Motion to oust Suidani set for next month

A Motion of No Confidence to oust embattled Malaita premier Daniel Suidani has been set for early next month, October 2021.

The Malaita Non-Executive Group (NEG) told SIBC News in an exclusive interview yesterday that they no longer have trust and confidence in Premier Suidani.

Spokesperson and former minister of Forest, Mines and Energy in the Suidani led Malaita Alliance for Rural Advancement (MARA) Government, Elijah Asilaua said they are preparing allegations that will be used against Suidani in the planned Motion of No Confidence.

“We no longer have trust and confidence in Premier Daniel Suidani as leader of the Malaita Provincial Government (MPG).

“During his two years in office, he never consulted his executive in most of the decisions made, he also hijacked the MPG political powers and administrative powers.

“He also bypassed decisions of the Acting Provincial Secretary, Deputy Provincial Secretary, and continues to listen to his illegal advisor Celsus Talifilu,” Mr Asilaua said.

Mr Asilaua is the provincial member for Ward 11, East Baegu, and also one of the six ministers that resigned from the MARA Government earlier last week.

He said the Motion of No Confidence will be moved by the group next month, after a period of 12 months since the last Motion of No Confidence as required by the Provincial Government Act 1997.

The Act states: “The Provincial Assembly passes a motion of no confidence in the Premier so however, that a motion of no confidence shall not be moved until the expiry of a period of twelve months from the date of a Premier being elected to office and any notice of a motion of no confidence given thereafter shall not be entertained by the Speaker unless a period of 12 months has lapsed since the last motion of no confidence was determined;

“and (b) the motion is supported by an absolute majority of the members of the Assembly.”

SIBC News understands that premier Suidani defeated a motion of no confidence moved against him in early October last year.

Mr Asilaua said from the 33 Malaita MPAs, the Opposition group currently has 22 MPAs and Suidani is left with 11 on his side after the resignation of 9 ministers last week.

“Concerning Malaita’s stand on the diplomatic switch by the Solomon Islands Government from Taiwan to China, any new provincial government will still maintain the stand by MARA Government.

“In that regard, a wider consultation will be done with the people of Malaita,” Mr Asilaua said.

Asilaua dismissed claims by Opposition Leader Matthew Wale that the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) is funding the resignation of Ministers from the Suidani-led Government.

[You can hear the full radio interview in our Facebook Page (SIBC News)]

by Jared Koli