Caretaker premiers Harrison Benjamin and Christian Burley Mesepitu reinstated after their premature vacation of office following the dissolution of the Western and Choiseul provincial assemblies in June this year
THE Caretaker Premiers of Choiseul Province and Western Province have been reinstated as Caretaker premiers following their premature vacation of office after the provincial assemblies of both provinces were dissolved six months ago.
The reinstatement of Harrison Benjamin of Choiseul Province Christian Burley Mesepitu of the Western Province followed instructions from the Attorney General Chambers to the Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS), Rollen Seleso, to revoke the Gazette Order he issued for the dissolution of both provincial assemblies on 14 June 2022.
Given this development, a new Gazette Order was to be issued by Minister Seleso for Western Province Caretaker Premier and Choiseul Province Caretaker Premier to be reinstated to office before the polling date for Western Province and Choiseul Province, 14 December 2022.
A source told Solomon Star that the first Gazette Order that was issued by the MPGIS Minister was null and void as he has no power to set the date for the election for Choiseul Province and Western Province or any provincial election at all.
The source said the decision on the reinstatement of the premiers was not a court ruling but rather an advice from the AG Chambers after a submission was made to it for its consideration on the decision for the dissolution by Minister Seleso.
“So obviously, both former premiers will be reinstated to office as caretaker premiers to allow for the official handing over of office to the next premiers and executive governments that will emerge from the December 14 provincial elections.
“According to the relevant laws, a provincial premier upon the dissolution of a provincial assembly is to remain in office as caretaker premier until the next premier takes office. The same applies to the national government,” the source said.
The source added that the reinstatement of the two caretaker premiers mean the state will have to reimburse them for their entitlements and salaries from the date when the Choiseul and Western provincial assemblies were dissolved to the day when the next premiers take office.
Solomon Star understands that Mr Mesepitu has questioned the legality of Minister Seleso’s decision as well as some prominent leaders from the Western Province. Mr Mesepitu even raised the matter with Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, when they met in the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet following the dissolution of the two provincial assemblies.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo