Opposition Leader calls on Commission to ignore PM's order to sack Attorney General

Solomon Islands Opposition leader Fred Fono is calling on the Judicial and Legal Services Commission not to bow down to directives by the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to sack the Attorney General.

Mr Fono says the Prime Minister made the directive following the Attorney General's action in taking the Prime Minister to court over two terms of reference in a Commission of Inquiry he established to look into the April 18 and 19 riots in Honiara.

But Mr Fono says such order is a direct interference into other functions of the government the Prime Minister had no power over and should be condemned in the strongest term.

"I deplore in the strongest term and I call on the Judicial and Legal Services Commission not to heed the suggestion or dictatorial attitude of the Prime Minister to sack the Attorney General. It's not proper."

Mr Fono says the Prime Minister should blame himself for the legal mess he's in because he failed to seek legal advice from the Attorney General and instead engage an anonymous lawyer.

He says sacking of the Attorney General will result in the Prime Minister picking the person he likes to take the post and ignore public service regulations and procedures.

Source: SIBC