Latest news with #SIBC
RNZ News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Schools allowed to close as no-confidence vote looms in Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands Parliament complex. Photo: Facebook / National Parliament of Solomon Islands Schools in Honiara, Solomon Islands, have been permitted to close on Tuesday as the nation's parliament is set to resume for a motion of no confidence against the prime minister . SIBC reported the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development made the decision following requests from Honiara-based education provider officers. Education permanent secretary Dr Franco Rodie said such situations as the current political one are unpredictable, so it is safer for students to remain at home. "We are giving education providers the final decision, so it looks like all the schools within Honiara will be closed." Parliament is set to resume at 9:30am local time (10:30am New Zealand time). On Monday last week, parliament adjourned due to a lack of quorum after only sixteen out of 49 MPs were present in the House. Later that day, clerk of parliament Jefferson Hallu confirmed that Central Honiara MP Gordon Darcy Lilo submitted no-confidence a motion against the prime minister. On Tuesday, Speaker Sir Patterson Oti informed parliament that a special motion of adjournment had to be moved, as under standing orders the motion of no confidence is a matter of public urgency. Opposition leader Matthew Wale said Manele should step down immediately instead of dealing with the motion. However, Sir Patterson said, "The Prime Minister is still prime minister until he is out of the office." Manele appealed for calm and urged people to respect the democratic process, and confirmed he would not step down before the date for the vote of no confidence. Ten MPs - including five senior ministers - have resigned from Manele's Government of National Unity (GNUT). Manele, 57, is a former foreign minister and was elected prime minister on 2 May 2024, succeeding Manasseh Sogavare. The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force said it is closely monitoring the political situation. Lilo also moved a no-confidence vote in the prime minister last December, but withdrew it on the floor of parliament due to a lack of support .
Perth Now
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Solomon Islands government imperilled by resignations
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele faces a no-confidence motion in his leadership and government just a year in the job, after an apparent mutiny involving his predecessor Manasseh Sogavare. Mr Manele has governed with the support of a three-party coalition, negotiated after an April 2024 election delivered a minority parliament. He will tick over a year as prime minister later this week, and then face a showdown vote in parliament he is set to lose. On Monday, 10 MPs, led by Mr Sogavare, the finance minister, resigned from the government, first reported by In-depth Solomons and confirmed by Government House. Later that afternoon, Honiara-based MP Gordon Darcy Lilo - who like Mr Sogavare is a previous prime minister - lodged a no-confidence motion with parliament's Speaker Patteson Oti. Under parliamentary rules, it must sit on the books for a week before being brought on, meaning a crunch vote could be held from May 6. "We expect it to be moved on the floor of parliament in the middle of next week," parliament's clerk Jefferson Hallu said, as reported by SIBC. Also on Monday, the deputy prime minister Bradley Tovosia resigned his role, while staying supportive of the government, according to a statement from Mr Manele's office. According to reports in the Solomon Islands media, Mr Tovosia's conduct was causing tension among government MPs, which suggests his resignation is an attempt to calm waters and restore support in his coalition. "Coalition partners unanimously resolved that the national interest must come first, and Hon. Tovosia resignation was made in accordance with this collective decision," the government statement read. Given the unpredictability of the situation, is is unclear how events will evolve, with political manoeuvring likely to determine Mr Manele's fate. Political instability is nothing new in Solomon Islands: there have been 11 changes of prime minister this century. The Melanesian nation of 750,000 people also faces enormous challenges, not least economically. It is the poorest nation in the Pacific per capita. Mr Manele was foreign minister under Mr Sogavare, an ally and fellow OUR Party member, before emerging as the successful candidate for prime minister in post-election government formation talks. Both are considered pro-China leaders, and wary of Australia's influence, despite Canberra being the country's biggest source of development assistance by a distance. Mr Manele won a secret ballot vote to be prime minister over Opposition Leader Matthew Wale 31-18 to take office last year. While his government has attracted additional members since then, an abandonment of 10 MPs would imperil his leadership if they voted against him in a no-confidence motion. Mr Lilo's motion is his second attempt to topple the government six months. Last December, he tabled a similar motion - citing concerns with cost of living pressures and government corruption - only to withdraw the motion before it went to a vote. "The situation that we are in right now, I think it requires good encouragement," he said in parliament. "Stick together. Be strong. Run a country in a responsible way ... (don't) derail confidence in running the government of our country. "Please think about our people, our beloved country, that are struggling (with) high prices."
