Six (6) resigned M.A.R.A Ministers received $10k each, MPAs confessed
IT has surfaced that the reasons stated in the resignation letter by six Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) who tendered their resignation from the MARA government this week are mere cover-ups, it was revealed.
Yesterday, confessions were heard from MPAs within the MARA government who decided not to join the group after they found out that money was used to bribe MPAs to move from the Suidani-led MARA government.
The six MPAs namely, Iven Tonafala, Elijah Asilaua, Alick Ofoofo, Francis Wateliu, John Kehosi, and William Ionga tendered their resignation on the 23 of September 2021, under a uniform letter stating the reasons for their resignation.
“The six MPAs’ received $10,000 each as an offer to resign from MARA.
“We were part of the team but decided not to leave, as the whole idea was driven by money politics,” one MPA told Solomon Star Auki yesterday.
According to confessions from the MPAs, the resignation of the six has nothing to do with reasons stated in the resignation letters; rather it is pure desire for quick money that forced the MPAs to resign.
“I was with the group that tender their resignation; I left them because I know that what they are doing is not right.”
“I was surprised to read what they stated in their resignation letters,” one other MPA said.
They should just tell the truth that they have received $10,000 each which triggered their resignation, he insists.
One MPA who the group counted on him to receive his share of the bribe money said he was with the sacked Deputy Premier when one of the MPAs who tendered his resignation lately called and confirmed that six of them have already received $60,000 in Honiara.
“From the $60,000, each received a share of $10,000. Those six were the first to tender their resignation this week.
“The caller who is one of the resigned six MPAs went further stating that $40,000 will be sent to Auki for four MPAs including the sacked Deputy Premier,” the MPA testified.
Asked about why he knew about the deal, he said he was not only part of the group, but Sifoni’s phone was on loudspeaker and he could hear the whole conversation.
“The caller told Sifoni on the phone that I will not receive the money because I was a strong supporter of the Premier, without knowing that I was listening to the whole conversation,” he said, referring to the situation that day as awkward.
He went on to confess that the shameful thing at that time was that he was listening to the whole conversation without the knowledge of the caller on the other side.
“For sure, the MPAs who tendered their resignation lately have received bribery money which was arranged by the sacked Deputy Premier with senior government officials.”
Another MPA told this paper that the reactions of those who have received the bribe money during recent executive meetings are strange.
“They are too aggressive in our two previous meetings as they wanted us to follow them, but we stand our ground.”
“The knowledge of them receiving the bribery money is no secret to us,” the MPA said.
One MPA said this group is no longer serving the interest of Malaita, as they were paid to try to topple the MARA government under Suidani’s leadership.
Sources said, the plan is to table a second motion of no confidence against Premier Suidani on his return.
Meanwhile, two MPAs from MOI: John Kehosi, and William Ionga who have past records of accepting bribery money during the first motion of no confidence against Premier Suidani last year are among six that recently tendered their resignation.
It is still unclear who was squashing money in the bribery claims.
By WILSON SAENI
Auki News Bureau
