PRIME Minister (PM) Manasseh Sogavare says he will defend the principles of democracy and the rule of law no matter the cost.
The Prime Minister stated this when speaking at the motion of no confidence against him on Monday this week.
Prime Minister Sogavare said he lost all his properties because he took that stand and he thanked God for giving him the strength to do the right thing.
The Prime Minister said a delegation also approached his Excellency the Governor General to remove him from office, only to be told by His Excellency that he has no powers to do so.
“The moment we stop defending and protecting these principles and values is the moment we lose ourselves,” he said.
The Prime Minister said Solomon Islands is a democratic country with a democratically elected government.
He said therefore, if he was to be removed, it must be done through the legal process and at the floor of parliament.
Prime Minister Sogavare said he did not resign because that will only bring a wrong message to our future generations that whenever they are not happy with those in authority, they take the laws into their own hands.
“We are effectively saying to our children, take the law into your own hands whenever you are not happy with those in authority.
“This should never be the message nor the conviction we instill to our citizens and future generations if we are to progress as a peaceful democracy,” he said.
The Prime Minister said he has faith and respect for the democratic process, and he will defend it with his life.
Prime Minister Sogavare said our people need to understand that our actions in defending and protecting the principles of democracy and the rule of law is rooted in deep conviction.
“Clearly we did not learn from those warnings 15 years ago, and people still think it is okay and preferable to choose a Prime Minister through mob rule, by causing devastation and threats to overthrow a government. This is anarchy, not democracy,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister acknowledged the steadfastness of his colleague MPs in the Government.
He said they have been challenged from all corners but they stood their ground because of the love for this country, the principles they believe in and their duty as defenders of the fundamental principles that underlie our very young democracy.
The Prime Minister also thanked Christians for their continuous prayers for the Government, people and this beloved country.
Prime Minister Sogavare defeated the motion of no confidence against him on Monday, winning with 32 votes to 15, with two abstentions.
