Motion of no-confidence planned for Premier Asilaua
BY IRWIN ANGIKI
A motion of no confidence is being planned against Malaita Premier, Elijah Asilaua.
Non-executives are reportedly in talks with members of the executive to make up the numbers to support the motion of no-confidence.
Malaita Finance Minister, Lemuel Kevianga confirmed yesterday being aware of the planned motion.
Mr Kevianga welcomes the motion saying the executive is rock solid with its 21 members, a clear majority in the 33-ward province.
“Yes, I can confirm that a motion of no-confidence is being planned by the non-executive who are trying to lure members of the executive. But we are rock solid with our 21 MPA members,” Kevianga speaking to Island Sun yesterday said.
Finance Minister Kevianga said any motion of no-confidence will not help Malaita Province.
“Currently, the Malaita government is in full swing with development projects and a lot of developments are taking place in Malaita province.
“This is due to the stability enjoyed by the Malaita governance. But, if the motion of no-confidence happens and causes instability, it will unwind a lot of hard work we have input towards moving Malaita forward in terms of development.
“Our government’s policies are aligned with the policies of the national government, thus all the developments that are going on in Malaita, and many more ahead,” Kevianga said.
Leader of Malaita’s non-executives, Philip Kwato’o, MPA for Ward 29 in Central Kwara’ae, speaking to Island Sun yesterday said they are waiting on members of the executive who have promised to switch over to the non-executive side before submitting a notice with the Speaker of Malaita’s provincial chamber.
Mr Kwato’o said the motion is necessary to discuss on the floor of provincial chamber the failures of Premier Asilaua and his government.
“There are a lot of issues wrong with the current government, the Premier and his government do not have vision for Malaita province going forward, Malaita continues to have revenue problems, the provincial basket is always empty, and their priorities are all over the place, not meeting the bigger needs of Malaita.
“Many current projects being implemented in Malaita are from the previous government, under former Premier, Martin Fini, not the current one.
“For example, the current government recently visited Malaita’s sister province in China, and only asked for solar lights for Auki. While there are bigger needs for Malaita, they only asked for solar street lights,” Kwato’o said.
Kwato’o could not comment on how many MPAs from the government side they are in talks with to switch over, saying it is still too early.
But he said it is a good number of executive MPAs who have lost confidence in Premier Asilaua’s leadership, and are looking to have a new government.
One of the executive MPAs reportedly supporting the motion of no-confidence plan, Malaita’s Fisheries Minister and MPA for ward 21, Jerry Hite, denied this when contacted by Island Sun yesterday.
“I was only made aware of the plan for motion of no confidence last night, and I am not in support of it. I am with Premier Asilaua and our government is rock solid,” Mr Hite said.
Premier Asilaua and his government took office in May last year.
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