NOT many people on Malaita are convinced, let alone accept the rationale for the No Confidence motion being moved against Premier Daniel Suidani.
For one thing, timing to the next election is far too short. Only five more months to the next provincial government election. The protagonists argue there’s little time to do anything if at all, once the motion is successful.
The Motion of No Confidence, scheduled for next Tuesday 7th February 2023, is in fact the third against the MARA Government.
“We are very much aware of the timing factor. We are also very much aware that this is the third time to move a Motion of No Confidence. But this time it is not about timing, nor is it about the number of times a Motion of No Confidence has been moved against the MARA government,” MPA Elijah Ailaua told Solomon Star.
“I would also like to make it clear that the Motion is not intended to divide the people of Malaita. Nor is It because we in the opposite are hungry for power or that our intention is to remove Daniel Suidani because he was backed by some people or some group.
“No, not at all. That is not the intention at all,” MPA Ailaua said.
The reason for the Motion of No Confidence is the leadership that the people of Malaita have been subjected to over the last three years, he said.
MPA Ailaua said the result of the MARA leadership has been devastating for Malaita development and its people.
Reports after reports have concluded that the leadership was riddled with abuse of power and Mismanagement and Misappropriation of public funds.
“So, the real issue for us in the Opposition is the need to sort out the mess before the term of the Malaita Provincial Assembly expires. We need to tidy up the mess in readiness for the new MPAs.
“This is why timing does not really matter. To allow the MARA leadership to continue only worsen matters and denies the people of Malaita their rights to development.
“That, in a nutshell is the reason for the Motion of No Confidence in the leadership of the MARA government,” MPA Ailaua said.
According to MPA Ailaua, the numbers in his camp has been rock solid since the MARA revised Budget was defeated last month.
“We now have 18 in our camp,” he said yesterday.
An attempt by Suidani’s camp to extend an olive branch to executive MPAs who had deserted the MARA camp failed. It is understood former Prime Minister and MP for Small Malaita, Rick Hou met with two MPAs in Honiara on Wednesday but his attempt to win them back has failed.
Independent sources told Solomon Star that the MARA Provincial Executive increased unbudgeted spending by more than $790, 000 as of September last year. This was largely to pay the cost of tours of Wards around Malaita.
By Alfred Sasako
