PRIME Minister (PM) Jeremiah Manele has criticised the Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale over his silence on the recent reports of kidnapping in Honiara.
In a press conference on Friday 25 October, PM Manele, who was in Indonesia for the presidential inauguration when the alleged kidnap situation reached its peak, said the allegations exposed children and families to significant risk.
The PM expressed gratitude to the Deputy Prime Minister Bradley Tovosia, who was Acting PM in his absence, the Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretary to Cabinet and other senior government officials, including the Commissioner of Police Mostyn Mangau and his team (Royal Solomon Islands Police Force) for convening a press conference to address the issue, which he said was crucial.
But he added that, “the kidnapping allegations were an issue that should have bipartisan expressions of concern. But the silence from the Leader of Opposition, who normally comments on everything but not on this particular issue, which threatens the security of the nation’s children and families is deafening.”
Thus, the PM said the media should ask the Opposition Leader about his view on this issue and why has he not commented.
He, meanwhile, called on all Solomon Islanders to join hands to stop such type of threats to the security of children, families and the nation.
PM Manele said legal notices have been issued to enable law enforcement officers to require owners and drivers of public transport vehicles – buses and taxis – to remove tints from their vehicles and that this tint-removal exercise is ready to rollout.
By DELI-SHARON OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
