It is a pity that MARA leadership sees it necessary for the Speaker of the Malaita Provincial Assembly to be denied the legal support he needs to effectively carry out his independent duties.
MARA leadership and its cohorts must be reminded that all government Ministries and departments, including all Provincial Premiers, Assembly Speakers and Provincial Secretaries, are entitled to get the best legal advice from the Attorney General Chamber.
The Solomon Islands Attorney General is the Legal Principal Advisor to the government, a constitutional post established under section 42 of the Solomon Islands Constitution.
Through the Attorney General Chambers, all government departments and ministries, when required, can seek legal advice on legal matters, questions or queries at any time before, during and after any issues that may arise whilst performing their duties.
In the case of the Malaita Province Speaker, though the MARA government might see it as too early to seek legal clarification from the AG office on the revised budget, the argument put forward by MARA leadership is political with the intention to rally people’s support purposely to disturb democratic processes given a motion of No Confidence against MARA leadership in the Assembly.
The public needs to understand that all the Provincial Assembly Speakers require a lot of support and resources from the Provincial and National government through the Ministry of Provincial government and the Attorney General’s office to effectively carry out their work.
The actions of the Malaita Provincial Assembly Speaker demonstrated that he is an outstanding personality and a good role model for many public servants to follow, and this is what our country needs; we need leaders who are honest, well prepared, organised, go early to work and perform their duties to the best of their ability whilst serving our people and country.
What transpired from the revised budget meeting, which resulted in its defeat on the floor of the Assembly, was the result of the mass absenteeism of MARA Executive members from the important Assembly meeting.
The revised budget meeting was supposed to be tabled in the 4th Quarter of 2022, but due to no funds available, the revised budget meeting was adjourned to January 16 and 17 of 2023.
It is disappointing to note that whilst funds are now available to hold the revised budget meeting, 8 of the Executive members were absent from the important MPG meeting. Had the Executive members present during the revised budget meeting, the revised budget would have passed an early vote as the usual practice with MARA leadership during the last three years.
Now that the revised budget has been defeated, and with the news of one or two executive members having resigned or planning, MARA leadership should blame itself for its mess.
MARA leadership must be reminded that many people in Malaita are tired of its backwards, isolated and poor leadership style.
In case MARA leadership forgot, Malaitans are still waiting for all the big promises made publicly at Aimela over the last three years on the media.
𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗘𝗦
- Has the Malaita Bank publicly announced by Premier when he received all the shell money from all the Malaita regions at Aimela set up? During the Reconciliation at Aimela, Suidani announced that he will use the Shell Money to start the Bank of Malaita? Was it already set and running? The short answer is NILL
- Where are the millions promised to be funded by Taiwan, Israel and USA to develop Malaita Province? NILL
- Where is the infrastructure promised in all the colourful speeches of MARA leadership? NILL
- Where are the results from the MARA 7-Point Policy? NILL
- Where is the referendum for Autonomy promised to be carried out in 2021-2022 and has the UN General Secretary responded to the letter issued by the Premier’s Political Advisor? NILL
- Have Malaita become an independent state as promised by MARA leadership? NILL
And the list of failed promises goes on and the short answer to whether or not the promises are fulfilled is “No”.
𝗕𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗜E 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗧𝗔
The biggest lie was, after all those failed promises made to the people of Malaita over the last three years, MARA leadership now had cleverly crafted the new UMI Political Party and again tried to convince Malaitans that the only way to develop Malaita Province was through the UMI Political Party and the cards from the MARA leadership playbook are:
- Continue to shift the blame on Minister and Ministry of Provincial government institutional strengthening
- Continue blame the DCGA and National government for all the problems on Malaita;
- Continue lied to Malaitans that China will come to steal your lands and resources;
- Use Parliament opposition members -Peter Kenilorea (United Party) and Hon Mathew Wale (Democratic party) to push MARA agenda.
- Set up the new UMI Political Party and go against Peter Kenilorea -United Party, Mathew Wale- Democratic Party, Rick Hou Political Party and Hon John Maneniaru Political Party; and,
- UMI Political Party should win a majority of members from Malaita in the 2024 National General Elections and will go into coalition with other small parties to form the next government.
Suppose one takes time to analyze the MARA leadership playbook.
In that case, that’s the ultimate game plan just for own self-gain and to leave Malaita divided than never before, as experienced in the history of Malaita Province.
By David Suda
(Malaita Watch)
