THE Speaker of Parliament Patteson John Oti has thanked the Members of the 12th Parliament for the trust and confidence they have in him by electing him to the speakership.
Mr Oti who first served as the Speaker of Parliament during the 11th Parliament was nominated unopposed for the position and as such was automatically declared the Speaker without Parliament having to go through the election process.
The Deputy Clerk to Parliament, Jefferson Hallu who was to administer the Election of Speaker process told Parliament that upon the close of the nomination period for the Speakership at 4pm on Thursday 16 May, four nominations were received by the Office of the Clerk to Parliament and they were all for the same candidate and that was Mr Oti.
He said the nominations came from the MP for Kia-Hograno-Havulei and Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, the MP for South Vella La Vella and Minister for Communication and Aviation, Frederick Kologeto, the MP for Northeast Guadalcanal and Minister for Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs, Jamie Vokia and the MP for West New Georgia-Vonavona, George Temahua.
As such, Mr Hallu proceeded with the declaration of Mr Oti as the Speaker of the 12th Parliament.
Responding to his unopposed election to the speakership, the seasoned public servant, politician and once diplomat said:
“Honorable Members, I thank you all for the confidence and trust you have rendered to me in the last house (11th Parliament) and I’m honored to be re-elected as the Speaker of this House once again.
“I will continue to uphold the principles of Parliamentary Democracy and respect for the Rule of Law. I am therefore duty-bound to observe the right of the majority to rule, but at the same time recognize the right of the minority to be heard.
“I would like to on behalf of the House welcome the Deputy Speaker elect, I’m very pleased that the house now elected its Presiding Officers.”
Mr Oti said together with the Deputy Speaker, MP for Northwest Guadalcanal, Francis Mocho Belande Sade, they looked forward to serving the 12 Parliament with impartiality and in the best interest of the legislature.
The Deputy Speaker, MP Sade, in turn, thanked his nominators for nominating him to Deputy Speaker post.
“Speaker-elect, first of all I would like to congratulate you for your reelection. Thank you Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Opposition Leader and the nominators thank you so much for giving me the task to be the Deputy Speaker of this 12th Parliament.
“I look forward to all your support and to working together with you to ensure the proceedings of Parliament go well in the next four years. For that, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.”
MP Sade also stood unopposed for the Deputy Speakership and as such, the Deputy Clerk Mr Hallu proceeded to declaring his victory without having to administer an election process.
Mr Hallu said at the close of nomination for the Deputy Speaker position on Thursday 16 May, a total of three nominations were received by the Office of the Clerk to Parliament and also, they were for one specific candidate and that was MP Sade.
He said MP Sade’s nominators were the MP for East Malaita and Minister for Infrastructure Development, Manesseh Maelanga, MP for Baegu-Asifola and Minister for Forestry and Research, Makario Tagini and the MP for South Guadalcanal and Minister for Rural Development, Rollen Seleso.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
