the current Parliament to be different, noting that 25 new MPs had joined 25 returning members, creating an opportunity for a fresh start.
“This house should be a new house. Our people have voted for change and expect to see it. They want us to serve faithfully and break away from the negative traditions of the past,” MP Toiraena stressed.
He also reminded Parliament of the mandate entrusted to them by the electorate.
“We were elected with a common vision: to serve faithfully, make a difference, and resist the lingering spirit of the past. We are here on a mission,” MP Toiraena said.
Looking ahead to 2025, MP Toiraena expressed hope that Parliament would reset its course and set new directions, striving to be different from previous years.
