Plan sit-in protest
DIRECT employers of Malaita Province have supported calls to dissolve the current Provincial Assembly in the wake of the illegal borrowing scandal.
“We have lost every trust we use to have for the Peter Ramohia leadership,” a spokesman for the 200 workers told the Solomon Star in Auki yesterday.
“Their illegal borrowing and action has taken away the trust and confidence we use to hold for the executive,” he added.
“To put an end to this illegal activity and restore trust, we call on the Ministry of Provincial Government to dissolve the assembly.
“We are the ones seriously affected by this financial mess the executive had caused through their illegal borrowing.
“Our salaries are not being paid in time as a result.”
The spokesman, who requested not to be named due to a warning the executive issued against workers last weekend not to pass on any information to the media, said they are also planning to stage a sit-in protest.
“If nothing is done to remove the current leadership, we will stage a sit-in protest to support our call,” he said.
Meanwhile the spokesman said claims the borrowings were done to rescue the province were a “big fat lie”.
“Contrary to what the executive was saying, the borrowing was not for the good of the province but for the selfish interest of the lenders who are charging 20 per cent interest rate on amounts borrowed.
“And as we know, most of the lenders are members of the executive itself.
“So this is an inside job schemed to benefit members of the executive themselves.
“It is corruption to say the least.”
The spokesman also said although tax was deducted from their salaries, these taxes never appeared in the revenue stream of the province.
Furthermore, he said the various ministries within the province have miserably failed to deliver any development projects into the province because of lack of money.
“Most of the revenue generated by the province disappeared in Auki.
“None of it are channelled to benefit the villages.”
By BIRIAU WILSON SAENI
in Auki
