AN outspoken Malaitan, Max Bobby, has slammed not happy the Fini-led Malaita Provincial Government’s plan to axe the Auki Communique.
Premier Martin Fini, following his election victory after removing the Premier Suidani-led MARA Government in a Motion of No Confidence, told Solomon Star that the communique will be removed.
Mr Fini labeled the communique as a non-legal document and that it will be included in a raft of initiatives under consideration by his government.
However, Mr Bobby said the Auki communique is a document containing the ‘desires and wishes’ of the people of Malaita and was endorsed by the Malaita Provincial Assembly during the premiership of Suidani.
He said one thing the new Fini Government must understand is that neither the Provincial Government, nor the National Government, owns the resources in Malaita Province.
“Most, if not all of the resources in this province are owned by resource owners and not the government.”
“Therefore, removing the Auki Communique simply means that the Fini Government is removing the wishes of the people who elect them into the Malaita Provincial Assembly to speak on their behalf.
“This Auki Communique does not belong to the MARA Government or Executive, or any government. Rather, it belongs to the resource owners of this island,” Mr Bobby said.
He said it would be a clear show of disrespect to the people of Malaita by the Fini-Government if it goes ahead to remove the communique as announced by Premier Fini.
“I wish to reiterate to Premier Fini and his Executive that the Auki Communique was endorsed on the floor of the Malaita Provincial Assembly. As such, its removal should also be decided by the Assembly and not the Fini Executive itself,” Mr Bobby added.
The Auki Communique was launched and adopted by the Malaita Provincial Assembly in 2019 during the tenure of Premier Suidani.
Mr Suidani had described the communique as a framework based on fundamental principles of good governance, transparency and accountability to guide how Malaita Province should be developed.
Solomon Star understands the communique prohibits Chinese investments in Malaita Province. It was adopted following Solomon Islands switch of diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China, a decision that did not go down well with the pro-Taiwan MARA Government.
By SOLOMON LOFANA
Solomon Star, Auki
