BY IRWIN ANGIKI
When two government ministers were kicked out of their portfolios last week, government said it was for national interest. But, it seems government is not telling the truth.
The underlying reasons are personal interests of certain powerful government ministers and MPs which are linked to sufferance wharves, tax exemption, miners and Asian business interests.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele acted to preserve his top seat, Government ministers speaking to Island Sun on condition of anonymity last week, said.
“PM Manele was threatened he would be removed if he did not remove Polycarp Paea and John Tuhaika Jnr at the outset of the realignment plan,” the government sources said.
And, more ministerial changes are to be expected since key ministries are being eyed by these powerful MPs within the Ownership, Unity, Responsibility (OUR) Party. And, these key ministries are being held by MPs from the People First Party (PFP).
PM Manele denied these reports when sought by Island Sun for comments last week.
The imbalance of power
OUR Party is the largest party in the GNUT grand coalition. It has 25 members. PFP has 12.
Before February 10, 2026, both parties had 11 ministers each.
OUR Party deemed this unfair – since it was the biggest party it deserved to have the most ministers in GNUT.
With the Feb 10 reshuffle, OUR Party now has 13 ministers, PFP with nine.
Realignment for national interest?
On Tuesday, Feb 10, Paea and Tuhaika Jnr were removed from their portfolios to the back bench as government swore in three new ministers.
The Office of the Prime Minister explained in a statement that the reshuffles were necessary to bring balance of power to the parties in the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT).
Government called this move a ‘realignment’ which ensured “Cabinet responsibilities fairly reflect the makeup of the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT), giving due consideration to party representation and strengthening coordination for effective delivery of the 2026 programme of work”.
“As we move into full implementation of the 2026 Budget, it is important that ministerial portfolios are aligned to support strong coordination and clear leadership across key sectors.
“These adjustments strengthen our collective capacity to deliver on the commitments we have made to our people,” PM Manele was quoted in the statement by the PM Press Secretariat.
However, government sources told Island Sun this is not true, and that the real reason for Mr Tuhaika Jnr and Mr Paea’s removal was based on personal interests of certain powerful cabinet ministers and MPs.
“The removal was never about performance. Actually, these two former ministers (Paea and Tuhaika Jnr) were among the highest performing GNUT ministers,” the government ministers said.
“All the young ministers are performing exceptionally well in their portfolios and moving development and policy implementation fast.
“The ‘realignment’ narrative is just a ruse to cover up the real reason for the removal of Paea and Tuhaika Jnr and others to come,” the ministers said.
Sufferance wharves, exemption duties, miners and loggers
Paea and Tuhaika Jnr were removed because they were ‘vocal’ in Cabinet and Caucus meetings against matters which were of personal interest. Paea and Tuhaika Jnr have not responded to enquiries sent them for comments.
Certain influential government ministers and MPs promote and push for ‘outside interests’ in cabinet.
Top of the list is the issue of Sufferance wharves, which Cabinet voted to close on January 6 this year.
Other issues not of national interest which Tuhaika Jnr and Paea were vocal against in cabinet include duties and tax exemption which some ministers and MPs were abusing and selling, and interests of miners, loggers and Asian businesses, the government sources said.
Three key figures reportedly promoting personal interests are Minister of Police (MPNSCS) and MP for Gizo/Kolombangara Jimson Tanangada, Minister of Fisheries (MFMR) and MP for East Guadalcanal Bradley Tovosia and Chairman of Caucus and MP for West Honiara Namson Tran, the government sources told Island Sun.
Mr Tanangada and Mr Tovosia have denied the reports. Mr Tran has declined to comment.
The trio are referred to among the government circle as the ‘3T’.
The 3T were not happy when cabinet turned against them and voted to close the sufferance wharves and blamed Paea and Tuhaika Jnr, the government ministers told Island Sun.
Not all OUR Party supported the sufferance wharves issue, the government sources said.
But, under the banner of realignment, an agenda shared by most OUR Party members, the 3T pressured PM Manele to start with Paea and Tuhaika Jnr.
‘Not true, fabricated lies’
Prime Minister Manele told Island Sun last week when sought for comments that the reports were ‘Not true’ and were ‘fabricated lies’.
“That is not true as far as I know. Fabricated lies,” Manele said.
Tran declined to comment when sought through his CDO, Brian Taupiri.
Tovosia shrugged off the reports, saying:
“If it’s a Government decision, that’s it. Nothing personal. Not even for [sufferance wharves],” Tovosia told Island Sun.
OUR Party President, Tanangada outright denied the report.
“I categorically deny all the allegations against me.
“As Party President, my primary duty is to render the Party full support to Hon PM as our Political Party Wing Leader. There is no threat against the Hon PM, rather absolute support.
“Appointment, reshuffling or removal of Ministers are under the power of Hon PM. He is mandated to deal with Ministers including me. As a Minister, I have no personal issues against any one of my colleague Minister from our coalition parties Kadere, PFP and OUR parties. We work well with each other and enjoy good working relationship as elected leaders in GNUT.
“I have no issues with sufferance wharf and miners. As the Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services, I have always been critical about operation of any facilities that can possibly compromise national security,” Tanangada said.
More reshuffles ahead?
More reshuffles are expected since key ministries eyed by OUR Party are not yet taken, government sources said.
These key ministries include – Mines and Energy (MMERE), Finance (MoFT), Commerce (MCILI) and Infrastructure (MID).
A week before Feb 10, sources close to government had told Island Sun, on condition of anonymity, that a string of replacements and reshuffles were to take place.
The first three were to test the waters, the sources said.
PM Manele told Island Sun last week after the swearing in of the new ministers on Feb 10 that “There will be no more reshuffles for the timebeing”.
Stability assured for GNUT?
PM Manele has said the realignment exercise was made amicably, thus was some sort of assurance of stability for the GNUT coalition.
“I made the decision after consultation with Party Leaders in the coalition, with the objective of ensuring that there is a fair and balanced distribution of cabinet portfolios among the coalition parties in GNUT,” Manele told Island Sun last week.
However, political pundits close to PFP said there is unease among the party.
“The members are not happy over GNUT’s realignment exercise because it is a policy which is culling PFP.
“At the same time, PFP members are not happy with their leader who they say is weak and not standing up for them.”
PFP party leader Fredrick Kologeto, MP for South Vella la Vella and Deputy Prime Minister, has not responded to enquiries sent to him by Island Sun for comments.
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