THE Malaita Provincial Premier Daniel Suidani has strongly refuted claims that Winrock has paid him to recruit people to take part in the 2021 November riots in Honiara.
Speaking to Solomon Star Auki, in response to claims that Winrock and the Malaita Premier were involved in instigating the November 2021 Honiara riots, Premier Suidani said he is unaware of the crazy claims made against him and the reputable USA-based Non-Government Organisation, Winrock, which is currently implementing the USAID SCALE-NRM in Malaita Province.
Premier Suidani is of the view that the author of the article has been running a misinformation campaign against the USAID SCALE-NRM in Malaita since the start of the project.
“At no time have I engaged in the allegations Sasako made in his article.”
“I am surprised that such so-called veteran journalist would come down so low to made such unfounded allegations, these are allegations that one can take to court for defamation”.
“WINROCK is an internationally renowned organisation and at no time has the Premier engaged with them in the manner Sasako has alleged.”
”The claims are totally false and can only come from someone with an evil mind.”
“It seemed that Sasako who has been running a false and misinformation campaign against the USAID SCALE project is running out of false stories and is resorting to further primitive stories to make against the premier and Winrock.”
“Everyone knows who Sasako is, from the failed projects of Evita International in East Fataleka and the Alluvial Gold in Guadalcanal to his fall from grace at the ACP Secretariat.”
There are claims WINROCK has been paying Premier Suidani in recruiting people for the November riot, last year.
This claim was revealed to this paper by a farmer who was asked to join the riot with promises to get good money.
The farmer claimed Premier spent a big sum of the programme’s money in hiring 40 security guards to protect himself. He claimed these guards enjoy good salary, weapons and expensive communication equipment.
The farmer also called on the Premier to resign claiming the people of Malaita no longer trust him.
However, the Premier said the author’s bad taste for his current MARA government under his leadership is no secret, adding that history shows that not at any time did the author write a positive story about the MARA government and Winrock.
By WILSON SAENI
Solomon Star, Auki
