Kenilorea files case against DPM on SIWA board appointments

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Leader of Independent and the MP for East Areáre Peter Kenilorea Jr. has already filed a case in the high court seeking a declaratory relief from the courts on the actions of the DPM Bradley Tovosia in appointing more than two public officers as members to the SIWA Board.

Keniloread, a lawyer by profession, argued that Tovosia breached the law by appointing more than two public officers in the new SIWA Board, which has five public officers out of the seven in the new look board.

“I have filed a case in the high court seeking a declaratory relief from the courts on the actions of the DPM in appointing more than two public officers as members to the SIWA board,”Kenilorea wrote on his FB wall.

“Filing cases in our courts of law is no trivial undertaking. But when I have a principled position about something that I believe is worth pursuing in court to correct, I will do it.

In a press statement, Tovosia who is also the Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification had stated that he exercised powers vested upon him by the Solomon Islands Water Authority Act in appointing the SIWA Board pursuant to Schedule 2 of the Act.

Tovosia stated then that the appointment of the SIWA board was done within the boundaries of the law.

“If the Leader of the Independent Group in Parliament thinks that the Minister is acting outside of the Act, then the right place to challenge this is in the Court. The Leader of Independent is not the Court to say that the Minister is acting outside his powers under the Solomon Islands Water Authority Act.”

 “If the Leader of Independent is not happy then please go to the court to seek a declaration that the Minister has acted contrary to the law.”

Kenilorea said: “I welcome the fact that the DPM has called on me to seek a declaration from the courts in the media. I have done that. There is a clear difference of opinion between the DPM and I on his actions under law,” he said.

Tovosia explained, politicizing the issue in the media does not serve any good. If this is an issue of national importance then the place to go is the Court and not the media.

“I stand ready to defend myself in Court for exercising powers vested upon me by the people of Solomon Islands,” said Minister Tovosia.

Kenilorea said he would not make any further comments as the matter is now before the court. The case is set for January 2025.