THE Malaita Premier, Daniel Suidani, has challenged the decision made by the Malaita Provincial Assembly Speaker Ronnie Butala for the Malaita Provincial Assembly to vote on the 2022-2023 without being tabled revised budget in the High Court.
Premier Suidani told Solomon Star in an interview yesterday that he has instituted a case on the matter before the High Court so it could look into the legal issues surrounding the action taken by the Speaker in allowing the assembly to vote on the Finance Minister’s Speech and not the actual budget.
He explained that the two reasons for filing a High Court case are as follows;
“The first is to stop the motion of no confidence which was filed before the Attorney General and the Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening could issue an advice on the subject matter.
“And second is to question the legality of the process followed, resulting in failing of the budget. “
Premier Suidani said he is of the view that the Speaker did not follow the rightful procedures and since the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Minister responsible failed to give advice on the subject matter on time, it is only proper for him to take the matter to High Court to decide on.
He added that he is of view that there is inconsistency in the way the Malaita Provincial Assembly Speaker dealt with the matter, adding that taking the matter to the High Court only will solve these issues once and for all.
Touching on motion of no confidence filed by the MPA for Ward 3, Martin Fini, Premier Suidani said the motion should not be filed at this point in time when they are still awaiting advice from the Attorney General and the MPGIS Minister.
The High Court is expected to deal with this case and deliver a decision before the Malaita Full Assembly meeting next Tuesday.
By WILSON SAENI in Auki
