Dear Editor – This is a brief reply to provide context to Peter Forau’s personal attack on me as appeared in Solomon Star issue number on 5621.
Forau’s attack on me personally is not warranted but I will not do likewise and attack his reputation.
What I wish to do is to correct some incorrect assertions and provide context to Forau’s outburst.
First, he was wrong to say that I am the spokesman for the OPMC. We have a press secretary who is our spokesman.
I had personally told Forau in an email that the PMO was replying to his comments. I never said “I” will reply to him.
It is clear Forau’s latest outbursts against the PM and PMO staff was only for his personal interest.
It has little to do with his campaign for Dr Rodgers or for good leaders as he wants people to believe.
This was confirmed to me in an email this week when I asked him why he was calling the PM a failure and PMO staff stupid.
This is the exact text that Forau told me in an email this week:
“I’ve heard what you guys tried to do to me in Port Moresby. The least you could have done is to let me know your plans. Instead, I’m told you guys advised our PM to sabotage my reappointment. How else do you expect me to re-act?”
There is absolutely no truth in the above allegation which led Forau to react bitterly towards the PM or staff of the PMO.
To set the records straight the SIG delegation had only acted to protect Forau and our country when Vanuatu and PNG had gone ahead to support the re-appointment of Forau, which was not provided for under the MSG Secretariat agreement.
Given the fact there is no provision in the agreement establishing the MSG Secretariat for the automatic renewing of the DG’s position it would be good that Forau be given six months extension and the position be re-advertised – with him eligible to re-apply.
The six months period will also allow the institutional and legal issues experts to re-look at the provision so that there is scope for automatic renewal of the DG’s position. That was the position supported by SIG.
It must be made clear that we don’t have any political agendas but to protect him (Forau) and our country.
Prime Minister Lilo had made it absolutely clear to the leaders that he did not want this to happen to his citizen as it would set a very bad precedent. He wanted MSG to respect the rules of the organisation.
However, this did not happen but the Solomon Islands delegation led by the PM still supported the leaders’ conclusion for the re-appointment of Forau.
It is therefore unfair for Forau to rattle his personal vendetta on certain individuals when they fought hard to protect the interests of Solomon Islanders, like him.
I also wish to tell Forau that at no time I had advised against his re-appointment.
I hope this will give Forau some peace. I will therefore rest my case.
Robert Iroga
OPMC
Honiara
