Sore denies he leaked it

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

Disgraced former Honiara city council (HCC) clerk, Rence Sore, has denied leaking copies of his whistle-blower report on the HCC to the media.

Early this month, media reports emerged revealing an array of corruption, mismanagement, dubious dealings, negligence of duty, etc, from within the HCC.

These reports were taken from a whistle-blower report written by Mr Sore for the national government, submitted on the day of his removal from office.

Many have seen this as a last-minute attempt by disgraced Sore to appease his masters in government after he was thrown out due to involvement in few unpopular deals, one of which was the secret sale of land in Ranadi which had housed the bio-incinerator belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, Sore however denies giving media copies of his report.

“It is sad to have had a late read of the media propaganda by Alfred Sasako of Newsroom, Ronald Toitoona of Solomon Star Newspaper and Charles Kadamana of Island Sun Newspaper.

“They have twisted the facts of my report on the Political Interference in the Management of the Honiara City Council, Sore told Island Sun yesterday.

“It must be clearly mentioned that my report was written for authorities of the Government of Solomon Islands in particular that of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for the intended purpose of information and consideration of dissolution of the city council should Government sees it fit to take such a course of action or otherwise in-action – report was delivered to Government Offices on the morning of 7 April 2021 the day of my exit from the Office of the City Clerk of the Honiara City Council.

“Be that as it may, the report is strictly a Confidential Solomon Islands Government Document – and as such it is not meant for distribution beyond the legal boundaries of the Government of Solomon Islands.

“Despite the strict confidential nature of the report, it is rather sad to say that as the face behind the report I had not consented to the publication of extracts of the report by mainstream journalists in our daily newspapers.

“Neither did I give copies of the report to the dailies for publication. Nor did the editors of the two dailies called my cell number to secure my consent to the leaking of the report.

“It is also sad to say that as the face behind the report I do not concur with any bad intentions that would publicly ruin and defame the good reputation of the City Council, especially when the New Executive Governance of the New City Mayor, Councilor Eddie Siapu, is doing all it can to blend the torn pieces together, mend the broken bridges and rebuild the City Council back into a strong agency of the Government.

“As the report is strictly a Government Document, I am instructing my lawyers, i.e. Ron Law (Barrister, Solicitor and Commissioner for Oaths) to work with the Attorney Generals Chambers and the Honiara City Council Legal Office to look at laying of possible charges against the daily newspapers for leaking the contents of the strictly confidential report to the general public, in the past week of May 2021, without my formal consent.

“As a matter of adherence to responsible journalism, the daily newspapers are strongly urged to publish this denial of consenting to the leaks of the strictly confidential report for public eyes to see and at the same-time encourage guests, visitors and residents of Honiara City to protect and save the integrity of the City Council,” said Sore.

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