CSOs call on PM to step down within 14 days
By ANDREW FANASIA
SPECIAL Secretary to the Prime Minister (SSPM) Albert Kabui has received the petition from the Civil Society Organisations (CSO) at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Tuesday.
The petition was submitted calling on Manasseh Sogavare to step down as the prime minister within 14 days.
Mr Kabui has confirmed receiving the petition on Tuesday afternoon but could not comment any further.
Its understood that the move came after Sogavare sacked another two of his ministers on Monday for failing to support government’s move to switch the country’s diplomatic relations from Taiwan to China.
Deputy Prime Minister John Maneniaru and Education Minister John Dean Kuku got their marching orders on Monday.
Last week, senior ministers Rick Hou and Dr Tautai Angikimua Kaitu’u were fired for similar reasons.
Police and National Security Minister Lanelle Tanangada who also refused to support the China switch, reportedly resigned on Monday.
Meanwhile, this paper understands that PM Manasseh Sogavare will always stick to the constitutional process as his first defence.
Sogavare is well aware of the processes and he always mentioned that to remove the PM it must be done according to the constitutional process.
This means that he is elected by the Parliament and only Parliament will revoke his commission as the prime minister of this country.
Solomon Islands has a high record of CSO calling for a politician to voluntarily resign as PM.
