Govt And RAMSI Preparing For Consultation Talks

Govt And RAMSI Continue Preparing For Consultation Talks Despite Major Disagreements Says Special Envoy

The Government's Special Envoy to RAMSI, Mr Michael Maina said he is well into preparing and facilitating the process of the next round of consultation meeting between the Government and RAMSI leaders.

Mr Maina revealed that he has had a successful discussion with the Special Coordinator of RAMSI, Mr Tim George and other senior RAMSI officials from the region this week.

"We had a very positive talk yesterday and I am very happy with the outcome. I am putting our discussions into perspective, and these will be presented to the Solomon Islands government when I will be meeting with the Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare and his Cabinet Ministers this week", Mr Maina said.

Mr Maina said such discussion is important as many might perceive the relation between the Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI as being at an all time low.

As a special envoy, it is his task to find a common ground for discussion between the two parties, and the progress into his initiatives is bearing satisfactory results, he said.

He said one of the main issues raised by the Mr George and other regional representatives of RAMSI during their meeting was, the approach taken by the government on the review of the Facilitation of International Assistance Act.

"RAMSI respect the Solomon Islands government right to review the Act, and that they will not oppose the review by Parliament," the envoy said.

RAMSI's main concern is that they want the Forum review process to be completed, said Mr Maina.

A significant part of the Forum Review process will be discussed during the next Forum Islands Summit next month in Tonga when a report by the Form Taskforce Review Team Eminent will be presented before the Forum Islands leaders.

Meanwhile, there are other equally important issues that RAMSI and the government will find a common ground to discuss in due course which could form the basis of the review of the Solomon Islands government, Mr Maina revealed.

These will include the approach to the rebuilding of the Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP) and the Prison Services, the issue of the illegal firearms that are still at large, and the issue of compensation claims by landowners on land acquired by RAMSI on Guadalcanal for the various police posts.

The Solomon Islands government wants to know from RAMSI their position on the above issues because they are a major concern for the Solomon Islands community, Mr Maina said.

"However, despite the persisting misconception portrayed in the media of a deteriorating relationship between the government and RAMSI, we are in fact making headlong progress in resolving these issues", Maina said.

ENDS

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