-New coalition submits notice for motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister
-New coalition still claims 28 members
BY IRWIN ANGIKI
A motion of no-confidence has been initiated against Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele.
The notice for the motion was lodged with parliament yesterday signed by MP for South Vella la Vella, Frederick Kologeto. The Motion’s notice matures on March 23.
The motion can be debated any day after March 23, parliament clerk told SIBC yesterday.
A mass walkout of government ministers and back-benchers on Monday saw PM Manele leading with a minority government.
The breakaway MPs were joined by MPs from the Opposition group, and together they boast 28 members.
The group yesterday published an all-male 27-member group-photo to showcase their solidarity – a 28th said to be ‘overseas’.
A statement from the group yesterday said they had signed a new coalition agreement along with filing the notice for motion.
“When such a significant number of sitting members, including ministers, abandon their own coalition, it signals a government in serious crisis,” the statement said.
The statement said these decisions are not made lightly.
“They reflect deep frustrations over internal divisions, lack of trust, and growing concerns that the government has lost its sense of direction and purpose.
“This mass exodus raises urgent constitutional and governance questions.”
The statement adds that what is unfolding is not just a reshuffling of numbers; it is a rejection of leadership that has failed to unite, failed to listen, and failed to deliver.
Only East Choiseul MP Manasseh Sogavare of the opposition bench has not joined the new coalition, and is reportedly pitched to join government.
As of yesterday, there are 10 government ministries without ministers, something which government is looking to rectify with new ministers reported to be sworn in today, a government source told Island Sun yesterday.
Following the resignation of 12 ministers on Monday this week, government has filled in two ministerial portfolios with the swearing in of its backbenchers – Freda Tuki (MP for Temotu Vatud) as new minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, and Mary Garu (MP for West Guadalcanal) as minister for Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs.
Meanwhile, PM Manele has survived two motions of no-confidence.
The first was in December 2024 which was instigated by PFP, and moved in parliament by Central Honiara MP Gordon Darcy Lilo.
PFP back-tracked in the last eleventh hour and Mr Lilo was forced to withdraw the motion on December 16, 2024, on the floor of parliament.
The second motion of no-confidence was scheduled for May 6, 2025 also moved by MP Lilo after former finance minister Manasseh Sogavare defected to the Opposition with 10 government MPS.
This motion was withdrawn on the floor of parliament the same day it was due for debate.
Talks of a third one was reportedly brewing in October 2025, which also reportedly involved PFP, but was abandoned.
Photo: Supplied
For feedback, contact: [email protected]
Editor: [email protected]
