Solomons Deputy PM resigns from Coalition Government

Analysis by: Joe Inomae

Political shaking in Solomon Islands
Nothing seems to be moving in the right direction in the politics of Solomon Islands.

Hardly any issues subsides then another surfaces, causing anxiety and uncertainty among the people in the country. The Moti issue is still shimmering and now another emerges. Caucus will decide government's position on the request to extradite Moti to Australia today.

Deputy Prime Minister Resigns
Yesterday Deputy Prime Minister, Job Duddley Tausinga dropped another bomb by resigning as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Forests, Environment and Conservation. This revelation came late yesterday evening. Mr Tausinga says his resignation was effective as of yesterday 19th December 2006. He says he will disclose reasons for his resignation later. Mr Tausinga says he not only resigned from his Ministerial posts, but he has decided to leave the Great Grand Coalition for Change Government.

He is one of the longest serving national politicians in the country. Tausinga confirms his resignation was accepted and endorsed yesterday afternoon by the care-taker Governor General, the Speaker to Parliament sir Peter Kenilorea.

Malaita Provincial Elections
Meanwhile, Provincial Government Minister, Japhet Waipora has accepted that the Malaita provincial elections set for monday this week did not eventuate.

His Department of Provincial Government will now decide on a new date for provincial elections in more than 20 wards on Malaita. Twenty-five wards could not go to the polls as scheduled on Monday because of difficulties getting election materials to polling sites on time. Only three wards on Malaita Outer Islands went ahead with elections on monday as scheduled.

The Minister says a new election date will be announced later. Mr Waipora says the elections will be held not later than the second week of January 2007.

Source: MyBlog