People of Ward 5 in the Fataleka Constituency shocked at the disqualification of their MPA Daniel Suidani from the Malaita Provincial Assembly by the MPGIS Minister
THE disqualification of Malaita Provincial Assembly Member for Ward 5, former Premier Daniel Suidani, from the assembly seat does not go down well with the people of the ward.
The Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS), Rollen Seleso issued a letter to Mr Suidani informing him of his disqualification from the Malaita Provincial Assembly for not recognising the One China Policy.
Reports reaching Solomon Star Auki said people in Ward 5 which is in the Fataleka Constituency are angry about the decision taken by the National Government through Minister Seleso to disqualify their elected MPA.
“The decision taken by the minister is shocking and deprives us of the participation of our duly elected MPA in the provincial assembly,” one angry man said.
A woman said, “The Minister’s action to disqualify Suidani is not fair as the decision to oppose the One China Policy was a decision adopted by the former Malaita Alliance for Rural Advancement (MARA) Executive based on a resolution passed by the Malaita Provincial Assembly.”
She said targeting Mr Suidani for a collected decision by the Malaita Provincial Assembly raises a lot of questions.
“The National Government has denied us of our elected MPA for his principled stand for democracy. The action is simply tyrannical. Mr Suidani is our elected leader. How dare you remove an elected leader for standing firm for a decision that was adopted by the Malaita Provincial Assembly and actioned by MARA? Another woman questioned.
Other women in the ward are calling for a bye- election for a new MPA for Ward 5 sooner than later.
They said despite the limited time left before the Malaita Provincial Assembly is dissolved, the National Government must ensure a bye-election is held for Ward 5 as it would be unfair to leave the ward without a provincial assembly representative even for a short time.
Mr Suidani meanwhile described Minister Seleso’s action against him is an ongoing witch-hunt by the National Government under the influence of a foreign power.
Mr Suidani said he will challenge the decision in court.
By SOLOMON LOFANA
Solomon Star, Auki
