"FIAA Review Is Our Sovereign Right": Sogavare

"FIAA Review is our Sovereign Right and Prerogative": PM Sogavare

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said both his Grand Coalition for Change Government and the National Parliament will not be deterred by the criticisms vented last Friday by RAMSI's officials to derail the proposed Parliamentary review of the current notice issued under the Facilitation of International Assistance Act ("FIAA").

"The people of Solomon Islands spoke through their legitimate voices in Parliament last month to vote for the review and that is exactly what will happen very shortly. Neither RAMSI nor the Pacific Islands Forum can usurp the constitutional role and prerogative of our Parliament and Parliamentarians. The review has also been enthusiastically supported by our Provincial Premiers."

"Parliament will have the benefit of all the reports which have been prepared and submitted to us when we undertake our independent statutory review. What we will be doing is what the provisions of FIAA require us to do. Parliament will have the last word, as it must do in any parliamentary democracy", Mr Sogavare said.

The Prime Minister said he was surprised to hear RAMSI coordinator, Tim George's and his assistant, Mataiasi Lomaloma's outbursts after their month-long silence.

He said whilst he "understood their anxiety and frustration", he did "not appreciate the direction and tone of their remarks."

"Our Visitors must realize that it is the privilege of every MP to speak his mind freely in Parliament. That is my constitutional right and I will not apologize to anyone for calling a spade a spade. One Foreign Minister gets away with calling us all kinds of names wherever and whenever he likes and we condone his irreverent and arrogant attitude towards Melanesian Prime Ministers and Governments."

"If Mr Lomaloma's outburst was caused by his lack of emotional control, then SIG's Special Envoy to RAMSI must assume full responsibility for that failure. Last week, we were forced to cancel a consultative meeting which was scheduled without advance planning and preparation. Despite all the advance praise he has received for his expected "bridging role", I have not seen any paperwork from our Special Envoy. If the SIG's Envoy was more effective than he has proved to be, Mr Lomaloma and Mr George would be talking to me through Michael Maina and not the media unless they have other ulterior motives," Mr Sogavare said.

The Prime Minister assured Mr Lomaloma that "all MSG Leaders fully understand the thrust of my criticisms and concerns and can relate to the sovereign tensions we experience here. We have exchanged frank views on sensitive matters of mutual interest and communicated our concerns in the Melanesian way."

PM Sogavare said: "Our Special Envoy will be answering to me for the complaints directed at us by RAMSI's Coordinator. Attacking our Attorney General's advice to Government is not the appropriate or dignified way to approach a matter which is clearly within our sovereign right to decide as an independent democracy. Our Government, and many Opposition and Independent MPs have full confidence in the advice we received from the Attorney General on the necessity for legislative review of FIAA. It is a pity that Mr George fails to understand our collective sentiments and conscience. Our resolve to undertake that review has been strengthened by his recent outburst and we are grateful to our Attorney General for provoking it with his accurate advice covering all the matters he was asked to consider."

ENDS

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