Provincial Assembly Speaker for the Rennell and Bellona Provincial Government remains firm on his decision to disqualify Kuschel Tepuke as the Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) for ward 10, West Bellona.
Brian Sa’oba maintained his stand on the matter after critics alleged that he compromised his job by advocating on behalf of the Premier of Rennell and Bellona Province Collin Singamoana, who appeared recently in the media to announce the disqualification of Tepuke as an MPA for Sa’aiho Ward.
Sa’oba was responding as well to his reluctance to summon Tepuke to attend the recent Full Assembly Meeting that was held fortnight ago in Rennell.
The Speaker told the Solomon Star that he was not influenced by the premier to take up the decision to disqualify Tepuke from the Provincial Assembly.
“That was my own decision based on my records and legal advices from the Ministry of Provincial Government,” he said.
However, the question of natural justice remained unanswered since reports reaching this paper revealed that Tepuke was absent from three full assembly meetings, including the controversial one that was held secretly somewhere in Honiara, while he was waiting at the provincial headquarter in Rennell to attend the meeting.
According to the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS), it is wrong under its laws to host a full assembly meeting somewhere other than the province.
Meanwhile, Attorney General (AG) was quoted to have declined comment on the matter, citing he was not informed on both sides of the issue.
By AATAI JOHN
