Two Executive members cross the floor
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
CENTRAL Islands Province (CIP) Premier Hon Stanley Manetiva is facing a Motion of No Confidence (MONC).
Carrying out the MONC against the Premier are the CIP provincial government non-Executive members, headed by the recent resigned Provincial Public Accounts Committee (PPAC) members of the province.
As reports has it, two CIP Executive members have resigned to join the non-Executive, this means that there are a total of eight (8) MPAs in the non-Executive camp currently while the current Executive under Hon Manetiva’s leadership with five (5).
Central Provincial Assembly at Tulaghi issued on May 30 from ‘The Clerk to Assembly’ that a Notice of MONC has been received by the Office of the Hon. Speaker from non-Executive member and Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for North West Ngella, Hon Polycarp Galaigu.
The Notice of the Motion has been accepted by the office of the speaker and therefore seven clear days have been given, effective on May 30.
“Pursuant to section 106 of the standardized Standing Orders of the Provincial Assemblies, a notice for a NO CONFIDENCE MOTION ON THE HON. PREMIER OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCE from the MPA for North West Ngella has been received by the Office of the Hon. Speaker on the 30th May 2022.
“The Notice of the Motion has been accepted by the office of the speaker and therefore seven clear days have been given, effective on the 30th May 2022.
“The seven clear days will lapse on 10th of June 2022 therefore an Assembly meeting will be convened on the 13th of June to facilitate the motion of no confidence,” said the letter from CIP Clerk.
Premier Stanley Manetiva when queried over the ‘MONC Notice’ said he welcomes it following the system adopted.
“I welcome the motion following the system we adopted. This will be based on the majority that rules,” said Manetiva.
“The sad thing is the loss of 40 percent of the Provincial Capacity Development Fund [PCDF]. Central Province is on zero tolerance.
“It means that the first PCDF loss of 60 percent was when the PPAC members resigned instead of scrutinizing the budget. This was the first loss.
“I question all the elected leaders to allow things to move on. Think very careful and make a difference.
“Currently dissolve [Assembly dissolving] is not an issue but how we should collaborate and work together.”
Premier Manetiva in confirming that two of his Executive members have resigned to join the non-Executive appeals to them to return to his team so that they can continue with their plans.
“To be honest I have my two executive members resigning to join the non-Executive. They are my former Deputy Premier and Minister of Education and my former Finance Minister. I appeal to them to come back and join my team. This is so that we can continue with our plans for the last remaining year of our term.”
Mr Manetiva also appeals to the non-Executive to accept appointment of being PPAC members so that they can be able to catch up with the dateline.
“They can move the motion of no confidence later and thereafter the number is on their side. The budget should be the priority for us as leaders.
“This is my government’s budget so let me present this on the said floor of the Assembly. We should all come together to pass the budget. My humble call. I believe much on the system and process of what we adopt in our country,” said Manetiva.
A spokesman on behalf of the non-Executive camp in response to Sunday Isles queries yesterday over this issue said the only proper thing for the Premier to do now is to ‘resign’.
“He must go out. The honest thing for him to do now is to resign,” said the Spokesman.
Currently, there are 8 members in the non-Executive camp while there are only 5 with the CIP Executive.
Premier Manetiva had earlier ruled with the majority of seven (7) MPAs.
There are 13 Wards in CIP.
More interesting updates are expected in the coming days over this political issue.
