THE DEFERMENT OF NATIONAL GENERAL ELECTION -CONSTITUTION

THE DEFERMENT OF NATIONAL GENERAL ELECTION -CONSTITUTION [AMENDMENT] BILL NO.3 OF 2022.

Transparency Solomon Islands notes that yesterday 31^st of August 2022 was the last day for all written submission to the Parliamentary Bills and Legislation Committee on the proposed Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2022 (No.3 of 2022).  The DCGA led Executive Government through this Bill proposes to amend the Constitution using section 61(5)(b)(ii) and (iv) to suspend the operation of section 73(3) of the Constitution to 31^st December 2023. This means that the current parliament or the 11^th Parliament will not be dissolved till 31^st December 2023 instead of when its four-year term is up counting from 15^th May 2019 when the first meeting of the 11^th Parliament was convened. Transparency Solomon Islands as do the respondents to the survey carried out in April this year is still unconvinced that SPG23, and lack of funding are the real reason for this move by the Executive Government.

Transparency Solomon Islands just like concerned citizens, organisations, and individuals of the democratic country of Solomon Islands urges the DCGA Executive Government to re-think this and shelve the Bill. TSI urges the Executive Government of Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare to put more efforts into finding the funds to run the National General Election and the Pacific Games 2023, than insulting the Constitution of the people of Solomon Islands. The Constitution belongs to the citizens and the democratic sovereign state of Solomon Islands and not the temporary Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement [DCGA] dominated by a political party [OUR] that did not contest the election. The South Pacific Games costs, and countries that have hosted it have been assisted by development partners like here in Solomon Islands our diplomatic partner China has stepped in to build the state-of-the-art games infrastructure that is going up now.  When we have asked China to step in, preparing the infrastructures, the Australian Government contributing $100 million towards Solomon Islands to host the games, the DCGA led Executive Government should swallow its pride and ask our development partners and diplomatic friends to help fund the election so that both the National General Election and the SPG23 can be held in year 2023.  Furthermore, the timing of the amendment of the Constitution a move, shortly before the election arouses more suspicion, polarises and is likely to fuel conflict. Delaying the running of the National General Election to middle of 2024 is unacceptable to the people of the democratic sovereign country of Solomon Islands.

The voters and citizens of Solomon Islands demand that the National General Election is run in 2023 and not a year longer to allow people through their ballot paper inform any incoming government about the importance of addressing the issues observed in 2014 and 2019 National General Elections. Issues that continue to affect the confidence of the people in our electoral processes and political system development. For whilst the public servants, government authorities and institution have done their work reviewing the Constitution, the Political Parties Integrity Act, the Electoral Act, the Freedom of Information Bill, and other related legislations since the 10^th Parliament, the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare led Executive Government in both the 10^th and 11^th Parliament whilst making it their fundamental policies and reforms have continued to refuse to bring those reforms before the parliament for no good reason.  Therefore, citizens see no other alternative but to hold the election 2023 so that they can vote in a party that contested the election, representatives that have a heart for Solomon Islands, its people, those residing and doing business in it, their resources and therefore their mandate. They prefer to see a representative that contested the election under a political party become the Prime Minister and not those who contest as independent candidates.  They want to see the strengthening of the legislation to ensure a representative who contests the election as an independent candidate does not end up being the Prime Minister.

Here we share with you again how we voted in the 2019 National General Election, the parties that contest the election, and where each Member of Parliament sits in terms of political party allegiance is to date to remind our current representatives that issues relating to this be dealt with in the next parliament.

Election completed 2019 here is how we voted them in 21 Independent Members and 29 MPs contesting as party candidate per Table 1 below:

 

AS WE VOTED AND RETURNED THEM ON 3rd APRIL 2019 GENERAL ELECTION.
	Members of Parliament Name	Constituency	NOTES
No. of MPs	STANDING AND VOTED IN AS INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.
1	Hon. Manasseh Sogavare	East Choiseul
2	Hon. Harry Kuma	Northwest Choiseul
3	Hon. Robertson Galokale	South Choiseul	Disqualified [election petition]
4	Hon. Nestor Ghiro	Central Makira
5	Hon. Dr. Kaitu Tautai Agikimua	Rennell /Bellona
6	Hon. Frederick Kologeto	South Vella La Vella
7	Hon. Titus Mokofi Fika	West Kwaio	Passed away
8	Hon. John Dean Kuku	North New Georgia
9	Hon. Duddley Kopu	Temotu Pele
10	Hon. Jaimie Vokia	Northeast Guadalcanal	Disqualified [election petition]
11	Hon. Peter Channel Aqovaka	Central Guadalcanal
12	Hon. Silas Kerry Vagara	West New Georgia/ VonaVona
13	Hon. Dickson Mua	Savo/Russell
14	Hon. Stanley Festus Sofu	East Kwaio
15	Hon. Jackson Fiulaua	Central Kwara’ae
16	Hon. Bradley Tovosia	East Guadalcanal
17	Hon. Augustine Auga	Lau Mbaelelia
18	Hon. Senley Levi Filualea	North Malaita
19	Hon. Charles Maefai	East Makira	Passed away
20	Hon. Namson Tran	West Honiara
21	Hon. Anthony Veke	West Guadalcanal
	STANDING AND VOTED IN AS KADERE POLITICAL PARTY CANDIDATE AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.
1	Hon. William Marau	Ulawa/Ugi
2	Hon. Samuel Manetoali	Gao Bugotu
3	Hon.  Lanelle Olandrea Tanagada	Gizo/Kolombangara
4	Hon. Commins Aston Mewa	Temotu Nende
5	Hon. Freda Tuki Soriacomua	Temotu Vatud
6	Hon. Bartholomew Parapolo	Ngella
7	Hon. John Maneniaru	West Are’Are
8	Hon. Ismael Mali Avui	East Central Guadalcanal
	STANDING AND VOTED IN AS SOLOMON ISLANDS DEMOCRATIC PARTY [SIDP] CANDIDATTE AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
1	Hon. Charles Sigoto	Ranongga/Simbo
2	Hon. Matthew Wale	Aoke/ Langa Langa
3	Hon. Derick Rawcliff Manuari	West Makira
4	Hon. Samson Maneka	North Guadalcanal
5	Hon. Martin Mokolo Kealoe	Malaita Outer Islands
6	Hon. Sam Shemuel Iduri	West Kwara’ae
7	Hon. Douglas Ete	East Honiara
8	Hon. Bodo Horst Heinz Dettke	Northwest Guadalcanal
	STANDING AND VOTED IN AS SOLOMON ISLANDS PARTY FOR RURAL ADVANCEMENT [SIPRA] CANDIDATE AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.
1	Hon. Rollen Seleso	South Guadalcanal
	STANDING AND VOTED IN AS UNITED DEMOCRATIC PARTY [UDP] CANDIDATE AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.
1	Hon. Clergy Rore	North Vella La Vella
2	Hon. Danny Philip	South New Georgia, Rendova, Tetepari
3	Hon. John Moffat Fugui	Central Honiara [disqualified]	Disqualified [election petition]
4	Hon. Makario Tagini	Baegu/Asifola
	STANDING AND VOTED IN AS DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE PARTY [DAP] CANDIDATE AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.
1	Hon. Dr. Culwick Togamana	Maringe/Kokota
2	Hon. Jeremiah Manele	Hograno/Kia/Havulei
3	Hon. Rick Nelson Houenipwela	Small Malaita
	STANDING AND VOTED IN AS PEOPLE’S ALLIANCE PARTY [PAP]CANDIDATES AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
1	Hon. Dr. Christopher Laore	Shortlands
2	Hon. Manasseh Maelanga	East Malaita
	STANDING AND VOTED IN AS SOLOMON ISLANDS PEOPLE FIRST PARTY [SIPFP] CANDIDATE AND MEMBER OF PARLAIMENT.
1	Hon. Chacha Bule Amoi	Marovo
	STANDING AND VOTED IN AS MEMBERS OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS UNITED PARTY [SIUP] CANDIDATE AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.
1	Hon. Peter Kenilorea Junior	West Are’Are
2	Hon. Rexon Annex Ramofafia	Fataleka

As can be seen in this table, OUR Party did not contest the National General Election 2019.  Hon Manasseh Sogavare the Prime Minister stood as an Independent Member. The people want to address this at the election time as soon as possible, therefore are opposed to the proposed amendment to the Constitution.

After the National General Election OUR Party was registered, that changes everything but the biggest let down by these representatives of the people is that they have lied to the people as they change their allegiance and have portrayed a picture of not being accountable to the people of Solomon Islands. Table 2 shows how they have grasshopped and through that let down the citizens whose entrusted power got them into power. The people therefore are calling for the National General Election to be held 2023 for the way in which the Executive Government of Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare has govern or not governed has done nothing but has sought change in a favourable manner for its own benefits, the benefits of an outside foreign superpower to score points with another superpower.  Respect for democratic principles and rights and professional transparent, and impartial conduct are becoming more and more in short supply, trust in government is at its lowest so the National General Election can no longer be delayed the people say.

Table 2.  The numerical strength of Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement and the and the Political Parties in the coalition.

 

DEMOCRATIC COALITION GOVERNMENT FOR ADVANCEMENT [DCGA]
No. of MPs	Political Party/ Political Party Membership	Constituency	Note
	OUR PARTY
1	1.   Hon Manasseh Sogavare (Prime Minister)	East Choiseul	2019 Independent
2	2.   Hon Bradley Tovosia	East Guadalcanal	2019 Independent
3	3.   Hon. Jackson Fiulaua	Central Kwara’ae	2019 Independent
4	4.   Hon. Anthony Veke	West Guadalcanal	2019 Independent
5	5.   Hon. Dickson Mua	Savo/ Russell	2019 Independent
6	6.   Hon. Dr. Tautai Agikimua Kaitu’u	Rennell/Bellona	2019 Independent
7	7.   Hon. Peter Shanel Agovaka	Central Guadalcanal	2019 Independent
8	8.   Hon. Augustine Auga	Lau Mbaelelia	2019 Independent
9	9.   Hon. Senley Levi Filualea	North Malaita	2019 Independent
10	10.  Hon. Manasseh Maelanga	East Malaita
11	11.. Hon.  Harry Kuma	Northwest Choiseul	2019 Independent
12	12.  Hon. Namson Tran	West Honiara	2019 Independent
13	13.  Hon. Christopher Laore	Shortland Islands	2019 PAP
14	14.  Hon. Dudley Kopu	Temotu Pele	2019 Independent
15	15.   Hon.  Rollen Seleso	South Guadalcanal	2019 SIPRA
16	16.  Hon. Titus Fika        (late)	West Kwaio	2019 Independent
17	17.  Hon. Makario Tagini	Baegu Asifola	2019 UDP
18	18.  Hon.  Rexon Ramofafia	Fataleka	2019 SIUP
19	19.  Hon. Ismael Avui	East Central Guadalcanal	2019 KADERE
20	20.  Hon. Commins Mewa	Temotu Nende	2019 KADERE
21	21.  Hon. Nestor Ghiro	Central Makira	2019 Independent
22	22.  Hon. Bartholomew Parapolo	Ngella	2019 KADERE
23	23.   Hon. William Douglas Marau	Ulawa/Ugi	2019 KADERE
24	24.   Hon.  Samuel Manetoali	Gao Bugotu	2019 KADERE
25	25.   Hon. Lanelle Olandrea Tanagada	Gizo/Kolombangara	2019 KADERE
26	26.   Hon. Freda Tuki Soriacomua	Temotu Vatud	2019 KADERE
27	27.   Hon. Dr. Culwick Togamana	Maringe/Kokota	2019 DAP
28	28.   Hon.  Jeremiah Manele	Hograno/Kia/Havulei	2019 DAP
29	29.  Hon. Stanley Sofu	East Kwaio	2019 Independent
30	30.  Hon. Danny Philip	South New Georgia, Rendova, Tetepari	2019 UDP
31	31.  Hon. Martin Mokolo Kealoe	Malaita Outer Islands	2019 SIDP
32	32.  Hon. Silas Vagara	West New Georgia	2019 Independent
33	33.  Hon. Samson Maneka	North Guadalcanal	2019 SIDP
34	34.  Hon. Lency Ethel	Northeast Guadalcanal	Independent
35	35.  Hon Sammy Samuel Makoti Galo	South Choiseul.	Independent
36	36.  Hon Lilly Mafane Maefai		Independent
	SOLOMON ISLANDS PEOPLE FIRST PARTY
37	1. Chacha Bule Amoi	Marovo	2019 SIPFP
38	2. Frederick Kologeto	South Vella La Vella	2019 Independent
39	3. Clezy Rore	North Vella La Vella	2019 UDP

With this number, it is obvious that the DCGA have the two third it needs to pass this amendment but is it of no concern that OUR Party is holding the voters at ramson using the games as an excuse. There is no guarantee that come December 31^st, 2022, they will not make another change again. They have the number to do so and anything they like. The power belongs to the people of Solomon Islands and not temporary governments and politicians that we vote in.  Have your say and make a submission to the Bills and Legislations Commission, join the advocacy against this selfish move through public petition organised by Civil Society, talkback show over SIBC and articles to Media to drive home to DCGA and the 50 Members of Parliament that amending the Constitution for a Games event is totally unacceptable and demeaning to the Supreme Law of Solomon Islands.  Doing that means the Pacific Games Charter is above the Constitution of Solomon Islands. Petition Pacific Games Council not to deny us the opportunity to host the games and our democratic right to go to the polls as provided for in the Constitution.  Just because DCGA has the numbers and the legal right to amend the Constitution, does not make it right.

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