BY CHRIS ALEX
THE yesterday’s withdrawal of the motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele has sparked considerable discussion across the Solomon Islands, with Hon. Derick Manu’ari, the Member of Parliament for West Makira, offering his perspective on the matter through a post on his social media page.
The motion, initially tabled by veteran politician Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo, the Member of Parliament for Central Honiara, was aimed at holding the Prime Minister accountable. However, it was unexpectedly withdrawn in parliament after a series of behind-the-scenes shifts, leaving many to question the true reasons for its sudden retraction.
In his social media comments, Hon. Manu’ari explained that the withdrawal of the motion came down to a lack of support.
“To be fair, the motion of no confidence was withdrawn because we didn’t have the numbers,” he wrote.
He stressed that the motion had been initially supported by several MPs within the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) MPs who had become disillusioned with Prime Minister Manele’s leadership on key issues like mining, tax exemptions, and other internal matters.
“They pressured us to put the motion on notice and assured us of their support,” he said.
However, despite this initial backing, the motion lost momentum as certain MPs retreated at the last minute.
“They dragged us on to the brink and suddenly retreated at the last minute,” he explained, speculating that external factors were at play. Hon. Manu’ari acknowledged the disappointment felt by those who had hoped for real change.
“We fought on knowing that the route we are taking now as a country is bleak and lacks responsible financial and fiscal discipline,” he shared, pointing to what he believes is a troubling trend of self-interest among some government members.
The MP voiced frustration over what he perceives as a system dominated by a few influential figures, which he believes is hindering progress for the wider population.
“It’s sad to know that some deals are made not for the good of the country and its people, but for the benefit of a few select individuals and business cronies,” he said. He also criticised the government’s handling of national resources, particularly in relation to mining deals, tax exemptions, and the sale of government properties.
Despite these frustrations, Hon. Manu’ari made it clear that not all government members were complicit in these decisions.
“Not everyone inside the government agrees with what’s going on. But the few rotten apples are dominating everything and controlling all that is happening,” he stated.
The West Makira MP appealed to the public for understanding, stating that the decision to move a motion of no confidence was driven by a commitment to the nation’s well-being.
“We are here to fight for the good of the nation, not for our own,” he affirmed, urging the public to judge the actions of MPs fairly.
He believes the nation’s resources are mismanaged for a few benefit. The focus remains on addressing these concerns and promoting transparent and accountable leadership.
