CALLS FOR PRIME MINISTER TO STEP DOWN

-

BY GEORGINA KEKEA


Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is being called on to step down in order to bring back peace into Honiara.


Today along the streets of Honiara’s CBD, security personnel manning the shops are also reiterating the call of the protesters for the Prime Minister to step down.


“We all want peace and right now we cannot have it as the government has not listened to the people at all. All they want is for the Prime Minister to step down or the government leaders to listen to their calls”.




But in a nationwide address this evening, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says he will not step down through this process.

"I am elected as the Prime Minister of our beloved  country by 35 Members of Parliament who represent their people.  

The call for me to step down is premised on the hunger for power  by certain politicians who do not have any respect for the  principles of democracy and due process. In 2006 a precedent was  set when the Prime Minister back then was asked to resign after a  riot in Honiara. That event is the precedent for our current  situation. If I am to step down, what message would that send to  our people, children and generations to come", Sogavare questioned.


Following yesterday’s protests, today it is worse with more looting and burning of shops despite a lock down order being issued by the Prime Minister last night.

In Honiara’s CBD, security personnel manning the shops and buildings say they will not know what to do if things get worse.


“We will be outnumbered. All we want is peace. The Prime Minister should just step down if he has a heart for the country”, they say.


Yesterday a former Governor General, Sir Nathaniel Waena also made the same call via the National Radio SIBC for the Prime Minister to step down.


“If this is what the people want then the Prime Minister should just step down”, Sir Waena says.


Opposition Leader Mathew Wale also made the call for the Prime Minister to step down. 


“I call on the Prime Minister to do the right thing and resign”, Mr. Wale said.


But Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said "some of us are of the opinion that if I step down the protests and  riots will stop. This is the easiest decision to make".

He said the effect of his decision weighs heavy in his heart.

"Are we saying to our young children and youths that whenever we are not happy with those in authority we take the  laws into our own hands? If we do this, it is a very dangerous  message to our people and future generations. We are effectively  saying to our children, take the law into your hands if whenever  you are not happy. This must never be the message we send nor  the conviction we instill in our citizens if we are to progress as a  peaceful democracy".

He said that if he is removed as Prime Minister, it will be on the floor of  Parliament.

"I have faith and respect in our democratic process, and  I will defend it with my life. I say this with deepest conviction. Our  people need to and must understand that our actions in defending  democracy is not merely a lip service. It is conviction in the  principles and values that underpins our democracy and all  democracies around the world".


As usual with such activities, the most vulnerable are women and children.


At the Honiara Central Market, women vendors from North East Guadalcanal are stranded in the market area with no warm food and no assistance.


“We were told to just stay put in here. We just ate the fruits that we brought. No warm food. We just want to go home”, an elder mother and grandmother says.


“We missed our transport yesterday following the riots and lock down order”, she said.


The vendors are from Tathiboko to Longu. 


Last night, Honiara Senior High School, one of the longest serving schools in Honiara was burnt to ashes.


A tutor from the school told SIBC’s ‘Dis Taem Nao’ program that the situation has really affected a lot of students.


“For me as a teacher here, it is a hard time for the teachers and staff. This is a sad time which we regretted what had happened last night”, a Mr. Billy told Simon Tavake of SIBC.


From Malaita, Premier Daniel Suidani says the protests and riots happen when the government does not listen to the people.


“Something to do with national leadership because they have not dealt with the issues. They should not run away from problems. They must face and resolve those issues”, Suidani said.


“In my view, the government must stand and talk to the people. They must not run away from them”, Suidani said.


The Australian Government is sending Defence Force Personnel and Federal Police to the Solomon Islands to help resolve the issue in Solomon Islands.


ENDS///

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AUSTRALIA: A STEADFAST PARTNER AND FRIEND TO SOLOMON ISLANDS

-
Image
BY DR LACHLAN STRAHN, AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SOLOMON ISLANDS Australia and Solomon Islands enjoy a close bond – indeed, we are Pacific family. The Blue Pacific is our shared home, our common region. The Coral Sea links us forever and continental drift is in fact pushing us closer together. But our deep friendship is based on much more than shared geography. We are bound together by our common values as democratic countries committed to peace, a rich spiritual life and a shared determination to give every individual, man, woman, girl and boy, the opportunity to reach their full potential. Family stick together, through the good times and the tough times. Australia partnered with Solomon Islands during some of the country’s darkest moments, including through RAMSI to help restore stability and law and order. And Solomon Islands has been there for Australia, with people across the country reaching into their hearts to raise funds for the communities ravaged by devastating bushfir...
Read more

VANUATU BIGGEST IMPORTER OF CANNED TUNA FROM SOLOMON ISLANDS

-
Image
BY GEORGINA KEKEA VANUATU is the biggest importer of canned tuna from Solomon Islands. National Fisheries Development (NFD) Limited Managing Director, Frank Wickham shared this information in a recent radio talkback show to mark World Tuna Day. Wickham says the biggest export destination for SolTuna’s canned tuna is Vanuatu. “Followed by Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the market is now open in New Zealand. There is a big move now to promote and market in New Zealand and Australia. We have containers going to Kiribati, Tuvalu with a few to Tonga and Marshall Islands. The biggest of them all is Vanuatu”, Wickham said. He says domestically the consumption of tuna is growing annually making Solomon  Islands one of the biggest canned tuna consumption per capita in the world. “Two years ago it was like more than 800,000 cartons a year. which means for every woman, man and child in the country, they consume one carton a year. So if you look at 48 tin cans in one carton, it is almost one ...
Read more

HOW A TINY PROVINCE IN SOLOMON ISLANDS REACHES OUT TO AUSTRALIA

-
Image
THE small island province of Temotu in the far eastern part of Solomon Islands is one of the nation’s most prone natural hazard areas. The tsunami in 2013 swamped through 20 villages With an estimated population of less than 25,000, Temotu often has its bouts of natural disasters. In 2015, tropical cyclone Pam left devastating effects on the tiny province where people were affected from damages to their fruit trees, food gardens and agricultural crops. People near the coast were evacuated. Then again in 2017, TC Donna in its wake and formation also impacted badly on the people of Temotu. Not to mention it was only seven years ago a tsunami claimed lives of more than 10 people, swamped more than 20 villages forcing the government to declare a state of emergency over the Santa Cruz Islands. Remains of household in Venga village after 2013 tsunami (Photo supplied) Their most recent bout of disaster was in January 2019 where bad weather caused people to face food shortag...
Read more