HONIARA (SIBC/PINA) — Solomon Islands opposition leader Patterson Oti is urging Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza to remove ministers who appear to be acting on matters of national importance without cabinet approval.
Oti made the statement following reports of:
• a planned high-level government delegation visit to China, despite the strong support Solomon Islands gets from Taiwan;
• recent involvement of the Minister of Commerce in the now aborted sale of the Development Bank of Solomon Islands to a foreign company, ACC AMCO;
• new reports of plans to appoint a non-Solomon Islander as the country’s first ambassador to Bosnia and Eastern Europe.
Oti said there are clear indications Kemakeza does not have control over his cabinet ministers. Oti said Taiwan’s strong support is seriously undermined by the involvement of Foreign Affairs Minister Alex Bartlett in a proposal to send a delegation to China.
China regards the island state as a renegade province, and promotes a “One China” policy that excludes Taiwan internationally.
Oti’s warning came as Kemakeza’s own delegation prepared for a week-long state visit to Taiwan.
Oti said during the last sitting of parliament Bartlett deliberately avoided confirming or denying if he had approved the proposed China trip.
