Caretaker Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has denied claims workers at his private Doma residence in west Guadalcanal have threatened nearby villagers.
Instead, he said it was certain boys within the community who have been hostile to his workers.
Lilo is building a family home on the Doma land he recently acquired from Guadalcanal Province.
Complaints the Sunday Star received from certain individuals from Doma claimed Lilo’s workers have been using abusive words and demanding compensation from nearby communities.
But Lilo’s press secretary Douglas Marau said the claims were baseless.
“The truth is there were certain individuals who have been threatening Lilo’s workers, working and living down there at Doma,” Marau said.
“They’ve did this on two previous occasions, the recent incident last Sunday was the third,” he added.
He said some people are fabricating the stories to spoil the reputation of the prime minister.
He explained that the issue is not new.
“Previously on two occasions the same group went to Lilo’s residence and threatened to harm the workers and burn down the home.
“The workers were subject to threats and verbal abuses over the past, and the incident last Sunday morning was no different.
“The workers have not reacted because they were afraid.”
Marau also denied claims that a reconciliation ceremony was held with members of the communities over the issue.
He said it was actually the person who’s vehicle was used during last Sunday’s incident, who came forward to clear his involvement with gesture of traditional shell money.
However, Marau said it was later discovered that this person, known as Bau, was among the three who were in that vehicle when the incident happened.
“The four people traveling in Bau’s vehicle include Alex Alebua, Ramosaea’s son, Junior Kari’s wife and Bau himself.
“They arrived at Doma and it was there that one of them swore badly at the PM’s workers.
“At no time, any workers have gone on behalf of the PM to demand compensation from Bau or anyone for that matter.
“But the identity of the person swearing is important as he’s liable to settle the obscene language he uttered against Lilo’s workers, most of whom are Malaitians as well as from Guadalcanal,” Marau said.
BY BRADFORD THEONOMI
