Dear Editor – As a first time writer in your prestigious newspaper, it would be much appreciated if you could publish this pursuant to the above caption.
Thus, as rightly said by G. Taloikwai in your Editors column on the 27th January 2016, one can tell that an MP who is hungry for power is the one who is always fighting for the Prime Minister’s post which he pointed out that Mr. Sogavare is the winner.
However, to add to the discussion, let me refresh our mind of the formation of the Solomon Islands Government in 2006.
Thus, few days ahead of the election of the Prime Minister, there were 3 political camps namely; Grand coalition group at Iron Bottom Sound Hotel which claim to have the majority , Sir Allan and his group at Vavaye Ridge and the Association of the Independent members at the Honiara Hotel.
In the Grand coalition camp at Iron Bottom Sound Hotel which made up of 4 major political parties, the MPs held elimination round of voting for their candidates to represent them for the election of PM.
The members of parliament were all agree that whoever they select as leader will have absolute majority of support.
Prior to the elimination round of voting Mr Sogavare one of the four candidates escaped from the camp with 4 MPs knowing very well that he would be voted out of the elimination round.
On the election of the Prime Minister on the 18th of April 2006, Mr Manasseh Sogavare after eliminated,his MPs who reside at Pacific Casino Hotel switch support, which enabled Rini to become the Prime Minister.
However, just few days later Sogavare crossed the floor with four members as he still not satisfied with the ministerial portfolio for Commerce, Industries and Employment which led to the resignation of the Prime Minister elect after having only few loyal MPs.
On the 04th of May 2006, the members of parliament vote for the prime minister for the second time which shows the defector, Mr Sogavare emerged as the Prime Minister for the grand coalition at the Iron Bottom Sound Hotel, the camp he flew from prior to the election on the 18th of April.
The scenariodemonstrated by Mr Sogavare is interestingly as he knew very well what will follow suit.
Thus, if he remains with the coalition group he formed to oust Snyder Rini, the chosen successor to the previous Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza, he would not become Prime Minister as he was eliminated from PM candidacy, so he move out to form his own camp at the Pacific Casino Hotel which he become the 3rd candidate to contest the PMs post.
Placing him third with 11 of 50 votes he then switch support to Rini, a move he pretty sure will not last long but to have a balance of power inorder for him to have a high chance to bargain for the post of the PM if he recalled back to the grand coalition, which he did.
Furthermore, Sogavare’s hunger for power resulted in the looting and burning down of China town.
Thus, had he remain with grand coalition and voted for Job DudleyTausinga, the disaster experienced could have avoided.
This is because large number of people who cast their votes in the 5th April 2006 General Election want the parliament to elect the new government that could lead the country forward in the right path.
Instead Sogavare and his group voted Snyder Rini(deputy prime minister of Allan Kemakeza) who is the chosen candidate of the previous government, which the people see as the worst ever government to rule the country.
Therefore, with that, I am of the believe that Sogavare should stop and come to his sense of not blaming others of power hunger the description which best suits him as he always manage to get the top job as was evident in 2006.
Lastly, let me ask few questions that need to be answered by you Mr Sogavare.
That is for what reason you flew the grand coalition at Iron Bottom Sound Hotel with your party members to the Pacific Casino Hotel?
Why your group switched side to Riniknowing very well that the public do not want that group and then few days later crossed the floor to the opposition?
Why you so quick to accept the offer of the Prime Minister post from the grand coalition group?
With these I support G. Tloikwai and I quote “the present PM is a fine example of a power hungry national politician”.
Steve Waela
Auki
