BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
WHILE the Caretaker Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement led by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare can claim some successes during their 5-year tenure, Peter Kenilorea Junior says they fall short of reaching their goals.
Solomon Islands United Party (UP) Political Wing Leader Honourable Peter Kenilorea Jr. said the current caretaker Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) has fallen short in reaching its potential, goals, and policies during its tenure in office.
“It’s fair to say that the nation is already awaiting this year’s National General Election results as the Solomon Islands is set to elect the 12th Parliament on April 17. But it’s also fair to take time and reflect back on the performance, particularly of the past government, and ask important questions as to whether they met the priorities they themselves set or the priorities for the nation,” Peter Kenilorea said during a press conference on Tuesday, February 13.
The Caretaker Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) is a coalition comprising 33 elected MPs from various political parties.
Kenilorea Jnr emphasized the importance of reflecting on past government performance and assessing whether they met their own priorities or those of the nation. With the DCGA’s 33 seats in parliament, there is an opportunity to positively impact the economy, social welfare, environment, and livelihoods of Solomon Islanders.
“But the question remains. Has this been done? With all that numerical strength of over 33 members, was that opportunity taken to really make positive impacts for the Solomon Islands?
“For us as a party, there is a question that still needs to be answered, and I think the election is when the people can make the answer with how they vote.
“So UP, as a member of the opposition coalition, is uniquely positioned to make some observations on the performance of the DCGA and raise questions. So I feel that we have a unique position to make some statements.
Peter cited the DCGA’s efforts to maintain nation unity as leaders in Parliament label their people as ignorant, using division politics to label them as right-thinking Islanders.
“For example, the DCGA works towards keeping the nation unified when its own leaders in Parliament (front row seats in Parliament) start labeling their own people as ignorant and utilizing the politics of division by using phrases in their statements and speeches as right-thinking Islanders.
“Therefore, directly implying there are thinking Solomon Islanders among us, We think these kinds of phrases and language are divisive in Parliament, which is the highest body of our nation.
“The use of these terms to describe people is simply because they have a different opinion than yours.
“How was our unity strengthened when leaders used the floor of Parliament to directly call on people to go back to their own province? Why do the DCGA leaders think that our people are easily brainwashed when they are simply told the truth?
“The question arises regarding the unity of our nation, whether the language used in Parliament contributes to unity or divides us,” the UP Political Wing Leader said.
Kenilorea Jr. also inquired about the DCGA’s inability to conduct an independent commission of inquiry into the November 2021 riots.
“Why was there no support from the DCGA to carry out an independent commission of inquiry into the November riots of 2021? Isn’t it in the interest of the government to carry out an independent inquiry into the root of the issue?
”If you want to understand why the riot happened, then a proper independent commission of inquiry should have been put in place, but it never happened.
“How did the DCGA make the Solomon Islands safer when they deliberately inserted this nation into the current geo-political rostrum? And geo-political strategic great power competition that we are now experiencing.
“Security agreements are not bilateral affairs; they also include regional and global considerations, with their own implications impacting regional and global levels.
“So did the Honiara-centric violence; for example, the rioting warranted the bilateral signing of a security agreement between two countries because that was the reason the security agreement was signed because of riots.
“Would the establishment of police posts in these hotspots, for example, that we know historically have caused concern, be sufficient rather than having to sign a bilateral security agreement with another sovereign nation?
“We keep hearing about reforms in the forest and mining sectors. Hearing about amendments coming in, new acts, new laws, and legislation, yet none were tabled during the last four and a half years.
“Some 35 pieces of legislation were passed over the past four and a half years.
“So for us in the UP, we don’t see any excuse that parliament should have been working, passing laws, making amendments, and making laws that impact directly improving the lives of Solomon Islanders. So these important bills that have a direct impact on the resources of the people of this nation never showed the light of day over the last term of the DCGA,” Kenilorea Jnr. said.
Speaking of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the country, Kenilorea Jnr. said that the DCGA hasn’t provided any end-year reports as per the powers obligated to the Prime Minister.
“We have a state of public emergency that was declared and declared over that period that came with the granting of the emergency powers. This power obligated the PM to also report to parliament on the spending that he authorized during this period. No such report has ever been tabled.
“Although it was contained in their own emergency powers regulations, isn’t this a breach of the PM’s own emergency powers? Some citizens are arrested because of this power for breaching emergency drills, and yet there is no consequence when political leaders seemingly breach their own.
“Why do we have this double standard in the governance of our nation? If we have regulations that say that we have to present to parliament reports before the end of that year, and yet at the end of parliament in four and a half years, not a single report was given, that is a breach. What are the consequences for that breach?
“Even during COVID-19, the issue of the stimulus package, if it works, will make the economy of the country strong during this crucial time. In-depth studies and reports are needed to assess the spending that was done during the stimulus package phase,’’ Kenilorea said.
