NATIONAL PARLIAMENT OF
DAILY HANSARD
FIRST MEETING – EIGHTH SESSION
The Deputy Speaker, Sir Allan
Kemakeza took the Chair at
Prayers.
ATTENDANCE
At prayers all were present with the exception of the
Ministers for Department of Police & National Security, Home Affairs,
National Reform & Aid Coordination, Culture & Tourism, Public Service, Education
& Human Resources and Members for Small Malaita, Hograno/Kia/Havulei and
North Vella La Vella,
MOTIONS
Motion of Sine Die
Debate on the sine die motion continues
Hon TAUSINGA: Mr Speaker, lest I be misled to debate a
budget speech rather than a motion of sine die, I wish to take the first chance
to join in the debate of the motion before us, which is the motion of sine
die. Thank you very much indeed for
giving me the opportunity.
Sir,
Before I advance my observation on matters of parliamentary and national
importance, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of North
New Georgia Constituency for the trust and confidence they have on me for
re-electing me to Parliament and to be their representative and servant for the
next four years, not only to advance the interest of North New Georgia but more
importantly that of the nation, Solomon Islands. I wish to thank them for allowing me another
term in Parliament and I accept their confidence with humility and
gratitude.
Sir,
there can be no appropriate and opportune time than now that I have to remind
them that the country seeks from them their perpetual commitment, continual rededication,
their participation on economic development and their prayers so as to enable
us to advance our country’s interest.
Mr Speaaker, moreover, I would like to take this
opportunity and on behalf of the people of North New Georgia to congratulate honorable
Members of Parliament who have successfully contested the seats of their
various constituencies. I extend to you
all my comradeship and friendship and further pledge to work together with you
for the common good of our citizens.
Congratulations!
Sir, I would also like to congratulate the honourable MP
for
Perhaps Mr Speaker, if I have to make a very small remark
here that there may have been some questions arisen as to why I have to
relinquish the position of candidacy to that particular position. Mr
Speaker, I can only say in my small voice that one has to lose in order for one
to gain.
Mr Speaker, allow me to appreciate and congratulate the
election of the Speaker of Parliament.
The Parliament is national in its ownership as well as its function but
representative in its composition.
Therefore, to take charge of the Speaker’s Office is indeed an honor and
a service to the people of the country. The
fact that the Speaker was unopposed speaks well of the confidence and trust
that honorable Members have on the office.
Congratulation!
Mr Speaker, before I continue on the motion itself, I
would also like to record my appreciation and thanks to the Office of the
Speaker and the Members of Parliament for enabling us all to come to the
meetings to attend to parliamentary matters.
Without your dedication and commitment we would not have come this
far. Thank you, and thank you very much
indeed.
Now the motion.
This motion seeks from each of us our individual consent to terminate
the present meeting until we are summoned again at a later date to deliberate
on other government matters that are of national importance. In other words, this motion tells us that the
government has no other business and that Members of Parliament at the
termination of this meeting may go home to their constituencies and the
government be allowed to proceed on its work programs.
Yes, Mr Speaker, in such a circumstance the government
does not have any further business for the meeting. I can willingly give you my consent to have
the Parliament adjourn sine die.
But before I do so, Mr Speaker, permit me to make my
remarks on the events of the past weeks, and perhaps impress upon honorable
gentlemen in this chamber the need for all of us to take a “self-examination”,
and the role we all play in the security and stability of our country, in
particular in the context of national experience or the national injury
inflicted upon the people and the nation, Solomon Islands.
Sir, I also feel that the debate of the motion would be
incomplete if I fail to participate, and my observations of the unfortunate sad
event that saw the destructions that befell our capital, and especially the
historical landmark – the Chinatown – because I was the unsuccessful contestant
for the Prime Ministership, in whose name and popularity the people demanded
the resignation of the Prime Minister-elect immediately after his election. I feel obliged to make some clarifications
and observations that may throw some light on the event, which can perhaps, form
the basis of our healing process.
At the outset of my debate, I wish to position myself on
a platform from which I must speak on the matter. In doing so, I must immediately declare to Parliament
that the mandate given to me by the constituency of North New Georgia, demanded
that the first article and the last article of my conviction and duty be that
sir, that I am – first – a Solomon Islander, and – second – a North New
Georgian, and thus the performance of my duty must be conducted from the
highest standpoint, and in the interest of the country and its people. And upon this platform and standpoint, allow
me to make my contribution to the motion.
Sir, if there is one thing that I have never shared with
my closest friends and my immediate family, that one thing has to be my
ambition to be the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands. And so the decision to be a candidate for the
Prime Minister’s position was made some eight months ago without the counsels
of my closest friends or my immediate family.
That decision was mine and mine alone; the decision to put forward my
name for the position. I had no idea of
my appealing nature neither do I know about my life’s public image that made
people believe on my suitability of the position. The choice to be a candidate was a
demonstration of trying to answer a call of national duty just like all other
candidates for the post. I was not
prepared for what was to come.
What happened on that Election Day was unprecedented, and
will do down in the history of our country as BLACK TUESDAY. The demonstration that sparked the chain
reactions was from people from all corners of the country. And whilst we are still recovering from the
ethnic unrest some six years back, we nevertheless chose to inflict further
injury to our country.
Yes, in the past, there might have been disapprovals of
the choice of Prime Ministers but there were no public demonstrations and no protests
– none equal or comparable to the recent one.
There were no demands for resignation from Prime Ministers-elect, no
demands for new leaderships or new government to be formed or no hindrance of
Members of Parliament from exiting the
Sir, there was complete confusion on the part of everybody;
no one was prepared for the scene that emerged in the Parliament compound that
day, not even the law enforcement agency was prepared for the chain reactions
that followed. The looting and burning
of properties were sufficient evidence of the un-preparedness of the law
enforcement agency, and which in my opinion, called into question the
competency and credibility of the Commissioner of Police.
His Excellency the Governor-General must have read the
situation correctly. He exited before the
human barricade was formed to hinder us from leaving the Parliament.
Mr Speaker, the people demonstrated against our choice
for they identified that choice as an extension of the old regime that they
felt delivered little or nothing to the population of Solomon Islands.
The
people demonstrated because the success of the election of the Prime Minister-elect
was alleged to have come from business tycoons, and that in the public opinion
was a danger to public interest.
The people demonstrated because the choice that was made
was perceived to be susceptible to corruption or have acted in a corrupt manner
previously, and can be remote-controlled by these business tycoons. And in a situation where public perception
formed the opinion that one is corrupt or one can easily be manipulated or has
became a symbol of corruption of a regime, one does not need to prove beyond
reasonable doubt that the image is already tarnished, the popularity shredded
into pieces, and therefore, public support withdrawn and ultimately one can be forced
to accept the alternatives. This was the
situation that set forth the chain reactions on that BLACK TUESDAY.
The important questions before us are:- What can we learn form that Black Tuesday? How can we assist in the healing process?
Mr
Speaker, public peaceful demonstration whether issued with permission or not
usually attracts negative criticisms. It
is something to be feared by authorities, something that is perceived to be
potentially dangerous if such demonstrations are out of control. I think it is important that demonstrations
are conducted in a manner that guarantees public peace. However Mr Speaker, I can understand the
people who think negatively about public demonstrations and protests. But the fear of demonstration or protest, in
my view, is the ignorance of one’s love for one’s country.
Sir,
those who demonstrated and protested and demanded the resignation of the Prime
Minister-elect and demand for a new government to be formed immediately had
concerns for their leaders and those who will advance the interest of the
country. May be the actions they did
were regrettable but they have genuine concerns.
The
people were concern because they wanted their Members of Parliament and their
government to be free from undue influences.
They wanted their Members of Parliament and their government to be free
from corruption. The people were concern
because they wanted their Members of Parliament and their government to deliver
goods and services to the citizens. The
people were concern because they wanted their Members of Parliament and their
government to create opportunities that would allow citizens to take on
activities that can better their lives.
The people were concern because they wanted their Members of Parliament
to put the interest of its citizens and that of the nation ahead of their own
and be good representatives and servants.
These concerns, in my view, expressed the love the
citizens have for their country – an expression of patriotism – that formed the
basis of the demonstration that required the resignation of the Prime
Minister-elect and the immediate re-election of a new one. But the insensitivity of leaders and the
application of wrong strategy by RAMSI Advisors saw the transformation of
patriotism to frustrations/anger that have the destructive force on that Black
Tuesday.
Suspicions abound about the involvement of
parliamentarians in the formation of the demonstration or inciting of violence,
and the looting and the burning of properties.
But I must not be mistaken by my remarks – especially on patriotism –
that I render support to the destruction or had any participatory role. I must say to you and to the people or the
country that I have no love for violence neither do I have love to incite
violence. Like all peace-loving citizens
of our land, those who are living and those who have gone before us, and great
men of peace past and present the world over and those who became symbols of
peace, I join them all. The first and
last of my conviction, my faith is peace for all and for all time. So I categorically deny that I have love for
violence and that I love to incite violence.
The smokes that rose from the conflagrations that have now
abated and the ashes that now become the debris were seen by the nationals and
international communities through the media, speaks volumes about ourselves and
our country.
Many
people had something to say about the event or had advanced their observations
and analysis of the reasons for the occurrence of the devastations and destructions
of properties. But suffice to say, Sir,
a quick response from our Pacific neighbors the RAMSI by sending in military
and police personnel guaranteed security, law and order.
I
think such a good gesture from our RAMSI friends showed that we can count on
each other in times of national despair or when situation is beyond the
national capability to contain incidents that threaten public safety and public
security. The quick response does also
reflect that
However,
the international media sees the opportunity to tell the world that
The Civic
Education and the Winds of Change programs made people aware what to expect
from their leaders. Therefore, the events
of the past weeks through the media was a manifestation or confirmation of leaders
of the country being unduly influenced to the extent of using their positions
for personal gains from money provided by the Republic of China. And the medical went on to infer that these parliamentarians
were not able to conduct themselves above and beyond corruptive and bribery
practices.
What
amazed me, Mr Speaker, was the fact that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Australia and the Prime Minister of Australia as well, support this line of
thinking and cautioned the Republic of China and even the Peoples of Republic
of China to stay away from
Mr
Speaker, I admire these gentlemen and I admire the leadership they provided for
their country and the manner for which they take responsibility to instill in
us that good governance is what people expect from leaders. But on the other hand for them to level
accusations at both the Republic of China and the
For
whilst it may be correct to suggest that the Republic of China creates
opportunity for corruption and to make situations appear as if briberies have
been committed, it must be understood that corruption and bribery is a man’s
own making. An individual is responsible
for his own actions, and so in this regards one cannot blame others for one’s
own actions.
On
the other hand, Mr Speaker, if the comments about the Republic of China and the
If
their comments were made to show that they know something about everything in
In
like manner, Mr Speaker, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Down Under, and as
well as the Prime Minister should refrain from making unnecessary comments that
can easily be construed to be not in keeping with the foreign policy of Solomon
Islands.
What
happened in
Of
course, they have Mr Speaker. What of
the Lebanese uprising at the
What
leaders should have said is something to the effect like, ‘look guys, we have
helped you and we do not expect you to create more problems. We are answerable to the taxpayers and that
you should not put our necks on the chopping board. We have provided RAMSI and so use it to help
yourselves”. This I think is what I
expect to hear from friends in the region.
The
media portrayed a poor image of
However,
what the media failed to show or recognize and appreciate was the fact that the
demonstration and destruction was confined to the Capital, and there were no
losses of life. All other parts of the
country were peaceful, and that every body went about doing their daily
activities.
Whilst
the media appropriately were showing the bad side of the event, they also chose
to ignore the good side of human nature, the many good things the ordinary
Solomon Islanders did for the victims, in particular helping them to safety and
comforting them.
That
is also a good side of the human nature, and in times of trouble it is usually illuminates
brightly, and this needs to appreciated and recognized. It is this side that usually creates heroes.
Sir,
many people can speak about the sad event.
Economists can speak about it in terms of the economic impact. Sociologists and anthropologists can speak
about it in terms of the social impact. Lawyers
and justices can speak about it in terms of the likely criminal nature of
it. Clergies can speak about it in terms
of morality, and perhaps our inadequacy of good character building. Political scientists and analysts can speak
about it in terms of peoples’ power and its eroding impact on our
democracy. Other critics can speak about
it in terms of the shortcomings of our election laws and systems. Mothers and fathers can speak about it in
terms of family needs and family comfort.
Sons and daughters can speak about it in terms of reconciling their
future with that of the present. And so
everybody can speak about it in terms of how every one sees and feels about it. But what is strikingly obvious is the fact
that parliamentarians, politicians and leaders can speak about it in terms of
everything but themselves.
Mr
Speaker, I am not expert in analyzing leadership qualities and the role
leadership plays in diverse ethnic composition of a country, neither I do
profess knowing what constitutes good leadership. But perhaps on the context of parliamentary
responsibilities, and as far as constituency representation is concerned, I can
settle on the understanding that parliamentarians, except the Prime Minister are
first, representatives, and second servants of the people.
Sir,
the Prime Minister performs dual responsibility within the country he is the
head-servant of the people, and in the international arena, and
Forgive
me, Mr Speaker, but I do not subscribe to the notion of a parliamentarian as a
leader or a master. The perception that a
parliamentarian is a leader in his own rights gives the impression of ‘self-elevation’
that can be misconstrued or misled that oneself is over and above the master-servant
relationship, which is the fundamental essence of a representative government
reducing the population to servitude.
The
fact is, Mr Speaker, I am the servant and the people are the masters. So it is expected by the people that the role
I play must be to the extent that I do not cause confusion, instability and
must not be a security risk to the people and the country. I must provide the security and stability for
my masters, from which shall emerge freedom on which opportunities can exist
that will help them better their lives and make Solomon Islands livable for
their children and that of their children’s children.
Security
and stability is the government’s duty Mr Speaker, and the government’s duty is
everybody’s duty and everybody’s duty is the people’s duty. It is therefore important to note that the
people’s duty is parliamentarian’s duty.
This confirms the representative nature of Parliament or democracy. This means that a parliamentarian must be the
first to demonstrate security and stability for the people of the nation.
Therefore,
the sad event on Black Tuesday speaks clearly about ourselves, our duties, our steadfastness
on principles or otherwise. The fact
that one is elected to Parliament testifies on the belief and confidence that our
people have on us. The fact that one is
elected to Parliament testifies good reasons to enter Parliament.
The
fact that we are elected to Parliament testifies that one is focusing more on
national interest than one’s own interest or that of another individual. But the fact that we allow ourselves to
associate with business tycoons, and in particular the active participation of
businessmen in the formation of the government can send a wrong signal, and can
give rise to opportunity that breeds suspicion, breeds distrust and breeds
frustrations that can effect national injury to our country, as evident in
Black Tuesday.
Perhaps
what I am trying to say here, Mr Speaker, is a reminder that elected
parliamentarians should not be security risks or instable themselves, but
rather be a unifying force or unifying factor that can sweep away the mighty
walls of frustrations and hatred.
Respect
is not acquired, neither can it be bought nor can it be exchanged for 30 pieces
of silver. To change allegiance from one
political camp to another, one cannot expect to earned respect except the stand
fastness on their beliefs and principles as well as performing duties for the
people of
Perhaps
I need to appreciate Mr Speaker, that the Honorable Member for West New
Georgia, in the silent of the night, prior to the election of the Prime
Minister, visited me, and lured me to be the candidate of the current
Opposition. He won my admiration Sir,
for being the first person and the first Honorable Member of Parliament, in my
20 plus career, to lobby and lure me to join the other camp. He was advised instantly that he has more
experience in jumping around than I do, and was advised to join my camp instead
of me going to him. Anyway, he enjoyed a
beautiful bottle of wine, after which he and his merry-men disappeared into the
night.
The
Black
Tuesday may appear to them as our inability to take possession of ourselves and
our sovereignty. Therefore, whatever
poor opinions others may have on us, let us work and prove to the
contrary. Let us make
The
national injury that was inflicted upon this little nation needs a new
prescription, a prescription that goes beyond the formation of the government,
a prescription that gives hope for the victims and the people of Solomon
Islands, a prescription that can instill confidence not only on investors but
all those that love our country, including our neighbors and the Commonwealth. We must, and the government must also see that
those who are victims be assisted in ways possible to rebuild their lives.
Mr
Speaker, allow me to end my debate by looking at the positive side of
life. The smokes that were seen at
Having
said that, Mr Speaker, I must now consider the circumstances upon which the
motion requires my consent. Yes, the
government does not have any business.
There is no more need of me to be present here. There are no more businesses to call us
together and so I must now declare in order for me to exit this debate, I have
no other alternatives but I beg to support.
Mr SITAI: Thank you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to
join colleagues in participating in the debate of the motion of sine die moved by
the Honorable Prime Minister on Tuesday this week.
Sir,
I consider it my duty to take this opportunity to first of all thank my good
people of East Makira for re-electing me back to Parliament to serve them. I thank them for their confidence and
trust. I appeal to them all that the
election is now over and so we should now work together for the betterment of
our constituency.
Having
said that, allow me too, Sir, to comment on a number of issues I would like to
raise in this debate, some of which have already been covered by Honorable
colleagues who have been spoken before me.
Just
a brief comment on the statement of government policy delivered by the Prime
Minister on Tuesday. I would like to us
to look at that statement objectively and with some optimism, although it is
said to be completed in terms of submissions from the various factions that
have formed the Grand Coalition.
I
say that for one reason. That reason is
I note that some of those policy directions are matters that have already been
put into place by the last government, and their continuity is important,
although there may be additions. This is
the basis of the statement I have just made.
On
that line, I am pleased to hear about decentralization. But I would like to call on the government
not just to talk about it because we have talked about decentralization for so
long. Let us make it real this time round
even if we have to share the resources available to us, development funds what
have we, and I would like my honourable colleague, my good friend, the Member
for Aoke/Langa Langa who is now the Minister of Finance to take particular note
of what I am saying.
Divide the budget and give us our share. Not only us but the other provinces as well
all have plans. Let us make those plans
real. For us in Makira and our sister
province, Temotu, I am glad that some members or colleagues from my province
are Cabinet Ministers in the government side, particularly my good colleague
the Member for West Makira who is now the Minister for Provincial Government
and our other colleagues. Give us
money. Give us the funds to build our
boat infrastructure to serve our two provinces, to create that service and to
create employment.
I am raising this only because we are now talking about
decentralisation. There are other
projects such as infrastructure and what have we. If we are going to be serious, I am calling
on the government to look at these projects for these two sister provinces.
Another issue that I also wish to raise, which I am also
happy to hear about, and now that we have this government in power, is the baby
of our colleague, the Minister of Finance which those of us in the last
Parliament tabled here for our discussion and there was approval of the new
roadmap for the constituencies. I know
the Minister will do it because he knows how to put it in place, and I am
putting it back to him again on the floor of Parliament. He is responding to what I have said, but I
want the government to make this real because I think it is an accepted fact
that without the development of the constituencies,
My good Minister of Finance and the government lend me
your ears on this one. Please include
this in the final policy statement of the government.
Having said that, Mr Speaker, allow me also to say a word
or two on some constitutional matters in relation to the now so called ‘Black
Tuesday’ and other constitutional matters relating to participation of women in
politics.
Let me begin by saying this. I would like to thank His Excellency the
Governor General for his patience, his wise counsels and for very ably
presiding over what was supposed to be only one Prime Minister’s election. We ended up with two elections. Through his foresight it enabled our two
colleagues who are now under Police custody to exercise their constitutional
rights in their duties as parliamentarians by casting their votes. That shows to me that democracy is very much
alive in
Having said that, the other issue I would like to raise in
a form of question is this: The experience
we have had so far is quite trying. But
I would like to talk like this. Where do
we draw the boundary colleagues? Where
do we draw the boundary between people’s power and the authority and power of
parliamentarians voting a Prime Minister as well as disposing of a Prime
Minister?
I say this because what we have done has set
precedence. This was already alluded to
by our colleague MP for
In this connection, Mr Speaker, I am calling on you to
very quickly appoint the Constitutional Review Committee, the Standing Committee
of Parliament comprising of members from both sides of the House, and task them
to look at ways and means of putting this situation right.
For example, it has been aired in this Parliament in the
debates that we have to look at the proper Westminster System where a party that
returns a lot of members after any general elections is the party that should
form the government. The Governor
General should appoint the leader of the party to form the government. I believe that will also stop us from all
sorts of lobbying and all sorts of things that are happening to us, which our
people are so concerned about leading now to all sorts of accusations made
against us.
Alternatively, I would like suggest, Mr Speaker, that
after the general elections when Members nominate the candidate for Prime
Minister, we should allow the whole nation to vote for the Prime Minister like
the presidential system. In that way it
would be fair. What we are doing now is
just like hijacking our authority. Are
we going to allow for this to continue?
As I have said, this is going to haunt all of us in the coming four
years and the next parliamentarians who will come after us. I consider this as our duty to put it right.
Another issue in relation to the constitutional review
committee is to revisit the idea that was also put to Parliament for
consideration by my learned good friend, the MP for Aoke/Langa Langa, the now
Minister of Finance in the last Parliament.
Why not create open seats for women to participate in Parliament? When we vote for Members of Parliament in the
constituencies, the idea that was proposed by my learned colleague was to also
have open seats that at the same time people cast their votes they also vote
for those open seats for women candidates.
Can that be revisited through the work of the constitutional review
committee to be backed up fully by the government of the day? Women could also take care of other issues
relating to development of youth? Those
considerations should also be taken into account.
Those are the constitutional aspects of what I wish to
say in relation to ‘Black Tuesday’ as being aired now in Parliament for our
consideration.
Mr Speaker, there are other matters too that I would like
to touch on before I sit down because I have said that I would be brief. I thank the Prime Minister for committing our
country back to the hands of our Almighty God.
I fully appreciate and accept that.
This is a Christian country. But
what I would like to say is, that in itself is not enough. We have to cleanse our hearts from hatred,
from jealousy and from what have we? We
have to instil in our hearts respect for each other, respect for our cultures,
tolerance, peace and good will.
I
challenge us on the floor of this Parliament, the 50 Members of the House that we
are the ones who should start this process, and the government to allocate
enough funds to undertake meaningful reconciliation between our people. If we do not do that, this country will never
be normal again. Mark my words, Mr
Speaker. I want us to consider this very
seriously.
The last issue I would like to raise, Mr Speaker, is in
relation to two points raised in the House by our colleagues who are now on the
government side. I will begin with the
comments made by my colleague Member for Temotu Nende who is now Minister for
Foreign Affairs when he said this Parliament was hijacked by outside
forces. Likewise the comments made by my
good friend and colleague, the Member for Aoke/Langa Langa who is now the
Minister of Finance, under privilege and he was privileged to express his
concern about the use of Parliament Building to accommodating the riot gears
and other weapons the Police used during the ‘Black Tuesday’.
What I would like to say, Mr Speaker, is this, and I
would like it to go down in the records that the saddest moment for me as a
parliamentarian was what happened during that day. Whilst we have so much respect for this House,
what some of us have called the soul of this nation,
And to
make it worse some of us were held as hostages in this very House until
If I was in proper health condition I would have done
what some of you colleagues have done. I would have gone out. We were held as hostages here. Unfortunately the media never highlighted
this fact. They were interested in
different things and not the fact that parliamentarians were held as hostages
by their very own people in this House, the soul of this nation.
Mr Speaker, bear with me if I have to say this. It is something that we must help our people
to come to some understanding, and that is for all of us to respect this House.
Thank you Mr Speaker, for your patience, thank you
honourable colleagues for your forbearance, and I support the motion.
Hon OLAVAE: Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me the
floor to contribute towards this sine die motion. Mr Speaker, before doing so, first of all
with your indulgence I would like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to
the Honourable Prime Minister for introducing the motion. I would also like to thank previous speakers
who have contributed significantly towards the motion.
Mr
Speaker, it would be remiss of me not to thank my good voters and people of
South Vella La Vella, so may I take this opportunity to thank them as well for
mandating me as their political leader for the second term in office.
Mr Speaker, this country is on its recovery and
restoration stage in stabilising its law and order situation and revitalising
its shattered economy. Therefore, Mr
Speaker, the road ahead of us to tackle all those economic and other associated
problems will take a long, long time prior to achieving full recovery.
My people of
Mr Speaker, myself and other new Members of Parliament
who have just joined as politicians have been having a very, very tough time to
contribute in tackling all the financial and economical mess we have inherited. Therefore, my rural populace’s patience and
tolerance is expected to give us ample time under this government to shift its
infrastructures and economic policies that will best suit you to participate
fully in your endeavours to revitalise our ailing economy. In other words, Mr Speaker, the
implementation of the new roadmap by this government, the bottom up approach
policy will lead to reforms and subsequent rural economy and national economic
recovery.
Mr Speaker, with the vision this government has there is
hope for our country and its people for the future. Sir, our country has wealth of resources to bank
on. Our strength depends on formulating
conducive economic policies to involve a wider spectrum of our population and
foreign investors to convert these billions of dollar value resources into
foreign exchange earnings for the growth of our economy that will realize or
raise the welfare and standard of living for the people we represent.
Mr Speaker, our track records have shown us that despite
the wealth of resources this country has since obtaining our independence economically
we have been lagging behind other small forum island nations. That clearly reflects that successive
governments even did not know their priorities. Their policies we have been adopting and
implementing have been not been conducive to the economic growth of this
nation. So where do we go from here Mr
Speaker? How are we going to tackle or
solve most of these problems?
Mr
Speaker, are we going to continue with the same way of implementing our program
of actions after the passage of future development and recurrent budgets year
after year as we have been doing since we obtained independence?
These are the very questions we need to answer. If the way we have been implementing our
policies have not brought us better results economically for all those donkey
years, Mr Speaker, then what are the alternative approaches we are going to
take?
Mr Speaker, our track record has shown us as well that
better options have not been found by successive governments and political
leaders since independence. That is why
we have been throwing mud at each other, especially old politicians who have
been serving now four to six terms as politicians in this House or in previous
governments.
Mr Speaker, that has been the very reason our economy has
been in tatters, and that has been the very reason why I changed my allegiance
from the previous leadership to the government that I believe in now
(hear, hear)
that will bring about economic
changes under its new roadmap, the bottom up approach, measures and policies.
Mr Speaker, this bottom up approach measures are mainly
talking about decentralisation of infrastructure development to stimulate rural
economic activities by the wider spectrum of our population and the private
sector, which both foreign and local will participate under that will further
stimulate exportable commodities for our foreign exchange earnings. Sir, only time will tell us the truth about
what will happen in the future having all those ingredients for our economic
growth are being put in place. So let us
wait and see.
Finally, Mr Speaker, may I take this opportunity to
extend my sincere thanks as well to RAMSI who has been stabilizing our law and
order situation on their arrival almost three years ago.
Mr Speaker, I also thank donor partners for their
supplementation of our efforts in revitalizing our shattered economy and so
forth. This government, Mr Speaker, is
going to cooperate with its donor partners and RAMSI to stabilise its law and
order situation and its economic recovery programs as we go along on
partnership basis. Together, Mr Speaker,
we will change our country’s law and order situation and our economy from worst
to better in the future.
With these few contributions, I support the motion.
Mr LONAMEI: Thank you Mr Speaker, for allowing the MP for
Maringe/Kokota the floor of Parliament to contribute to this very important
motion.
Mr Speaker, before I continue, I would like to take this
golden opportunity to convey to all the chiefs, youths, Mothers Union Members
and all good people of Maringe/Kokota, my sincere and humble gratitude for
giving me their confidence and trust to speak for them in this honourable
House.
Mr Speaker, to those who have supported other candidates,
I respect your decision and your choice.
Now that the election is over, I want all of us to work together for the
good of our villages, wards and our constituency as a whole.
Mr Speaker, I would also like to thank the Premier of
Isabel Province and also all the Isabel Provincial Assembly Members for their
support and for the good work they are doing for the people of Isabel.
Mr Speaker, I would also like to thank the churches,
especially the Diocesean Bishops, the Clergies and the Christian people for
their continual pray of support as we will always need their prayers as we go
along.
Mr Speaker, may I, in the name of the Tripod in Isabel,
which means the Premier, the Bishop and the Office of the Paramount Chief,
condemn in strongest term, the unlawful actions, looting and eventually the
burning down of the
Mr Speaker, may I convey, on behalf of the people of
Maringe/Kokota and Isabel as a whole, our sympathy and sorrow to those who have
lost their businesses and homes, especially the Chinese Community.
Mr Speaker, I am sick and tired of hearing the word
‘corruption’. I am tired of heading
statements like ‘that Member is corrupt’, ‘that Member has been paid by so and
so’, ‘that Member has been paid by
Mr Speaker, I have never been lobbied or lured like
that. I deny all the corruptions labeled
against this side of the House.
Mr Speaker, our voters are very sensitive this time. They are very sensitive and if they feel that
their Members of Parliament are corrupt they are going to vote them out. They have done it, and that is why the 50 of
us in here were seen as not corrupt. We
are leaders they respect to represent them in here.
Mr Speaker, what really saddens me is that fact that some
politicians point fingers or single out
We in Isabel, Mr Speaker, have benefited from
Mr Speaker, I believe the Taiwanese who are also here with
us have heard the allegations leveled against them. They are human beings just like us and they
have customs too, and they are really when they heard Solomon Islanders making such
allegations on them. So I urge the government and the Minister for Foreign
Affairs to apologise to the Taiwanese Embassy diplomatically and also in our
custom way as well.
Mr Speaker, I would like to join other colleagues to
thank RAMSI for their good work it has rendered to
Mr Speaker, I am sure RAMSI officers who have been posted
to Buala in
Mr Speaker, during the tension when all exportable
commodities went down, only Isabel sustained the
Isabel is one of the big provinces but because we do not
produce more people and that is why you may thing we are a small province.
Mr
Speaker, with this present government and also having the Member for Gao/Bugotu
in the government, we would like to see all projects for Isabel to be approved.
Mr Speaker, I think there is need to look at changing the
formula of sharing benefits. Instead of
looking at sharing the benefits according to population, we should base the
sharing on each province’s contribution to the national income.
The
Holy Bible even says that “The more you
give the more you receive”. That is
the Christian principle. But what is
happening now is “The less you give the more you receive”. No wonder we always twisted Christian
principles and that is why bad things are happening to us.
Mr Speaker, being a new Member in Parliament, in my first
meeting of Parliament I have the following experiences and surprises that I
will never forget:
1.
The riot after
the MP for Marovo was elected Prime Minister on
2.
The vote of no
confidence. Some may say this is
politics. But in my layman’s point of
view we know and understand what this means.
3.
The movement of
leaders (MPs) from camp to camp, from floor to floor. Again, others may say this is politics but
from a layman’s point of view we can also understand the type of people.
4.
The decision by
the Governor General to enable MPs in jail to vote. They are Members of Parliament and our
learned lawyers said it is okay with the Constitution. In my layman’s point of view, in any future
elections Members of Parliament can stay wherever they want maybe in their
homes and still they can cast their vote. Ballot papers would be flown to me in Buala
and I will vote from there.
Lastly
Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. I look forward to working together with the
government. I would also like to thank
your good self, Mr Speaker, the Clerk and the staff of Parliament for your
support and for the work in looking after Parliament Members.
To all the Members of Parliament, all the best in your
endeavours in helping people in your constituencies.
Mr Speaker, may I end my debate with this short prayer: ‘Father
forgive us for we are confused and also do not know what we are doing”.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon VAHOE: Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to
contribute to the motion of sine die.
Mr Speaker, I would like to join honorable colleagues of
this honourable House to congratulate you for your successful election as the Deputy
Speaker of Parliament.
Mr Speaker, as the new Minister for Communication,
Aviation, Meteorology and Member of Parliament for Malaita Outer Islands
Constituency, I wish to congratulate honourable Members of Parliament who retained
their seats and the new ones who have made it to Parliament this time.
Mr Speaker, I also wish to take this opportunity to thank
my predecessors who have been Members of Parliament for the
Mr Speaker, let me turn first over to the unfortunate
circumstances which shocked this nation as we start the business of this new
House. It saddens me that such a thing
should ever happen to our beloved nation.
But let it be a grim reminder to all of us that as leaders it is very
important for us to realise that whatever decisions we make in this House will
have a direct effect on our people.
It is my prayer that as leaders we would ensure that our
leadership brings about joy, peace, progress and prosperity instead of chaos,
insecurity and an uncertain future.
At this point in time, let me take this opportunity to
thank the Honourable MP for Marovo, for what I believe is a very difficult but
painful decision, but an honourable decision made at a crucial moment in the
political development of this nation.
Mr Speaker, my chiefs and my people have mandated to take
my stand and be where I am today to serve their interests and not my own. As a new Member of Parliament, the events of
the past weeks have shaken me and made me realise how important it is, that as
leaders we must make a stand to stay away from wrong and unethical practices
that against the beliefs and freedom to decide on behalf of the people I
represent in this honourable House.
Mr Speaker, I believe that decisions must be made on
principles rather than from opportunists who do not care about our beloved
nation. Mr Speaker, I believe our people
have spoken and as Members of Parliament, can we stop and listen to what they
are saying?
I
have decided not to be part of the problem and wish to remind honourable colleagues
that our people are tired and sick of leaders who say one thing and do
another. As a new Member of Parliament,
I urge all politicians to collaborate in partnership for the advance
development of our people and our nation.
Mr Speaker, as responsible Members of Parliament elected
to the highest decision making institution in this land, I do sincerely hope
that we will not disappoint our people in the next four years. Mr Speaker, it is my firm belief that all Members
of this honourable House owe it to their families, voters, and members of their
constituencies who have made the honorable decision that will bring about
change for the betterment of our people.
Mr Speaker, may I congratulate the decision taken by this
side of the House which brought about the positive and immediate changes of joy
and jubilation to the ordinary citizens of
Furthermore, I wish to clarify to my people of
In conclusion, Mr Speaker, may I thank all Christians
throughout the nation for their prayers for the peaceful election of the Prime
Minister, the MP for
Mr Speaker, may I acknowledge the good people of
Mr Speaker, may I acknowledge the Clerk to Parliament and
all her staff for a job well done. Sir,
lest I forget may I also acknowledge my good people of Malaita Outer Islands
for their contribution to the country’s economy in terms of marine products.
Sir, with all due respect, I support the motion.
(applause)
Mr Deputy Speaker: Before I give opportunity to
the Member for Rennell/Bellona, I would like to bring the attention of all Members
to Standing Order 32(5) and let me quote:
‘A member shall whenever possible
avoid referring to another member by name”.
Mr GUKUNA: Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me time to
contribute to this sine die motion moved by the Honorable Prime Minister. Mr Prime Minister; please accept the sincere
congratulations of my people, the people of Rennell and Bellona on your
appointment as our new Prime Minister.
Mr
Speaker, let me take this time to first express my heartfelt gratitude to the
people of Rennell and Bellona for giving me the opportunity to be here in this
Honorable House.
Mr
Speaker, the good people of my Constituency had used recent elections to give
me the Authority to speak on their behalf and be at their service over the next
four years. I sincerely thank them for
the confidence and trust placed on me.
Mr
Speaker, I want to assure my good people that I came in here with an agenda
that only seek to improve the living standards in our beautiful islands of
Rennell and Bellona. And in thanking my
good people, let me also assure them that I accept the mandate they have given
me with great honor and humility. This
mandate I will carry without fear and I will not allow it to be intimidated nor
will I ever trade it for mere political convenience.
Sir,
I wish to also assure my good people that I will continue to allow my
participation in the proceedings of this House to be guided by your leadership
Mr Speaker, a capable leadership of wide experience, very well versed with the
Standing Orders of this House as well as supporting provisions of our National
Constitution. I wish therefore to
congratulate you, on behalf of my people, your people too, for being
re-appointed unopposed to the Chair Mr. Speaker.
To
effectively represent my people in this, Sir, I will also allow my involvement
in national politics as well as my political affiliations in this House to be
determined only by the principles of Good Governance and Accountability. This is despite of the unimaginable way in
which we have been inducted into the politics of this Honorable House
Two
weeks ago, the brand new MPs in this house were supposed to be taught how to
behave in this House, how to be useful materials in this House. We were supposed to be put through normal
process that the other 25 MPs had the privilege and benefit of going through to
learn the procedures of this House. As
we all know that did not happen. Instead
we were dragged through a politically driven agenda, a baptism of
political-fire that has not been seen in the history of this country.
Mr
Speaker, what happened three weeks ago followed an intense misinformation
campaign that was seen by some members of the Opposition then now in government
as the only way of assuring victory in the face of eminent political defeat they
could not accept in any form.
As a
result of this misinformation, Mr Speaker, we now have a new government coming
into being against a background of false allegations, racial intimidations and
unprecedented violence.
As
we all know, Mr Speaker, out of the violence and backstabbing of the past
weeks, this new Government came out and dressed quickly in the name of the
people and is now known as the people’s government and talking about swift
changes.
Sir,
if they had to go through all these troubles just to come out at the end to say
that this new Government is simply here to change things, then why the
desperation? Why did they have to do all
those things in a desperate manner? Why
has it been necessary to resort to violence? What are these changes that are so important
that they used all their muscles just to topple a Government duly elected
through the democratic laws of this country?
Can
we accept that we have opted to destroy our reputation; that we have opted to
destroy investor confidence and humiliate our own people for the sake of
changes that are not even proven, let alone putting them on paper yet Mr
Speaker?
The
sad part is whether we like it or not, Mr Speaker, we must now accept the
depressing truth that violence is a way of overthrowing governments in this
country has now become a part of this country. It happened twice over the past three changes
of government.
But may
I ask, what are we going to really change Mr Speaker? Mr. Speaker, the new government has come in
with promises, glaring promises that we have heard before, they are not new. We
have heard these promises said in this House!
In fact we are accustomed to them so much that we really do not expect
anything to change or fulfilled for that matter.
Mr
Speaker, I forewarn that the changes this new Government promised will not and
will never change this country. Even
with your best policies nothing will ever change. Mr Speaker, what this country needs is a change
of attitude in our people. This country
has an attitude problem. If you want to
see this country change then change the attitudes of our people. Put in policies that will change the attitude
of some of our people. Once this one
single aim is achieved we will have tolerance and we will have acceptance in
this country. This country will prosper
and we will forever live in peace. If
there is no change in attitude nothing will change.
We
can put in the best redistribution policies, rural development policies and
sustainable policies but some will not work.
As I have said the only policy that will work is one that is aimed at
changing the attitude of our people.
Mr
Speaker, some prominent members on that side of the House had smeared us with
outright lies alleging that we as a government are very corrupt. How dare you accuse us of that? Mr Speaker I am calling on them to, please,
produce the evidence. This country needs
to address corruption and you have accused us of being corrupt. Go ahead and produce the evidence.
I am
calling on the Honorable Ministers of Planning and Foreign Affairs especially
who openly stated in the SIBC that this House is corrupt to produce the
evidence. Be a man and report us to the Police. The Police is waiting on you. Talk to them if you really have the evidence
that we are corrupt.
If
you have any concern at all for the people who have been directly affected by the
recent violence, I call on you to please call the Police, and investigate us. There is need to address this issue of
corruption. You are now in government
and so you have all the instruments and power to address corruption.
But,
Mr Speaker, corruption is not something new to this country. This country is known in the region as one of
the corrupt countries. Corruption has
been part of this country for a long time.
So why is it becoming a pressing issue now Mr Speaker? Why is it that the issue of corruption becomes
so urgent that we needed to hijack democracy and use violence to make a point?
Let
me state here, Mr Speaker, that the issue here is not corruption; it is not the
need for change either. The issue here
is the need to quickly put in place a government that will do all it can to
protect indicted individuals. Some of
these indicted individuals are the big fish.
You now have the chance to catch them.
We have been waiting for you to catch them.
Mr
Speaker, I voted for the last Prime Minister because my judgment had directed
me to do so. I was not paid by the
Chinese Community to vote for him as alleged by the other side of the
House. I did not receive a single cent
from them to vote for the Honorable Member for Marovo as prime minister. Those who claimed that we have been paid by
the Chinese must now brave up and again go to the Police. Your allegations had
resulted in senseless destructions. You
allegations had directly incited the mob that besieged this Parliament House. I call on you again to please go to the Police
to present your evidence.
What
is interesting to note is that some of the MPs who made these allegations are
the ones that we have been talking about in the public over past years as the most
corrupt in this House. They are not new
people, and we know them. Why do they
have to point fingers?
Mr
Speaker, one other sad reality of the recent violence is the fact that those
who took part in the violence and looting of
I am
ashamed to say here, Mr Speaker that one of the ring-leaders of the mob that
destroyed
I am
also calling on other Christians who helped looted
Sir,
as if the assault on
Mr
Speaker, what intrigues me is that these allegations came straight from people,
from former MPs who have directly benefited from ROC funding to this country. The least that they should do is appreciate
that ROC had given them money that they had used to enrich themselves.
Mr
Speaker, I can tell you who is corrupt. Those who are corrupt are people who have used
the RCDF and the micro-funds to buy themselves vehicles, to build themselves
houses, to send their own children for overseas education. These are the corrupt people. That has nothing to do with us, especially new
MPs in this honorable House.
Some
of them lost recent elections because they may have misused these funds that instead
of helping their people they helped themselves.
As I
said, Mr Speaker, the least we can do is to appreciate the role that the ROC
has played in this country. We should
appreciate the assistance that the Government and the good people of the
Republic of China had graciously given to us.
What we have given them in return is not good. It is unchristian and is not worthy from
us.
Let
me say again that the ROC and its people do not deserve your criticisms. But they deserve is respect in return for
their uttermost respect for this country.
Mr
Speaker, our business with the ROC is our business and we should never allow
anyone else dictate this. Leave it to us
and we can deal with it, and please for once respect the decisions made by
politicians in this country.
Mr
Speaker, with all my due respect, I believe that what happened in
With
due respect again, Mr Speaker, and apart from them losing their usefulness at
the national level, they have claimed this Parliament as their own. They thought that they own it and have become
experts in our Constitution. They
twisted it to suit them. And so they
hijacked the proceedings of this House and sought to intimidate the judiciary as
a way of getting what they want.
Sir,
what is very dangerous for us as a country is that some of them have become
power hungry. They have developed a
dirty thirst for power. They have used
all means including a direct assault on the principles of this House for the
sake of taking power.
Mr
Speaker, we could be breeding anarchy in this very House. We must not miss the
writings on the Wall, as someone has pointed to some other writings earlier, in
saying that give them the opportunity, and one of them could rise as a ruthless
dictator.
Mr
Speaker, I have a feeling that we could be wasting our time looking far for the
root causes of what happened on
Mr
Speaker, the good people of my Constituency fully support the good work of RAMSI
in this country. RAMSI is the best thing
that has ever happened to this country for the last three to four years. We should all support RAMSI that it must be
here for sometime.
RAMSI
is not here to take away this country as one colleague said earlier. It will leave when things normalize. It has no intention of taking over the
sovereignty of this country. If I were
to make a choice between RAMSI and sovereignty, I would rather have RAMSI. RAMSI can stay here as long as it wants, and its
good work must continue. What RAMSI has
achieved, no right-minded leader in this House will oppose.
Mr
Speaker, my people also support the good work of our local Police. I strongly
urged them to continue their investigations into the root causes of the events
of the past weeks, and I do hope that they will soon bring those perpetrators
to justice. Because unless that is
achieved there will be no true justice.
Mr
Speaker, in conclusion I would like to wish the other 49 MPs all the best as
they go home to see their people after tomorrow. A safe journey back home and we will see each
other again.
Mr
Speaker, thank you and I support the motion.
Mr TANEKO: Thank you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me the
floor of Parliament to contribute to this very important motion of sine die on
behalf of my people of Shortlands and on behalf of everyone of us in the
Chamber this morning.
Mr
Speaker, first I would like to thank my people of Shortlands for giving their
support and confidence by reelecting me to this House of Parliament to
represent them as their father for the second term.
Mr
Speaker, before I continue on with the sine die motion, let me draw this
House’s attention to the message in 2 Chronicles 7: 14, and I quote, “If my
people which are called by name, shall humble themselves praying and seek my
face and turn their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive
their sins, and will heal their land”.
Mr
Speaker, I stand here on behalf of the nation and my people of Shortlands I can
hear a lot of things, which I do not want to repeat them. This Parliament House is the house of the 50
Members to rule and reign on behalf of the nation
The
incidents of the 18th April which occurred in here, which most of the
speakers have mentioned and I don’t want to repeat, is evidence of the seeds we
have planted. The Bible says that
“whatever seeds we plant whether good or bad will be reaped by ourselves”.
I
would like to appeal in this House, to all 50 Members of Parliament to have new
sets of mind, new visions so that we can be visionary in our minds in order to serve
the nation
We
will still sing the same tunes, the new Members, half of the members in this House
are new members. Half is 25 members
because there are 50 Members. Let us
stop singing the same song, and change.
As
the MP for Rennell/Bellona has said our attitude is the problem in this nation.
If that is true, what are we going to
do? Change our attitudes, repent, and
turn away from wicked ways as model leader of this nation.
Mr
Speaker, why not allow the churches to come in here and preach to us and
encourage us. Mr Speaker, I would like
to thank my people, church leaders and chiefs for putting this microphone to my
lips so that my voice can be heard on behalf of my people of Shortlands and on
behalf of the people of
Mr
Speaker, in 1982 when I came back and landed here in
Mr
Speaker, I went and flew the flag of PAP. I would like to tell the House that the PAP
does not give me any money to campaign.
So
many of us in here talk about corruption, many Members in here, but I would
like to tell my people of Shortlands that I live in my own house, I do not
sleep in hotels, I eat my own food, and I throw my ballot paper into the box of
the God’s given Prime Minister.
I
was not paid by the Chinese, and I stood on my principles. This is my second term in Parliament, I stay
at my house and I go and put my ballot paper into the box of the man I trust will
lead, rule and reign and change
Mr
Speaker, this is the House, the very House that God has given to us the 50
Members. We have to change the nation according
to our hearts. What is in your hearts? Is it hatred, destruction, looting? That is somebody’s seeds, which is the seed
that must be destroyed. Uproot that sin in
order for the nation to rule and reign for the betterment of
The
people are suffering, Mr Speaker, the people out there who have given us the
power, the supreme power for you and me to come and be noisy in this
House. This is the man with broken trousers,
empty bag, no money, the poor man waiting for us to deliver services. He is waiting for the 50 Members who are
responsible to deliver services to him.
Yesterday
the Minister for Health mentioned that his constituency has never seen health
services. Why? It is because somebody responsible has not been
visiting that constituency to change his clinics and his schools.
Sir,
I am talking in here after being in Parliament for the last four years. If you go and see there are no schools, there are
no two storey buildings because somebody has forgotten to do his job. This is the job of 50 Members, and not only
the Shortlands.
Mr
Speaker, let us change our attitudes because people are crying and all they
want to see is for services to be delivered. .
Here
I want to thank the Prime Minister for the bottom up approach he mentioned in his
statement. One of the engineers of that
bottom up approach is the person now speaking. Let those people who put in their ballot papers
see the benefits and change the nation. Do
you not want copra? We talk and talk but
when are we going to stop singing the same tune in this House.
Our
economy is the resources in
Sir,
I thank ROC which has received a lot of criticisms. My friends, ROC money has assisted a lot of people,
our poor people in
Mr
Speaker, we have been talking and talking. This is my second term and if I do not see any
change in Shortlands, if I do not see the classrooms change, clinics change,
income generating to change then it will be a sad story for my people for my third
term.
This
is the house to make the necessary changes.
This is the House to share the wealth. There is inequality there. The Minister for Planning of this new
Government, please go and send your technical people rather than sitting in air
conditioned rooms. Send them so that
they go and see the needs of the Shortlands people.
The
Minister of Education should go and have a look because there are no classrooms,
no second storey classrooms, but where is the multimillion dollar in the 2006
development budget? It is millions of dollars
which this side has budgeted for and approved.
The
Minister for Health, Infrastructure and Development, please distribute the
wealth equally. There must be equal
sharing of the wealth because only then will we bless the people and the people
out there, the grassroots will feel, see and touch the blessings that this
House is giving to them.
All the
budgets are blessed in this House and therefore when blessed they must be
shared equally so that the people out there in the rural areas who drop their ballot
papers for you, who give you the supreme power for you to come in here, to make
decisions, then we must fair and just before we can see true peace in the
environment of Solomon Islands. There is
no other way.
The
Bible says in Proverbs 29:4 that “An honest ruler makes the nation strong”. I believe the Prime Minister will help the
people of
Mr
Speaker, I am glad that I am back in this House for the second term. I am crying and sad because it is almost one
month that I have not visited my people who gave me the power on the April 5th
to come and stand in here. I came here
expecting to go back and visit them just after one week. However, we had differences and so we destroyed.
We say all sorts of things like corruption,
bribery and all these things.
Mr
Speaker, I am one who has remained faithful on your side. There were 18 of us in the PAP but now how
many are left. Only four of us are left.
Why? It is because some have already
left to go to the other side. Why did
you run away from us? You should be here
so that we vote for our Prime Minister.
Why are you unfaithful to your party? Why did you run away? What good things do you find on that side? You should apologize and say sorry then we
ballot and select the paper.
Mr
Speaker, Proverbs 11:14 also says, “A city without a wise leader will end in ruin;
a city with many wise leaders will be kept safe”. That is us, the 50 Members
and so let us make the decision for the betterment of our nation, our children,
our grandchildren. That can only be done
here in this House and no other place. This
is the highest authority that makes law, this is the chamber that legislators
come to make laws. The Constitution is
enacted here, the West Minster System is approved and passed in here. If we see that those systems do not fit our cultures
and are not appropriate for us, then this is the place to change, this is the
place to amend it.
The
law of the land belongs to the 50 Members in this House. It belongs to all of us in here. Some of you in the House now are lawyers, and
so please see if there is need for us to revisit our laws then revisit it. If we see that something needs to be fitted
into our constitution then we have to do it.
I am
glad that new Members who are here do have that new vision; they have visionary
minds and new ideas which must be put forward here. Some of us in here have been around for too long,
but the man now speaking is not yet, I want another four more terms to be in
this House.
I
have a lot of vision in my mind that I should change the nation to a peaceful
country as I have the heart for this country.
All 50 members are parliamentarian members for
I was very sorry to see the incident that happened on
Mr Speaker, we are leaders and being a leader is a painful
thing. A leader is like a pilot. A pilot took off in his place in the morning
on a nice sunny day, and when he is half way through his destination dark
clouds started to form. In such a
situation the pilot is the one to make the decision whether to turn back or to
continue on to his destination. It must
be him alone to make the decision. That
is leadership and leadership is painful.
It is a sacrifice and is painful.
But when making that decision you have to have a heart so that you can bring
justice to the maker of the decision.
I now come to development. There is development here in the budget that
the government approved. There are lots
of funds here. Last night I attended the
European Union Day and I know that the EU has offered almost a billion dollar
to support this nation. The Minister for
Planning, please look forward into fairly distributing that wealth to the 50
constituencies of our nation because only when the distribution is fair to our
nation and country that we will have a peaceful
Some
Members who have already spoken stated that their provinces and constituencies
are forgotten. I want the Minister for
Education, Health and Planning to visit my place as well. I am a man from the borderline. You go and see for yourself. The development ministries must send technical
people to go and witness first hand with their own eyes and then come back, analyze
the needs of the constituencies and then fairly distribute the wealth according
to the needs. That is how I see it.
Mr Speaker, we in this House must be serious, and serious
in a way that we can rule this nation. Our
nation is totally dependent on the decision makings of this Parliament House. The problem we have is our own problem. We have to accept it. That is strength to us so that we do not
repeat the same problem again. We must
not repeat this problem. In 10 to 20
years time we must not have this problem again because they are harmless
Chinese business people.
On behalf of my people of Shortlands I want to say sorry
to the business people. They are blessed
people because they are the neighbors that God has brought them in to come and
help our nation. They just a minority and
harmless business people and yet we destroyed them. I thank the leaders of this nation who have
apologized for what had happened. But what
is next? We leaders have to change our
characters and attitudes. We should not wrongly
influence our youths because they have very limited knowledge of what is going
on. One very good example is the Constitution
on Chapter 2 (1) on the freedom of rights. A lot of people in the villages do not
understand what their rights are. When
we tell the people about their rights and freedom without explaining truth and
justice to them, they can take the law into their own hands. The result of that is what we have seen on
April 18 in the burning of shops and buildings.
Under the same Chapter 2 on discrimination, what have we
done about this? My friends, I can say
that all foreigners who come into this country are only interested in one
thing, and that is to invest in our country.
This means you and I, and the nation has to look after them. They do not come into the country for
nothing. But they love the people of
Our Constitution says that there must be no
discrimination of various races. Our own
law says that. This is something that
all of us must seriously consider so that we can live in harmony in the country
with our other neighbors. We must love
people from other nations and races.
I
think we have to enact a law that says people who have nothing to do in the
provinces should not come and settle in alienated lands in
Sir,
I fully believe that decentralization the government mentioned today must be taken
up so that developments are decentralized to the rural areas. This will make people stay where they are.
Sir,
I think we should have two houses like the lower and upper houses. We can reign and rule wherever we are but it
is coming because the government is thinking of approving the State Government,
which I think is the best for the future but we do not know.
Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the newly elected Prime
Minister and I hope that he will continue to lead this House in his leadership to
lead us. This side of the House will be
your watch dog but we will support you as well.
Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for being elected
as the Deputy Speaker of this House. I also
would like to thank the Speaker of the House and his staff for continuing to do
a good work.
I want to appeal to my people in the Shortlands to please
continue on with your good work. Even
though we might suffer and have lots of pain, but I believe we must continue to
work together supporting each other and support our government in our prayers,
support our leaders (50 MPs) in our prayers.
You need them too and so you help us.
That is my appeal to my people and the nation of
Sir,
this nation belongs to you, you are the owner.
We own
To all Christian churches in
Sir,
I do not want the nine provinces to be divided. We must be one as a family. We are not many. Our population is very small with more than
400,000 and so we need each other. We
need to walk shoulder to shoulder with each other. We need to bless each other. We need to intermarry so that we become one because
we are a very small family.
With these few remarks thank you and God will continue to
bless this nation. Sir, I support the
motion.
Sitting suspended for lunch break
(Debate on the sine die motion continues)
Hon TORA: Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this
opportunity to take the floor as the first speaker this afternoon to contribute
briefly to this motion of sine die.
Mr Speaker, as we all know this motion is a customary
motion normally moved by the government or Prime Minister to allow Members of
Parliament say what they want to say in this honourable chamber. I therefore, Mr Speaker, would like to thank
you for giving me this opportunity.
Sir,
first of all I would like to convey my thanks to the chiefs, church leaders and
the people of my constituency of Ulawa/Ugi. They deserve a vote of thanks from their Member
of Parliament. This afternoon I thank
them for the trust and confidence they placed on me in electing me once again
to come and represent their voices in the National Parliament.
Mr Speaker, I bring with me this afternoon to all 50
Members of Parliament including yourself, Sir, greetings of peace from my
constituency from all my good people out there.
I would like to congratulate on behalf of my people the
successful election of our new Prime Minister and his Government. I also would like to congratulate the
honourable Speaker of the National Parliament for a successful election to retain
his seat and yourself, Sir, as the Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament.
Mr Speaker, this afternoon I reserve that it is still
premature for me to dwell on other things. I would only like to convey my words of thanks
to the Churches, the NGOs, RAMSI, the business houses, those working in ships,
doctors and those caring for sick people, and the list goes on. I would like to them for the important
services they have rendered to the people and this nation as a whole.
Sir, I cannot forget the Clerk to National Parliament and
her staff for making things possible, especially for Members who resided in
respective constituencies and those who reside in
Sir, I would also like to thank the machinery of the
Public Service, the public offices. They
are very important and deserve words of thanks from this floor of Parliament. I thank the Permanent Secretaries right down
to ancillary staffs.
Mr Speaker, lest I forget I also would like to thank the trade
unions that exist in this country.
Without the existence of trade unions the terms and conditions of the work
force cannot be improved.
Mr Speaker, allow me to move on. The specific subject I would like to
contribute on this afternoon is peace. I
was a former Minister of Peace in the last government and I see peace as very
important. Without lasting peace in this
nation there would not be any developments.
I look at peace as very important. And I must tell you, Sir, and the nation that peace
in this country is still fragile as far as I am concern. I believe the new government will treat peace
as first priority in its program of action.
How would we sustain peace in this country? I am glad to hear the honorable Prime
Minister outlining this in his policies, especially in decentralization of
developments in the rural areas. I
believe this is very important. That is
the only way we can sustain peace in this country by decentralizing of
developments in the rural areas.
A
lot of programs for peace in this country, I know some of them have been
implemented by the last government by my Department. But as I said it is still a long way for us,
and this is in regards to peace in this nation.
But first of all Mr Speaker, all the 50 Members, all of us who are
sitting down here in this honorable House, we are the ones who must have peace
in our hearts first. It is us. And then peace in our immediate families and
then extend it to our neighbors. I know that
if you and I not have peace in our hearts how can you have peace with your
brother or sister that you do not know about?
Mr Speaker, I am one of the people who has spent my life
time in
Mr Speaker, when we talk about peace in our country, I
think this is the way that we should go.
We start from within ourselves and then to our families, children and
wives making sure that they also must have peace, which is very important and
that is what I believe.
Mr Speaker, this is a big challenge, not only for the
government but for all of us here, the 50 Members of Parliament. We want to see total lasting peace for this
nation. This is my very strong
conviction, and I would like to see our country go back to our way of living in
the past whereby we eat together in one pot and one plate. Nowadays I see that is fading away. When you go pass another one who is eating
just looks at you. Is that the way to
treat our brothers and sisters?
The
advice I received when I was a little child, which I still uphold until today,
is advice that comes from the Bible. My
grandfather advised me saying, ‘grandson you must remember that God created you
and me and so if you condemn your brother or sister then you are condemning God
who is our creator’. All of us in here
are made in the likeness or image of God.
But again a man can make mistakes in this world. This nation really needs this teaching. I would like to appeal to the Prime Minister
and his government to please treat peace as very important in our country.
Mr Speaker, I would like to move on and raise some of my
concerns and observations made last year on education. Some students in my constituency came crying
to me saying to me as their Member that they were left out from the selection
to undertake tertiary studies. They
showed me their results, which is much better than those who were
selected. I want to see fair selection to
be done by the Ministry of Education so that it is fair to all of our children
in the country. I do not mind, Mr
Speaker, regardless of where a student comes from but as long as it is fair, and
this is very important. If these
students are left out where are they from?
Are they from other outside countries or from
Even our teachers too, Mr Speaker, their pay structure is
very poor. They spent quite a number of
years training at the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education but when they
come out to teach they bitterly complain about their salary because it is very
low.
I
talk on teachers’ salary because my wife has been teaching for almost 27 years
now but even cleaners in the office here are getting much better salaries than
the teachers. I am very sorry about this,
Mr Speaker, and that is why at the beginning of every school year you will find
teachers still hanging around not going back to their schools.
Why,
Mr Speaker? They are saying that their
salaries are very low and so what are they going to eat at the school so why
bother going back to school. It saddens
me a lot because at the beginning of the first semester this year I have to pay
ration worth $32,000 to start off the Pawa Provincial Secondary, a secondary school
at the Makira/Ulawa Province. This is because
I have a heart for the students who are our children from all over the
country. If I am a selfish man I will
just say the food is only for students in my constituency. But I am not that type of leader.
Mr Speaker, this is very important and I want those
responsible to take note of this and look at the pay structure of our teachers
because this is one thing to boost the morale of teachers in their teaching and
will make them attend to their work. But
if we always let them down, and parents complain, and who are these parents, it
is none rather but leaders, and therefore we must do things fairly for all the
work forces in our country.
I am
one person who always feels sorry for people who work and are getting that kind
of salary. They cannot survive in this
town by getting such salaries.
Mr
Speaker, let me move on. Our only
national tertiary institution is the
No
wonder the Director of the
Sir,
I used to be in-charge of the Students Welfare Services Division for three
years, and I tried my best to do something, but at that time as we all know we
have financial problems and so nothing is done.
Some
of the students live with relatives in town.
But I tell you, Mr Speaker, this is giving a very hard time to their
relatives, a very hard time, which leads to them not concentrating in their
studies and that is why some of them failed.
In order for them to go through their studies to be able to come out and
get a job, make sure the students board at the school, they must reside on the
campuses. This is very important Mr
Speaker.
Mr
Speaker, we in the Ulawa/Ugi Constituency are victims of one shipping company
that is providing services to the constituency.
In fact it is not providing services, but is taking more money out from
the pockets of the people from my constituency, and this man is not from
Mr
Speaker, I think that kind of service should be reserved for Solomon Islanders.
I would like to suggest if the
government can subsidize our local shipping companies so that fare and freight
charges are reduced to assist our rural farmers. I say this because this is the only way they
can transport their produce from the provinces or villages to the main market
center in
Mr
Speaker, I see this as very important that this kind of business or other
business appropriate for Solomon Islanders must be provided by Solomon
Islanders.
Mr
Speaker, I would like to say sorry and I am crying from within my heart. I cannot repeat the history or the events
that have gone past. But on behalf of my
people of Ulawa/Ugi constituency I would like to give our apologies to the
Chinese Community.
I
think I was the first Member of Parliament to approach them when they were
evacuated to Rove. I went and stand in
front of them inside the classroom, and I talk to them on behalf of my
people. As I talked to them I saw two ladies
crying, and at the same time I saw those two ladies crying, Mr Speaker, the
Member for Ulawa/Ugi was also in tears because I have a heart for people regardless
of where they come from, what race they belong too, but because we are all
human beings and one global family in our country.
As I
have said, Mr Speaker, I do not want repeat history because it would be a waste
of my time repeating it. But I would
like to see all of us in here working together.
Please as national leaders who are elected to enact laws for our
country, we should sympathize for people who come to help us.
Sir,
as I said I am not blaming anyone because sometimes people take advantage of a
situation like this. Mr Speaker, thank
you and to allow other members to contribute because I believe members from
this side and that side would want a chance to speak and thank their people in
this motion of sine die, I will end here.
With
those few remarks, Mr Speaker, I support the motion.
Hon WAIPORA: Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to
contribute to the motion of sine die moved by the Honorable Prime Minister yesterday. Mr Speaker, I will be very brief because
other Honorable Members must have time to say their bit.
Mr
Speaker, up until 2001 I was standing here speaking as the Member of Parliament
for
First
of all, Sir, I would like to thank the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker for your
elections to the post of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, of the head of our
legislature. They are jobs you well deserve.
Secondly,
I would like to extend to the Honorable Prime Minister the profound
appreciation and warm congratulations from my good people of
Thirdly,
Sir, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my humble and heartfelt
thanks to the chiefs and the people of
Mr
Speaker, West Makira produced the founding leader of the government of Solomon
Islands who led the country into self government, and not only that he led this
country into self government but also the longest serving Member in this Parliament
during his time. In fact, Mr Speaker, this
great leader never became an ordinary Member of Parliament until he died. He was always either a Prime Minister or
Leader of the Official Opposition. He
was called home to rest in 2000 when he was still the MP for
Sir,
in that respect I must say that I feel very small and humble indeed to have
taken up the leadership role that this great man had left behind in the West
Makira Constituency. I humbly ask that
in any planning process of any government, in terms of development programs for
this country, you must never forget and ignore
Mr
Speaker, we must thank God for being with us in the darkest hours of the last
four weeks. We have had many sleepless
nights because of confusion and uncertainty, but God said I will never leave
you nor forsake you. As we have seen and
experienced this promise is true and sure, through the very latest events of
Mr
Speaker, people were crying for a change in government and the change has come.
I believe this new government will cause
real change the people desire and have been crying for in its next four years
of reign.
Mr
Speaker, in order to make a real change to happen to deliver services that
people need at their doorsteps, both politicians and Public Officers must
change and have the right attitude to work and be dedicated to their God given
responsibilities.
Mr
Speaker, this country calls for honest leadership now. What had happened on
Mr
Speaker, while there was widespread denial of corruption which the people went
strike on during the last four weeks, I am not convinced to believe those
denials are totally true. No, Sir, I
don’t believe t hat. Because Sir, I can
only believe the devil I know than the saint I do not know.
Mr
Speaker, people reacted on what they know yet the Opposition threw back blame
on this side of the House who solved the problem when it took over power.
Mr
Speaker, let me tell you the story. On
Mr
Speaker, when I heard that I began to wonder as to what is going on, because
some people seem to have taken over the responsibility of the Parliament Office
in paying Members of Parliament. Indeed,
it seems that the Parliament Office has been moved to the Honiara Hotel and MPs
accommodated in the Honiara Hotel had taken over the Parliament’s accounts, if
that is the case.
Mr
Speaker, I hope they do not move your office down there. After 30 minutes the Honorable Member for
Temotu Nende came and took us out to the Iron Bottom Sound, of course, without
our luggages. It was our right camp and
so we settled down.
Mr
Speaker, this is a very shameful thing because we are playing around, not as
National Leaders of the country but as fools.
We do not respect each other as leaders.
Practice of this nature must be stopped quickly before it gets out of
hand.
Mr
Speaker, if the two MPs for
Mr Speaker, from day one my
good friend the Honorable MP for Savo/Russells started to attack the Minister
for Provincial Government, blaming and pointing fingers at everybody of
different faults and failures that successive governments had gone through,
forgetting the fact that his four fingers are pointing back at himself and only
one pointing to the Minister for Provincial Government.
Mr Speaker, had it not been for RAMSI, the MP for
Savo/Russells would not have been the Prime Minister for the full term as he
always boasts about. Mr Speaker, but you
are very lucky.
As I
have said Mr Speaker, I do not want to stop others from talking, and so I am
going to stop here. I do not think I
will go on but. But I must thank honorable
Members who have contributed to the motion.
I appreciate what I have said and I thank you for being very patient in
listening to our debates, day in and day out.
I wish also to thank all the Parliament staff for their help on MPs in
their financial needs, accommodation and traveling, etc.
Mr Speaker, I thank the Clerk to Parliament for the hard
work in preparing businesses for the daily meetings of Parliament.
With those few remarks, Mr Speaker, I support the motion.
Mr AGOVAKA: Mr Speaker, first and foremost I would like
to take this opportunity to thank my people of Central Guadalcanal
Constituency. To the paramount chiefs,
chiefs, church elders, women, youths and children of Central Guadalcanal, thank
you for your support and your trust in me to lead our people in Parliament.
Mr Speaker, to you the Member of Savo and Russells, may I
also on behalf of the people of Central Guadalcanal Constituency congratulate
you for being elected as Deputy Speaker of National Parliament.
To the Speaker, who is not here, on behalf of my people
of
To the Member of Parliament for
To my predecessor, I would also like to thank him for the
services rendered to the people of
Mr Speaker, as a new Member of Parliament all the
political lobbying caught me by surprise but never off guard. In my campaign before the election of
When
I was elected to Parliament I was very jubilant, and when I came to Parliament
I was full of enthusiasm in view of changes.
On
The subsequent looting, destruction and burning of shops
at the Point Cruz and later
Mr Speaker, during the three days of looting, destruction
and burning of shops in
Mr
Speaker, and each time something happens in
The other radical thinking they have is to come and help
those in the city to burn
On the issue of corruption, Mr Speaker, there have been a
lot of allegations about corruption. We
talk about it in the streets of
Let me say to Members of Parliament and to the nation
that if there are any proofs or evidence of corruption by Members of
Parliament, I strongly urge you to report the matter to the Police or the
Leadership Code Commission. I am very
pleased to hear the Prime Minister in his statement talk about setting up of an
anti corruption committee. I think this
is a very good committee to be set up and I urge him to quickly set it up to
look into all these allegations.
On the issue of good governance, I am sad to say that I
really question the wisdom of the government in appointing the two MPs who are
my good friends in custody to be Ministers of the Crown and Her Majesty’s
Government. To me this is degrading the
dignity of Her Majesty’s Government, the Government of Solomon Islands.
One can say that unless proven in court a person is not
guilty. So may I ask the question, is
the Member for Marovo proven in court guilty on allegation of corruption? Was he taken to custody? If the answer is no, why were the Members now
on the government side saw it fit to corrupt the minds of the people of Honiara
to take the laws into their own hands and did what they did?
Mr Speaker, we have not given the MP for Marovo and his Cabinet
the benefit of the doubt and the opportunity to lead the government. Straight after the election of the MP for
Marovo as Prime Minister, he was condemned right from the start using Chinese
and corruption as scapegoats for their own agendas. Where is natural justice?
A statement by the Prime Minister to strengthen the
various commissions is very much welcomed.
Of paramount importance is the Leadership Code Commission, and I urge
and I want to see, not just lip service but real action.
On the issue of reconciliation, Mr Speaker, I think this
is of paramount importance to
I am pleased that the Prime Minister in his statement
said that he will set up a truth and reconciliation committee. Let me tell you a story. I went to
The Government must also consider and seriously consider
the submission by the
On the issue of land, for us in
I challenge the Minister of Lands and Survey to act and
put into action the committee that has been set up to look into the sale of
land on Guadalcanal, and to act on the wishes of the people, not only
Guadalcanal but Solomon Islands.
Mr Speaker, I believe one of the object causes of the
ethnic tension is land. The previous
government has done nothing about it and I urge the present government to
resolve the land issue not only on
Mr
Speaker, I would like to see the government to make it a policy to register all
customary land not only on
Sir,
I also ask the Minister for Lands and Survey to look at squatters, illegal
settlers at the fringes of
On
the issue of mines and energy, I urge the Minister to quickly appoint the
Chairman of the Task Force of Gold Ridge to advance negotiation with the landowners
and government on issues of royalty, relocation and other vital issues. I believe there is a Cabinet paper in place that
the government needs to act on it in relation to mining on Gold Ridge.
Sir,
I also urge the Minister of Mines to seriously look at not only exploring
minerals on
Sir,
on the issue of law and order and RAMSI we have all seen what happened on 18th,
19th and 20th April 2006.
I urge my friend, the Minister of Police and National Security to look
at upgrading the standard of protective equipment for our Police Force.
We
have seen our local Police inadequately equipped to control the crowd, not only
here in Parliament House on the 18th but also in the streets of
Mr
Speaker, I challenge the Minister of Police and National Security to assure the
nation of the true policy of this government on RAMSI. The big industries are watching because if
RAMSI leaves there will be no assurance for the safety of their investments.
Mr
Speaker, we must not hide the fact but tell the nation because the nation wants
to know the government’s policy on RAMSI.
At
this juncture, I would like to thank RAMSI for not only bringing law and order
into this country, Mr Speaker, you yourself were involved in this and I thank
you for your work. RAMSI has also brought
about changes in the institution and mainly in the institution of finance.
On
the issue of State or Federal Government, one of the demands of
Sir,
I challenge the Minister of Provincial Government & Constituency
Development to look at the resolution that is table before you, the leaders of
On
the issue of agriculture, I would like to challenge the Minister of Agriculture
to be more proactive, in not only assisting people in our rural area but to
also train and inform the about the issue of agriculture.
I
believe there is a Rural Agriculture Project coordinated by the Ministry funded
by the World Bank. This must reach the rural
people, not only of
In
concluding, may I say that the 50 Members of Parliament are elected to govern
this country. Whether we are in the
government side or in the Opposition side our duty to this nation must not be
overtaken by our personal agendas.
I
call on all the MPs to leave behind their differences and work towards
betterment of our country. We must
cooperate and respect one another as national leaders of this country. The people wanted change but let me say to
the nation that if you want change you yourself must change your attitude. Taking the law into your hand will not solve
the problem but will only create more problems.
The
nation and people of
And
finally, on a sadder note and as a Christian, it saddens me to see the writing
on the walls at
Mr Speaker, with these few
remarks I would like to thank the Clerk to Parliament, the Parliament Accounts
Department, those at the Kitchen and Staff of Parliament for looking after us
in the few days we are here.
With these, I beg to support the motion.
Hon MANETOALI: Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to contribute
to this sine die motion moved by the honorable Prime Minister.
First of all Mr Speaker, I wish to extend my appreciation,
acknowledgement and thank my good people and supporters of Gao/Bugotu
constituency for selecting me to be their parliamentary Member for the next
four years. Thank you for their trust
and confidence.
It is a great honor to be the chosen one out of the 15
candidates who contested that election process.
To the other 14 candidates who contested with me, I would like to extend
my acknowledgement and sincere appreciation to all of them for their great
effort. I am looking forward to working
close with them for the betterment of our constituency and the nation as a
whole.
Mr Speaker, I would also like to appreciate past parliamentary
members of Gao/Bugotu constituency.
Being the present Member of Gao/Bugotu I wish to thank my predecessors
for their leadership during their respective period of time. I have great respect for them for their
contribution to this nation,
Mr Speaker,
We the people of Solomon Islands proud of the wisdom
and the worthy customs of our ancestors, mindful of our common and diverse
heritage and conscious of our common destiny do now under guiding Hand of God
established the sovereign democratic state of Solomon Islands.
In the preamble Mr Speaker, there are three main things that
I wish to dwell upon. First of all, ‘the
wisdom and the worthy customs of our ancestors’, secondly ‘under the guiding
hand of God’, and thirdly ‘the sovereign democratic state of
The first ambit deals with the wisdom and worthy customs
of our ancestors. Mr Speaker, today we
have the chiefs, elders and traditional leaders who are custodians of our
traditions and customs, and most of them are found in our rural areas. They have been governing our villages and
communities on issues affecting our rural people. They are doing tremendous and marvelous job
governing our rural people, hence I would like to acknowledge their daily
tireless effort in their dedicated service to our people.
The second part of the preamble talks about the guiding
hand of God. The churches in
Most of the speakers so far have thanked the churches for
their prayers. To thank the churches for
their prayers is not a new thing. The
churches have been thanked over and over again.
However, people in the rural areas have been struggling to complete
their permanent Church buildings, which after even more than 20 to 30 years are
not yet completed.
Our people in the rural areas need to complete their church
buildings so that they can sit comfortably and continue to pray for national
leaders. I live it to my colleague the
Minister for Home Affairs as food for thought.
The third part of the preamble talks about the sovereign democratic
state of
The Parliament is the highest law making body in
Mr Speaker, economic development must reach our rural
population so that our young people can actively participate and contribute to
the economy of this country.
Education today is not for people in the rural
areas. If we look at school fees it is
unfair to our people. People in rural
areas are not able to pay school fees for their children in high schools and as
a result cannot complete their education.
To make it worse there is no source of income for parents or guardians
to pay those very high school fees.
Education today, Mr Speaker, is for those whose parents
and relatives are in paid employment and not for people in my constituency
where there are no employment opportunities for them.
Mr Speaker, before I conclude my speech, I wish to inform
this House and clarify what was stated by the MP for East Are Are yesterday in
his contribution to the sine die motion about the Speaker and the Chief Justice
not attending the swearing in of the former Prime Minister, the MP for Marovo.
Mr Speaker, I understand that the Speaker had clarified
his position yesterday on why he did not attend the swearing in of the former
Prime Minister, the MP for Marovo. Mr
Speaker, in the case of the Chief Justice, information I have from the Court is
that he did not attend the swearing in of the former Prime Minister simply
because he was not invited.
Mr Speaker, while the Chief Justice usually attends such
occasion as a matter of mutual respect and commitment between the branches of her
democratic government, he attends when he is invited. On that occasion the Chief Justice was not
invited and so he did not attend.
Mr Speaker, the judiciary will continue to remain
independent of parties and political issues and continue to accord members of
the other branches of government due respect.
Mr Speaker, I hope this clarification will put to rest any adverse
inferences the public may sought to draw from the comments of the Member for
East Are Are.
Finally Mr Speaker, on behalf of my people of Gao/Bugotu,
I extend my congratulations to the Member of East Choiseul for his election to
be the Prime Minister of
I also congratulate the 50 mMmbers of Parliament for
their successful election to this honourable House.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for my contribution towards this
motion. I support this motion and I beg
to take my seat.
(applause)
Hon ULUFA’ALU: Thank you, Mr Speaker, for according me this
privilege to participate in this motion of sine die for the first time in this
eighth session of Parliament.
Mr Speaker, I would like to foremost thank with gratitude
and appreciation the people of Aoke/Langa Langa Constituency for having broken
our history which is a member of Parliament can only serve two terms in that
constituency, but I am here today in my third term for that constituency and so
we have broken our record for the last 32 years. And so I wish to thank and congratulate my
people of Aoke/Langa Langa for that.
Mr Speaker, I also witnessed six former Prime Ministers on
the floor of Parliament. In fact five
are here, Mr Speaker, including the first one as the Speaker himself, and the
fifth one is now the Deputy Speaker.
Again precedence has been set in that two former Prime Ministers are the
Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Also in the same context, Mr Speaker, we are seeing three
former Prime Ministers sitting on one side of the House and two former Prime
Ministers sitting on another side when you consider yourself, Mr Speaker, as a former
Prime Minister. So we have in this House
somehow some sense of responsibility by on the floor of Parliament.
Unfortunately, Mr Speaker, there are only three, three term
MPs in this Parliament. One is from
Ranongga/Simbo, another one from Aoke/Langa Langa and the third one from North
New Georgia. Amongst us, Mr Speaker,
there are no fifth terms or fourth term members but there are a number of third
terms. Many more on second terms and
half of the House are in their first terms.
We have, at this particular eighth session of Parliament,
reversed history again. The last seventh
session of Parliament saw 32 new MPs came into the House. This session saw 25 new MPs came in. And so history again is beginning to be reversed. Voters are beginning to see that there is
need for some degree of continuity, consistency and so forth. These are achievements that do not come
overnight. These are things that take
time to build. In fact the capacity of the legislature should be built over the
years.
I
begin to see a lot of MPs who are no longer like us in 1976 when some of us
were just 24 years of age, 25 and 26.
Now we see more mature MPs in this Chamber and more highly educated MPs
in this Chamber. These are matters not
built overnight but over years.
Mr
Speaker, I do hope those of us including yourself who have served in this
Parliament for a number of years would be very resourceful to the new
comers. I would like to ask the new
comers to learn from the old ones so that they can be better than the old
ones. If the old ones continue to be better
than the new ones, then I think we are heading nowhere. Mr Speaker, that is my plea to honorable
members of this Chambers.
Mr Speaker, may I on behalf of my people and my voters
thank you, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker for your elections to those
offices both of you former Prime Ministers. That is a big achievement for the
Chair.
I also wish to thank all the new MPs for having made it
through this time. Some of them may have
been trying for three, four or five times before they get through. That is the process of democracy. Some of us may be were fortunate that we
tried the first time and have gone through.
But let me warn the new ones who came through for the first time that it
is also easy to go out. Old tricks are
built up by old wolves, and so please learn from them how to stay longer in
Parliament than one term so that we can build the capacity of this legislature
for the benefit of the people of this country, especially our children, our
grandchildren and those yet to be born into this country.
Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for your
success. On behalf of my people I also
wish to thank the old MPs who have made it back. Please continue your membership in the club
and join the club. Whenever you get hurt
because of what is said on the floor of this Parliament, Mr Speaker, let us
keep it to the floor of Parliament and not outside the Chambers. That is a sign of maturity and a sign of
being able to do things without being heated up and argue outside the floor of
Parliament. I had a show down one time
with the former member and late member of
On another occasion Mr Speaker, one Minister walked over
Her Majesty Queen’s table in the Cabinet Office, and the President, the late Member
for
Debating
on the floor of Parliament is not a question of saying what we want to
say. It is saying what we want to say because
the country needs it to be said, and it is not just getting a few punches here
and there on other colleagues. However,
that is democracy and so if there is a slip of the tongue then excuse us for
that.
I hope Mr Speaker, being one of those distinguished MPs,
you are now in the Chair to control us.
Congratulations to you.
Mr Speaker, I would like to congratulate the election of
the Member for Marovo as Prime Minister.
Many of us almost forgot he was a Prime Minister, and a Prime Minister
who has also scored records in the history of this country. It probably would be in the Guinness Book of
record. So he was the Prime Minister for
a very short time.
I
would like on behalf of the people of Aoke/Langa Langa congratulate him for
being elected to that office for a short time.
More importantly I would like to congratulate him for humbly bowing to
the pressures of democracy, and to the requirements of the principles of
democracy, by bowing out courageously.
It is not an easy thing for us to do this but he has demonstrated
maturity and he bowed down with grace to the forces of democracy. Whatever the circumstances may be, it is has
gone down in history for historians to research it and to establish the facts
surrounding it.
It
will not help, Mr Speaker, on this floor of Parliament for us to point fingers
accusing each other of what had happened.
It will not help this floor of Parliament. It will not help
What
is it that we should do to make sure it does not happen again? That is the question we should be asking
ourselves. What was it that happened and
what should we do not to make it happen again?
Are there valid reasons for that?
If we take a historian point of view in determining what had happened, it
is something that has been building up for sometime.
Mr Speaker, it was through our programs and our partners
that we have set our in the last two years to educate our people telling them that
they have power to change the government.
That is what we have done. And
RAMSI under the civil program spent two years educating our people about good governance,
the principles of good governance and how people can change governments. It has been doing that for two years.
Mr Speaker, also in the vein is the “Winds of Change”
which is a part of the Moral Rearm International. I met this group the first time in
However, Sir, the heart of those two programs is the
objective of governance, which is good governance embracing transparency,
accountability and foremost responsibility.
Those are the hearts of those problems.
It is the youths of this country that went around all the provinces, all
constituencies educating people about good governance.
In fact Mr Speaker, just to cite an example in the Aoke/Langa
Langa Constituency, I won the election because of the youths and the women and
not the men. That shows a shift has
happened to the politics of
Sir,
when I look around this Chamber I can see the evidence of that where a lot of
MPs elected to the floor of Parliament came from women and youth supported
candidates. That is why you can see a
lot of much younger people on this floor of Parliament. Whereas those of us whose campaigns were men dominated
are getting fewer and fewer. So there is
a shift in the political scene of this country from that of men dominated to
women and youth dominated. And each year
it is increasing and becoming more apparent in the last election and will
continue to be so in future campaigns.
Sir,
why, we may ask? Why is it that women
and youths have taken over? Well, it is
very simple, Mr Speaker. Women and youths
are the ones wrestling with the future whereas us the men we are happy with
whatever the status quo is. We do not
wrestle with the future. The women are
the ones who are burdened with the responsibility in family households of
looking after the kids. We men just produce
the children and leave.
It
is the youths who look at us the daddies and say they can’t be like the daddies,
they must be better than the daddies, and so rightly the youths were more
enthusiastic about improving this lot.
Hence Mr Speaker, the youths and the women begin to look at the centre
of things and the center of things is politics because in
Why,
Mr Speaker, and we need to ask ourselves why?
Why are we putting the wrong emphasis on politics and not the economics
of survival? Why? It has something to do
with the way this country is made up or created. And when you look at it, it is true. This country was created for none other than
foreigners because it was them who created it, and so they created it for
themselves. That is the truth. The universal law of ownership is when you do
something for yourselves.
Sir,
this country called
So
what do the foreigners have? The
foreigners have diversity in unity for nation building. Foreigners, instead of alienation they have
legalization. Foreigners, instead of
dependent growth they have independent growth.
Those are what they have. But
what we have are the wrong ones, and we have been in that position since independence.
That is what is called in today’s modern
language imperialism, neo-imperialism, neo-colonialism. And so we are those.
Mr
Speaker, so why are we going to do about it? Well, reverse it Mr Speaker, reverse the pillars,
the cornerstones that found this country.
We reverse it so that instead of divide and rule it is diversity in
unity for nation building. And instead
of alienation it is legalization so that our way of life is the law of the land. It is just simple as that. And instead of dependent growth it is
independent growth for Solomon Islanders.
In
fact that is the beginning of dependency. That is why every year, for those of us who
are fortunate to be in this country at self-government and independence, we have
seen this country grow from a worse colonial situation to I don’t know what you
can say about it, which colonial are you going to pass on to Solomon
Islands. It is the dependency for
foreign aid growth beyond imagination. Why? Because the model is dependency growth where everything
we do in this country is done for them. Therefore,
when people see what was going on, we taught them about good governance, we taught
them about transparency, responsibility and accountability. We even taught them that they have the power
to change their destiny, their life, their government. That is what we taught them. Aren’t we?
Sir,
who is pointing fingers at who? We are
all supposed to be pointing fingers at ourselves. Mr Speaker, and all our friends that preach
about good governance like the United Nations, the Forum and you name them, they
teach our people about a half cooked situation, and they got it confused. That is why.
Surely,
Mr Speaker, the Black Tuesday cannot be planned by anyone. That is for sure because if it is planned the
intelligence we had in this country is so good that it can tell and authorities
would have prepared for it. Mr Speaker,
we have CIA in this country, we have ASIO in this country, we have New Zealand
Intelligence in this country, we have all sorts of intelligence in this country. Hire them under one disguise or number. So they would have known about it. But why were they caught flatfooted?
Mr
Speaker, the Commissioner of Police, like some of us still maintain did not
know what to do in four hours. The
Police did not know how to react, and so how can you in this Chamber accuse
each other. How? Are you looking for excuses because we fail
to do what was supposed to be done in the first place?
Mr
Speaker, some of us still got it right. The
independence that we have was not right. We just took independence by taking an Araikwao,
get a black paint and paint him black and say he is now black. That is what we have done. That was why some of us boycotted that
independence.
Sir,
today the Constitution that we so proudly called ours is still the Order in Council. Which Council is this? It is
So
now how many years? It is now 27 years, and what have we done? We have done nothing. Why?
It is because we did not know what we were taking over. We just took over something that belongs to
somebody, and so we are actually renting it for them.
Mr
Speaker, it is dependent growth because everything made in this country was made
for
The basis
of us is that we have been alienated from the gift of God. The gift of God is our way of life. And what is our way of life? It is sweat, own and enjoy. So which is the one we have now? We have forced labor.
How
did they get us into forced labor? They
put a head tax on us, and they say if we do not pay tax we will be put in
prison. So the only way we can pay tax is
to leave our freedom and go and become slaves for them. We labor for them, work for them and then they
will pay us 10% of what we are really worth.
That is the 10% that appears in the Bible - force labor, slavery.
The
Children of Israel in
But
mark my words, Mr Speaker, mark my words that the tiger-like beast with eight
(8) heads is coming and is going to swallow the sheep like beast because the sheep-like
beast is military might and military might cannot fight garment- factory makers. That is the third order, that is the economic
might that will rule this world, and we are witnessing some of it. Have we forgotten the Bible? Have we forgotten prophecy? Is there at any time words in the Bible are
wrong? Not even one letter is
wrong.
Mr
Speaker, you are more Christian than some of us, but may be you do not understand
what you are reading.
That
is what is going to happen. It is the
one
I
have no fear in standing on this floor of Parliament announcing this in this
context because I am proud to be a testimony to it.
Mr
Speaker, so let us forget about divide and rule, but let us talk about our
diversity because it is diversity that is the essence of unity. If there is no diversity there is not unity as
well and if there is no unity there is no work done. So it is diversity.
It
is the fact that you are different from me and I am different from you is the
way we need each other, and that need of each other is what should make us do
things in our endowment as we are endowed through though the gift of God.
Mr
Speaker, when somebody joked on this floor of Parliament about me dedicating
this country to God during SIAC’s time, I am pleased that I did it. I dedicate it to God, unfortunately I
dedicate a country that is deadly, that is sinful and dirty. Hence God cannot take it in this context but
God has to cleanse it, and no wonder we have been cleansed.
You
cannot give something dirty to your boss.
No, the boss must clean it first, and so he washed us. But that is us Solomon Islanders. The other part of the triangle is not yet cleansed,
and that part represents our other colleagues, the Chinese. That is the foreign part which had been
cleansed recently. And the third part
has now been completed. We are the
politicians have been cleansed, and so the triangle is complete.
Mr
Speaker, I am surprised that the MP for
Mr
Speaker, somebody on the other side rang me up and told me have I quickly
forgotten what the MP for
I do
not like to point fingers but you would know who you are by me just saying this.
What did God do? God hate sin.
But how does God make sure that people do not sin. He hates sin and that is why he loves
sinners. When you hate something it is
an act, by how do you stop that man from that act. It is by loving him.
Isn’t
that the basis of God’s love where you hate the act but love the doer? Is that not what some of us are trying to do
Mr Speaker, that action were not good, but not the person. So how could you stop the person from doing
that act? The only way is show him your
heart, be kind.
Sir,
some of us talked about the MP for
Mr
Speaker, I have one leg now, I have diabetes and I consider this as part of my
cleansing, and thank you Lord for not taking me. He still leaves me to do what I do not know. But may be what I am doing now is what He
wants me to do. So let us be humble and
meek.
Mr Speaker, we talk too much about reconciliation but when
we talk about reconciliation we are looking at the mammon because it is money
that reconciles. Hey, that is the reason
why many reconciliations of the past did not work. Why? Because
it is the money, it is the mammon that has been reconciled and not the heart
and not the man. It is not money that
made man. No, it is man who made money
and so human being should be centre of everything.
That
is why our budgeting process was wrong because we set the budget on what we can
afford. We did not set it on what the
needs are. But it is the needs that
should determine the budget, and not the other way round.
This government, Mr Speaker, will assess as accurate as
possible the need. It is a question of
determining the need and being able to say which one is a need and which one is
a want. We have always confused those
two terminologies.
Sometimes
for other people needs become wants and wants become needs. So first of all we have to agree on what a
need is and what a want is. Once that is
determined in a quantified and qualified way we can then know what the budget
requirements would be. I think that is
the essence of the Prime Minister’s statement when he moved the motion of sine
die.
However, Mr Speaker, we seemed to be very fond of, I do
not know which standing orders will say about this, because we are now in the
eighth session and the motion of sine die and the content in which the debate
has been conducted should be restricted to matters of the meeting of this
session. But the way my colleagues on
the other side have been talking is like talking about the last session, which
is the seventh session. Can we bring
matters of the seventh session into the eighth session Mr Speaker? That is a technical point on Standing Orders
and procedures between sessions. There
is no bone of contention against what honourable colleagues have said. That is one area we have to look at.
Mr Speaker, if we are saying the same things over and
over and over again, that means something is wrong. Because if we are saying new things all the
time then it means we are making progress.
But if we are saying the same things over and over again then it means
we are static or progressing backwards and that is why we are repeating
ourselves.
Mr Speaker, in the context of the history of this country,
I am not surprised that we are saying the same things because we are going in a
vicious circle, and the circle is getting smaller and smaller as the population
grows and grows.
In fact, Mr Speaker, may be two third of the population now
have nothing to do. They are not
productively employed. Only one third is
productive. That means conning becomes a
way of life. We con each other every day,
and it is becoming a way of life and hard work is missing
Mr Speaker, just look at the whole public service, people
are not honest in their work. I saw this
just after a few days in the office. You
do not have to be in the office to see it.
You walk to the market and other places and you will see all would-be
employees roaming around. Far worse, Mr
Speaker, is the casinos attracting everybody to go there.
Sir,
let us do something about this. It is
work that is called for. Everybody must
get a job. Anyone who is fit to work
must work. But how are they going to
work? Because they think the government
will give them work and because they think companies will give them work. They forget about our old people before when
there was no government and no company and yet they still work. We are being sucked into something that is
not truly ours because we are used to slavery.
We are used to slavery and that is why being slave is the way of
life. No wonder none of those people whom
Moses freed in
May be that should happen to
How? Those wrong ways of life are now in
Here
we are arguing about which group should form the government? Forming the government to do what! Just to carry big titles around and say this
is the government. Is that what we form
the government for? Is it just to carry
the big titles around with all its liabilities?
Forming government is not the answer. The answer is how we can use diversity in our
unity to do things? That is the way. And how can we recognize the gift of God? God’s gift does not change. Do you remember that? Only you and I always want the shortcut or
think that we know better than Him. But
it is the same gift He gave to our ancestors, grannies and fathers. It is still the same gift. But someone came in and say, no that is not
the gift, I know your gift. How do you
know my gift?
This
is a relationship between man and God. In
fact relationship is the beginning of respect to God. It is not religion. The earliest way we worship God is our
relationship between man and God. In
fact, Church begins amongst sinners, poor beggars. That is where God is.
And
what are we the 50 MPs doing about that?
Tell me, what are we doing about it?
Others have to tell us what to do, and if they tell us what to do, it
must be right. And when we tell
ourselves what to do it must be wrong. Goodness
me!
We
do not believe that because it makes us not people made in God’s image. But we are His image. He told us to get out of the fence and be
free and live the truth because in truth is freedom and freedom is true love.
Honorable colleagues, if we can only allow our hearts,
our soul, our mind, our body to be govern by truth then truth will set us free,
and that is where true love is. Then the
truth and reconciliation that will take place will fathom
Mr Speaker, over the years constituency need is now
taking precedence over national needs.
And because constituency needs are taking over national needs, the
country is becoming more and more fragmented.
There is no coherence, there is no consistency and there is no
nationalism. Nothing. Every one just talk about the constituency as
if the constituency is the nation. But
that is not the case. Constituency is
the base upon which you are elected as a national leader. Constituency is only there to determine
membership into the legislature. It is
not here to be determined as the nation.
That is why issues of national interest have been sidetracked and issues
of constituency have been promoted. That
is why Ministers go and get ROC money and spend it in their own
constituencies. My goodness!
Why
is that happening? The base of
determining leadership into national leadership has become the nation itself
and so there are 50 nations now in this country.
So
let us go back to the basics. In fact,
it is the basics that have been confused.
Because of what? While our
constitution is based on the Westminster System, the prerequisite of running a
Mr Speaker, in fact some MP candidates of Liberal are now
on the other side and some on this side. Like you, Mr Speaker, said so for PAP. Is that a sign of political party which is
the basics of the Westminster System? No.
So we have the
No
wonder we are accusing ourselves because some candidates who are now MPs stood
for two or three political parties. That
is something we have to address. If we
want the
Sir,
I think we should look at the governing council system where the same
legislature is also the same executive.
There are only 50 of us, so why not do it the Melanesian way. The Melanesian way is sit around in
committee, discuss it and come to a decision and then implement it. What is so holy about the
Mr Speaker, I do not want to talk very much. I just want to thank my honorable colleagues
for giving me this opportunity. I will
certainly have my time during the speech from the throne, which is a major
speech issue of this new government.
Sir,
colleagues from the other side, don’t think of taking, don’t talk about it, but
let us work together and we will come up with something that will engage all of
us in the true Melanesian way rather than the Westminster way that no one understand.
With
those few comments, Mr Speaker, I beg to support the motion.
Hon GHIRO: Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the
chance to contribute to the motion of sine die. Mr Speaker, first of all I wish to sincerely
thank the voters and people of
Mr
Speaker, on the same token I wish to thank the Government of the day for its
confidence in me to be awarded rewarded a portfolio of Ministerial for the Department
of Home Affairs.
The Department
of Home Affairs, unlike other ministries and/or departments, centers on the
majority of the entire population of
Sir,
a change of government therefore does not only mean a change of hands in ruling
this nation. It should also include a
change of attitude, a change of behavior and a change in approaching our
numerous needs and problems.
One
of these needs is the decentralization of socio-economic development. And being a farmer myself, I strongly believe
in developments conceived in the rural areas.
Adequate funds should therefore be focused on developmental projects in
the rural areas, not in the urban centres.
Mr
Speaker, in spite of a strong desire for a bottom-up approach by succeeding
governments in addressing some of our developmental issues, the recipients of
such programs and/or approaches, the rural populace have never been
consulted. This fundamental aspect of
development in this nation,
Sir,
what transpired on Tuesday 17th April 2006 should not be blamed on
anyone in particular, but everyone including the 50 Members of this Parliament,
including other social and religious leaders in this nation. It is therefore a very sick sign for Members of
this Parliament to be heard arguing in this House than regulating appropriate
legislations to address the very needs and problems we are faced with.
Sir,
in summary I wish to reiterate that the floor of Parliament is the only venue
available to us, as a team to make appropriate laws for the betterment of our
people, the people of this nation. It is
not the place for bickering, finger-pointing and individual gain and
benefit. Let us therefore work together
as a team to unite our people and move forward from hereon.
Mr
Speaker, I am going to be very brief in my speech because other things will be
covered by my other colleagues. Thank
you very much and I support the motion.
MOTIONS
Hon Sogavare: Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do
now adjourn.
The House adjourned at 4.05 pm