Civil society groups demand Sogavare government to appoint qualified indigenous people to top positions

Civil society groups in Solomon Islands have issued a call demanding the Sogavare Government immediately appoint qualified indigenous officials as Attorney General and Police Commissioner.

The groups, comprised of trade unions, women’s groups and Transparency Solomon Islands, say the failure to appoint Solomon Islanders is clearly motivated by the Prime Minister’s obsession with Julian Moti - the Australian he wants as Attorney General.

The civil society groups also stated that the government is systematically undoing the country’s governance systems and undermining its senior leaders.

The groups add that the first victim was former Attorney General Primo Afeau who had to be sacked to make way for Mr Moti. And it says the government is now working to remove the chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and most likely, the entire membership of PSC, in order to lift the suspension it placed on the appointment of Mr Moti.

The civil society groups say they have reliable information that the PSC has been directed in writing to lift Mr Moti’s suspension. They say to appoint foreigners to these posts is a vote of no confidence by the government in Solomon Islanders.

Source: RNZI