BY NED GAGAHE
Opposition Leader Matthew Wale says the incoming coalition government aims to free Solomon Islands from what he describes as “elite capture” and powerful interests that have long controlled the country’s economy and politics.
Speaking to local media after the successful Motion of No Confidence vote in Parliament yesterday, Mr Wale was asked how he felt after many years in opposition and now being on the verge of taking over government.
Responding to the question, Mr Wale said his focus was not about emotions or personal achievement, but about building a government that genuinely serves the people.
“It’s not about the question of feeling, there is no emotion to it,” Mr Wale said.
“We are always looking to form a good government, one that truly embraces people, a government that releases the shackles of elite capture of this country.”
Mr Wale said concerns over the influence of powerful interests on governments had been one of his consistent messages during past elections and political campaigns.
He claims successive governments over the years had been controlled by interests that were not necessarily aligned with the national interests of Solomon Islands citizens.
“Unfortunately, our governments for quite some time were being held in shackles and enslaved by interests that are not necessarily the national interests of our people,” he said.
Mr Wale acknowledged that changing the system would not be easy or immediate, warning that the country was dealing with “powerful forces”.
“It’s not going to be done overnight. It’s not going to be easy. We are talking about powerful forces,” he said.
“But let’s begin that process. Let’s look forward with some boldness, take some courage and say we are going to try and defeat it.”
The Opposition Leader said Solomon Islanders needed to better understand the forces influencing the country and why wealth remained concentrated among a small group while the majority of citizens continued to struggle economically.
“People must know the forces that enslave this country, why in the economy just a few people are so wealthy while the vast majority are poor,” he said.
“That is not a good situation.”
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Beloved Solomon Islands & the current government in waiting, give the former Opposition leader a go in leading our nation. The wealth of experience gained as being the opposition leader, I believe he with the assistance of those parliamentarians who have been in parliament long enough will be able to navigate the nation into the future. Nothing is new, pit-falls & challenges are not new. We only need a Leader who has a heart for his people. All decisions made on the floor of parliament will be for the interest & benefit of the people of Solomon Islands. All government instruments & processes are working, we only need the RIGHT people in leadership roles to see that these processes are implemented & followed. It’s very disheartening that this is no longer the case, as a result we have been struggling for so many years and we’ll continue to struggle if the government doesn’t take a bold stand to change.