Tutuvatu Forum

AK47 · Joined: 08 Nov 2007 Posts: 233

Pinmiz, what we should be careful about here is the abuse of the PM's office. I already mentioned in my previous posting the opportunity, if sanctioned by our laws, for a corrupt man to be in power for as long as he lives. That is the most scariest of all i.e if we radically altered our current laws. If a MNC is moved and a PM is removed and replaced with a crazy man, your suggested legislation would mean that he would not be removed by a MNC. Therefore we have a major problem with our hands.

I believe that parties can cross the floor when ever they want, so as individual MPs. But it is highly unlikely that all MPs will have to join parties unless it is legislated. The only problem with that is that if an MP joins a party and wants to leave that party, nothing will stop him as nothing is legally binding. Each party could do it on its own terms without the interference of the Parliament. In other words, the parties will have to come up with their legal standards for MPs who are interested in joining them without any legislation to do so. I believe that a party is not regulated by the legislative or executive branches. They have the freedom to do whatever expedient to their own parties. I believe that this will enable MPs to serve the parties without switching sides.

In fact, a PM should be voted by all MPs. He is not the PM of the party, cabinet, or even the caucas. He is the PM of the nation, thus, all representatives of the nations must have their votes cast.

By the way, where is the Federal system? What the hecks going on with this so-called federalism? Is this a dead issue?
_________________
For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
It might have been.
............
John Greenleaf Whittier

pinmiz · Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 75 Location: Honiara

I get what you mean AK 47. In the case of ensuring some flexibility in terms of MNC, the law should allow grace periods like in PNG 18 months after the election before any MNC is taken against the PM.

The problem the country has been experiencing is constant changes in successive government resulting from regular motions of no confidence and the weak political party system; in the end leading to a weak and vulnerable State continue to cause widespread public concern. The question is how best can the problem be address to minimize the frequent occurrence of MNC and changing of government. The suggestion here is to create something along the lines of what PNG has done. A law that provides the statutory basis for recognition of political parties as formal public entities funded by the State as well as the instrument for regulation of political parties and candidates at all stages of the electoral process. Currently the National Parliamentary Electoral Provisions Act fall short of addressing issues relating to this problem.

Something had to be done about making Government and elected leaders not to lose sight of their primary responsibility as representative of the people and I guess PNG had taken a step in the right direction. The country should look at the positive aspects of this regime and make reforms that should enable political stability. That is how I view this issue.

It is interesting to not from the PNG’s experience after introducing law that the number of political parties reduced drastically from 44 in 2001 to 15 in 2002. This is as a result of amalgamations and mergers of smaller and newer political parties with larger and more established parties.

In relation to the federal system, what I heard on the news last week was that the western provincial executive questions and criticizes the Ministry of provincial government for trying to get the province to endorse a rejected 2004 Draft Federal Constitution. They said that they are expecting a new draft after the current consultation that is going on. I have the feeling that the way the current consultation process is conducted is contrary to the purpose of consultation. It seem that the unit that looks after the process try to force provinces to adopt the current federal draft constitution rather than collecting views and coming up with a new draft. I said this because if you look at the 2004 draft there are a lot of questions relating to the documents workability.

Mataaku · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 20

August 8, has set by the Solomon Islands Parliament for the Opposition to table the motion of no confidence, according to RNZI."The opposition leader, Manasseh Sogavare, says the parliamentary opposition is moving the motion at the request of people who are suffering as a result of high fuel and food prices".

Solomon Island media never mention this date???

It is very intersting to see who requested the motion. I suppose this are the same people who live in fear during Sogavare's term as PM.

Chala · Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 144 Location: Fiji

another mnc. The politicians must be out of their minds.
_________________
One's Life is a journey in a world where one's destiny is influenced by one's surroundings

AK47 · Joined: 08 Nov 2007 Posts: 233

Just who the heck Sogavare conning here? Fuel cost is a global issue. Even India, the government is struggling to feed the people whose main staple is rice. France, UK, India, Spain, and other countries in Europe are protesting fuel prices almost everyday. Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, India, and other Asia nations are also experience a tremendous hike in price that their government can't seem to control. What will Sogavare do if he becomes a PM when world food sources are experiencing a tremendous hike in food price as a result of gas price soaring? How is he going to solve this global crisis?

Olketa barata! Sogavare needs to get out of his shell and see the bigger picture here. Some countries around Asia, especially India and Indonesia, their army are out in the streets baking bread in an attempt to feed their hungry citizens. In India, rice bags are opened and served to the people in small containers by their army personnels. I just can't imagine how Sogavare planned to tackle this global problem.

Everything depends on fuel prices. When the cost of fuel increases to about 50%, the cost of transportation also rises so as the price of rice and other world food. Airline and auto workers in UK, India, and US are laying off thousands of workers in an attempt to save billions of dollars. Truck drivers around the world have protested for months now and haven't got a resolution yet because oil producers have increased the cost of fuel while the production remains static. It seems impossible to imagine how a prime Minister of a country that depended so much on foreign food and fuel, planned to solve this crisis.

Talem mane ya, no laea tumas. We aren't that stupid and no one is barking wild at the moment because it is beyond the control of SIG.

No gud hem kavarap nomoa for bringim back Julian Moti! talem stret nomoa!
_________________
For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
It might have been.
............
John Greenleaf Whittier

sv · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 195 Location: japan

Solomon Islands will never progress forward under another Sogavare ruled govt. This person does not have any credibility neither any good working relationship with foreign countries except Taiwan. How can a country like Solomon Islands who depends much on foreign aids survive on its own when global economic meltdown is a global paranoia?
Even well off countries like Japan has its fishermen protesting in the streets over the continuous rise of fuel prices.
While Solomon Islands can probably stand alone on its two own feet sometimes in the near future, we still do not have much needed infrastructures out in the rural areas neither a conducive economic environment. Thus we still need much foreign aid to improve our economic situation and hopefully establish strong bases for further economic growth.
My point here is we need a PM that has strong credibility and good working relationship, not only with Taiwan but with all other main aid donors including australia. And Sogavare does not have any of these credibilities because he has no ears for listening and therefore cannot take valuable advices from comrades/colleagues and civic groups.
In addition, as someone has alluded in their previous postings, our party politics and parliamentary standing orders should be reviewed and amended wherever possible.
For instance, MNC should only be allowed after a year have passed from the previously moved MNC whether successful or not. However, within this grace period of 1yr the GG could convene parliament at any date of his choice if the situation is deemed a constitutional crisis. This way our parliament could restrict the number of MNC tabled and avoid mavericks ruling our country under any constitutional crisis.
If it so happened that a maverick becomes our PM culminating in a constitutional crisis, the GG could intervene based upon his judgement and convene parliament allowing a MNC vote.
Another is to introduce a MPs' integrity bill by which MPs' conduct and management of RCDF could be held responsible and suspended or prosecuted if evidences of misconduct and mismanagement exist.
The overlying point is to have less corrupted leaders or restricted corruption MPs in parliament by holding them responsible.
Unless our current MPs are die hard fans of selfishness and self-serving attitudes then I could see the proposed MNC successful, otherwise it is just a waste of time and effort by Soga and company to reclaim power inorder to bring back Moti which is quite difficult at this stage I guess!!!!!!!!

Chala · Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 144 Location: Fiji

Some people just seem to think that they can do better than the current PM and his govt in handling all the problems we are facing. Or do they think that these problems are unique to SI?
Sure the current leadership and govt have their weaknesses but they are not grossly scary like some I know, at least not yet by far. Some political individual or group just think they have the formula that solves these burning issues in less than a year. Someone who is blinded by $$$, pride or hunger for power and cant see where our continuing political turmoil is leading us so still considers an mnc as the best solution to end these problems. One mnc within a year is enough. Why cant these designated politicians just cooperate with each other in sorting things out and help push our country forward? Who cares if politics is a game. They can keep that game part to themselves cos the people are not interested. If its just a game then what does that make of the suffering people of SI and what good are politicians to us if they can not properly serve the people they represent and improve their livelihood?
_________________
One's Life is a journey in a world where one's destiny is influenced by one's surroundings

Eddie · Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 129 Location: Kiwi

The motion is untimely, unjustified and ill conceivably. The media should have run opinion polls to get public reaction as claimed by the OP as for the people. This motion, perhaps could be a tactic to secure their likely chances for the next general election once they are in power, convincing the people of insufficient time they have and re-elect will see thru' the completion of whatever promises.

AK47 · Joined: 08 Nov 2007 Posts: 233

I think the Opposition is playing dirty politics on the ignorance of majority of Solomon Islands who care little about politics. They don't really have access to resources and to understand why a 20 Kg of rice suddenly reached $200 in six months. They don't really understand why vehicle owners complain about the hike in gas price. They don't know, and when Sogavare started making claims that this government failed to put the prices of gas and rice down, they tend to believe it. They may see Sogavare's claim as really the issue here. But there is more to that.

We need to educate the rural people about the cunningness of politicians. Their shrewdness and their self-serving ambitions. Our corrupt leaders are making a living at the expense of the poor uneducated people. I would rather see a MNC that carries with it reasonable points, not one that claimed to be sponsored by the public when no one is barking foul except the PM himself. Off course our people are suffering right now as result of rice prices etc. but I believe that most of these people know its not a local crisis. It hits this globe in a large scale.

But let him table his MNC as it is his duty, and let us hope that our leaders will come to a conclusion as to the real intention of the MNC. At the end of the day, this motion will die out even before it goes to the floor of Parliament for the vote.
_________________
For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
It might have been.
............
John Greenleaf Whittier

Vexie · Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 64

AK47

You are spot on on this issue especially on the obvious dirty politics our leader of the opposition and his cohorts are playing in the name of our people. I'd endorse your point on educating our uninformed public about the global nature of the issue concerning augmented fuel prices which has direct impact on the prices of goods in Honiara.
It's indeed a sad situation seeing our opposition camp using the public weaknesses for their continuous wrestle for power. I don't see any impending success to this MNC either, except for a continuous enhancement on the general public's mistrust to the Opposition side. The only justification to this ambitious move from the opposition is they are payed for what they do in the parliament, hence let it be. On the other note, watching Hon. Inoke walking around Honiara aimlessly every now and then is not reflective of a responsible leader so why not let him pay off some time moving the motion.

That is not to overrule the possibility of this motion being successful either, considering the 'money gaming' politics often practiced by our leaders within the government. The current PM may possibly lose numbers aswell should he be reluctant on offering some undertable checks expected from him by his supporters in the past few months, (who knows) which to us or to the PM is corrruption but that could be the way out in maintaning the post for some supporters in the house.
Sikua may be known for some of his personal weaknesses, however, when it comes to fund dissemination, from past experiences with this guy, it has to be justified by all means before you can get funds from him.
His strength on this could lead to his downfall when dealing with so many money faces in the current unstable government we had

tingting nomoa

pinmiz · Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 75 Location: Honiara

The MNC will be debated on the 25 of this month not the 8 of August. The PM wants to keep to the tradition that MNC is to be taken head on. We'll see who comes out winner.

Anna · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 93

It is possible for the MNC to go through for the following reasons:
1) Moti will not be able to come back - he is on trial
2) Dau is out of parliament
_________________
God loves us all

Anna · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 93

Rising food and fuel prices is affecting a lot of countries but that does not mean the Solomon govt cannot do anything to cushion the effect on its consumers. I acknowledge the steps taken so far but the govt can also do more like fixing the price of the Solomon dollar. Move away from using the weighted average method.
_________________
God loves us all

pinmiz · Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 75 Location: Honiara

This is the actual wording of the motion of no confidence

"That the National Parliament of Solomon Islands resolves it has no confidence in the Prime Minister."

Vexie · Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 64

Just curious about the wordings of the motion of no confidence pinmiz. Having the parliament's confidence on the PM lost could mean that the legislative house's trust on Hon.Dr Derek is no longer there right? This then raises few query; (i) does that mean, that any body in the rulling regime could pick up the post (after the next PM's election) instead of Sikua continuing the job? Fono could man the job if that is the case, but then, (ii) what's the opposition's take on this if they don't have the number? Will the opposition side still be satisfied if someone from the current rulling party got it instead of any one within their group?

Judging from Sogavare's words on the SIBC news (19/07/2008) - Mr. Sogavare says if they cannot do it, then they should step aside to allow capable leaders to lead this nation. With this statement i don't see any correlation it has with the Motion of Confidence statement. Sogavare and his team think that they are the only capable group, that discredit the usage of the word 'parliament' losing trust on Sikua. According to the opposition leaders statement the wordings should read 'the opposition part of Solomon Islands resolves it has no confidence in the Prime Minister'

Lets wait and see who will be crowned again,,,interesting