NEW information has surfaced regarding the case filed in the High Court by former Malaita Premier, Daniel Suidani, against the decision of the Malaita Provincial Speaker.
Mr Suidani has sought a high court review of the action of the Speaker in allowing the assembly to vote on the revised 2022-2023 Budget without being tabled as acting outside of his powers.
The failing of the budget led to the successful moving of the motion of no confidence against Suidani and the MARA government on Tuesday.
It was revealed that the acting Premier, Glen Waneta, will further pursue the matter in court with a fresh case against the Speaker.
According to MARA Advisor, Celsus Talifilu, court documents on the case had been served to the Speaker, Ronnie Butala, recently. The Speaker is obliged respond make a response within the next 14 days.
A statement issued by Mr Talifilu on the matter said, “The lawyer representing Hon Suidani today served court documents of the case [HCSI – CC27/23] to the Speaker.
“This means that the Speaker has been given 14 days to respond to the court documents.
“Suidani (the then Premier) seeks the High Court for a Judicial Review – That a declaration of ultra vires (acting outside of powers) regarding the Malaita Province Speaker’s noncompliance with the relevant Standing Orders, Standing Orders 103 together with Parts 14,15 and 16.
“Since this would take time, the High Court proceeding yesterday (Tuesday) was an application for an interim order while waiting for the substantive issue to be heard by the court – Judicial Review.
“The High Court, however, refused to grant the interim order yesterday. However, it will still deal with the substantive issue by the judicial review.
“Meanwhile, in light of new evidence, Deputy Premier, Hon Glen Waneta, will make a new fresh case against the Speaker,” Mr Talifilu said.
“The new fresh claim would again seek the court for an interim order to stop the administrating of the result of the motion of no confidence.
“This is because what had culminated and resulted in the motion of no confidence is deemed an abuse of the process and therefore illegal.
“Since the court is the independent body within the country’s legal framework that is responsible for the interpretation of the law.
“MARA believes that the best way forward to counter corruptive practices and the abuse of processes is to take these matters to the court,” Mr Talifilu added.
“Suidani and his MARA members sincerely thanked the public of Auki and Malaita at larger for their good behavior shown during these extraordinary times in the political history of Malaita province.”
By WILSON SAENI in Auki
