PARLIAMENTARY wing leader of the Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (SIPRA) and MP for Savo Russell, Dickson Mua has resigned to join the Government.
Mr Mua tendered his resignation on Thursday.
“Yes, I’ve resigned to join the government,” Mr Mua, a prominent member of the Independent Group in Parliament, told the Solomon Star.
“I have already passed on my resignation letter to Prime Minister Sogavare. I will do the same to SIPRA president Gordon Darcy Lilo tomorrow (today),” Mr Mua added.
He said the decision was made in the interest of his people of Savo/Russells, following pressure to deal with the Russell Islands Plantation Estate Limited (RIPEL) issue.
“I feel that since it is my people that gave me the power, I must listen to their wish. And that is the bottom line of why I resigned to join the government and not because they offered me money,” Mr Mua said.
He said he will sign the documents to formalise his move to join DCCG today.
Mr Mua added there is potential in the new government and it is important that leaders make the right decision for the good of their people than for their self interests.
His resignation leaves only Charles Sigoto and Lionel Alex as the two remaining SIPRA members who are currently with the Independent group.
Mr Mua’s resignation has caught the party’s secretary by surprise last night.
Allan Taro said they have yet to receive any resignation letter from Mr Mua.
“No resignation letter from Mr Mua or any other party members has reached us,” Mr Taro said.
“This is also the first time we have heard the news,” he added.
Meanwhile, East Guadalcanal MP Bradley Tovosia also confirmed his switch to the government last week.
He said his move should not be a surprise to anyone because since day one, Mr Sogavare has been their choice.
He said as the independent leader of their five-member group who won their seats in the last election, they have already eyed Mr Sogavare to be their leader.
“Mr Sogavare is my candidate since day one,” Mr Tovosia said.
“And I am one of those who had voted for him in Parliament. I believe I made the right move because I see positive changes will happen with this new government and my people deserve to be part of these changes,” Mr Tovosia said.
According to government sources, more MPs from the Opposition and Independent Group have indicated their intention to join the government.
“This is just the beginning of a long list of MPs from both the Opposition and the Independent Group who are intending to join the DCCG in the coming weeks and months,” a government source claimed.
By DANIEL NAMOSUAIA
and JEREMY INIFIRI
