NORTH Malaita MP Jimmy Lusibaea is expected to be sworn in this morning, less than a week after he resigned as Minister for Infrastructure Development.
This was after the Government decided to give him the same ministerial portfolio.
“…yes, Mr Lusibaea will retain his same portfolio,” deputy private secretary to Government House Rawcliffe Ziza told the Solomon Star late on Thursday.
Mr Ziza confirmed Government House has received the instrument of appointment from the government.
Governor General Sir Frank Kabui is expected to sign the instrument this morning to allow the swearing in to take place, he added.
Mr Lusibaea tendered his resignation on April 29, saying he no longer trusts the current government.
But observers believed his resignation was linked to the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) saga.
Mr Lusibaea resigned after the High Court ordered controversial SIPA chief executive officer Colin Yow and his agents not to enter the SIPA premises.
The North Malaita MP is said to be a staunch supporter of Mr Yow.
Special Secretary to Prime Minister, Andrew Muaki, confirmed he had sent an instrument to Government House yesterday on Mr Lusibaea’s reappointment.
A government source told the Solomon Star this week Mr Lusibaea met Prime Minister Sogavare on Tuesday to discuss his resignation and for him to rejoin the government.
The source said Mr Lusibaea had told Mr Sogavare that one condition for him to rejoin the government is for the entire SIPA board to be removed.
The board is currently chaired by former Attorney General Billy Titiulu, who sacked Mr Yow late last month and was instrumental in the High Court orders that saw Mr Yow banned from SIPA premises.
Earlier, Mr Lusibaea terminated Mr Titiulu and SIPA board member Johnny Sy.
But his action was found to be invalid because the termination letters were not signed by the Minister of Finance Snyder Rini.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
