David Gina hops across to GNUT after 6 weeks with opposition coalition. Sworn in as new minister for Rural Development
By JOHN HOUANIHAU
Member of Parliament (MP) for South New Georgia/Rendova- Tetepare Constituency, David Gina, has moved and joined the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT).
GNUT has welcomed Mr Gina by appointing him as the new Minister for Rural Development.
It is not clear whether Gina had officially resigned from Solomon Islands Democratic Party (SIDP) to join GNUT after leaving the new coalition.
This leaves the new coalition group with 27 MPs, while GNUT has 23 MPs.
Gina was sworn in by the Governor General yesterday evening at the Government House as the Minister for Rural Development.
Gina was with the Independent group before the mass defection of government MPs happened on March 15-17 which started the political impasse.
It is unclear whether he will join OUR or Kandere party, the two remaining parties in the GNUT.
The Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) experienced a mass defection of 19 Government MPs from March 15-17.
The resignation of 19 government ministers and backbenchers to the Opposition and independent group ranks had left GNUT with 22 MPs and the new coalition with 28.
This led to a political impasse when Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele refused to call parliament even after a motion of no-confidence against him matured in parliament.
This political crisis eventually landed in court. The High Court ruled in favour of the opposition coalition on April 14.
The Attorney General filed an appeal and the matter is now before the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal is expected to deliver its judgement on Friday this week.
Photo credit: PM Press Secretariat
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