Premier Suidani returns to a house in disorder, fireworks could ignite
MALAITA Provincial Premier Daniel Suidani has finally landed in the country, following three months in Australia after successfully undergoing a medical treatment in Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan).
The Premier successfully underwent medical diagnosis and medication at the state-of-the-art National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei back in July this year.
Suidani confirmed his arrival in the country to Solomon Star Auki by sending a photo of him and his wife on-board a flight from Brisbane to Honiara yesterday.
During the medical trip, an MRI test was carried out on the suspected brain space-occupying lesion that was suspected by doctors at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara.
The NRH doctors then referred the premier to seek further diagnosis overseas on the suspected conditions since there is no CT scan or MRI machines in the country to carry out check and treatment for the Malaita Premier.
However, on their way back from Taiwan, the Premier and his delegation were unable to make it home where they spent almost three months in Australia – an absence that could cost him his job politically.
The Premier and his delegation were allowed to fly back to the country yesterday.
His long absence on medical grounds has created a vacuum, which some including the national government had capitalised on in a move to remove him as Premier of Malaita.
At the height of the controversy, Premier Suidani sacked his deputy, Randol Sifoni and replaced him with another provincial member. The new deputy was never sworn in.
Mr Sifoni who Suidani trusted to lead the MARA government in his absence did the opposite when he led a group of MPAs to rebel against him stating they have no trust in him.
It is anticipated that Mr Suidani will be dealing with a shambolic house upon his return after six MPAs tendered their resignation from the MARA government early this week, 13 September.
The Premier sacked six founding provincial members of the Malaita Alliance for Rural Advancement (MARA) and replaced them with six new ones only to hit a brick wall with the national government when it comes to the new ministers taking their oath in office.
Now there are claims former MPAs who walked out on the MARA government were bribed or paid $10, 000 each to leave Premier Suidani’s government. One insider told Solomon Star Premier Suidani never consulted any of the new appointees prior to his public announcement from Brisbane, Australia.
Now that Premier Suidani is back, fireworks could just be around the corner as the MARA and DCGA governments slugged it out in the open. A winner is anyone’s guess.
The news of the arrival of the Premier Suidani was widely welcomed by Malaitans back home that were eager for the return of their premier, to settle political instability caused by some of the MARA MPAs who were reportedly bribed with money to leave the MARA government.
Upon his arrival yesterday, he was immediately whisked away to Quarantine.
Premier Suidani and his delegation will now undergo 21 days quarantine at GBR in Honiara.
By WILSON SAENI
Auki News Bureau
