CITY mayor Andrew Mua has defended the council’s decision to demolish illegal betel nut market stalls along the streets.
And he said councillors who disagreed with the decision and wish to resign from the council executive are welcome to do so.
“The decision was in line with council ordinance,” Mr Mua told the Solomon Star.
“We are acting on the law,” he added.
“I am not acting on my own as alleged by the two councillors who disagreed with the decision.
“The council has laws in place for all of us to comply with.
“I know there are two councillors within the executive who were disappointed with the current demolition exercise.
“But as elected councillors, we are duty-bound to implement the council ordinance.
“If we do not implement those laws, who do you expect to do it?
“If any councillor wants to resign from the executive because of the demolition exercise, I have no right to stop them,” Mr Mua said.
City council law enforcement officers have over the past week went on a demolition exercise, pulling down road-side betel nut stalls.
Last week, they pulled down the Fijian Quarter betel nut stalls near Chinatown.
A council insider said two councillors who were not happy about the demolition exercise claimed the decision was made by the mayor only.
“The two councillors have expressed their intention to resign from the executive because of this,” the insider said.
By STEPHEN DIISANGO
