The lobbying game is on again in Solomons

Another problem... The lobbying game between the government and opposition is on again and it is another time for Solomon Islands citizens watching their representatives fighting for power and this current government like the previous ones will not complete its four year term.

Solomon Islands is now entering another political struggle. The fight for the political leadership of this beautiful and resourceful country is now on again. This just came as the Parliament is ready to sit for 2012 national budget meeting in November.

This started when the opposition learnt that 17 prominent members of the current government were unhappy about some decisions made the Prime Minister Danny Philip. A reliable source within the government stated that the members planned to leave. This was immediately noticed by the opposition and the number game came into play between the opposition and the government as the government faces possible motion of no confidence.

The Prime Minister, however, has recently called the members of the government to meet and sort out their grievances. A source within the government said that the grief members are now strongly agreed to support the government in upcoming motion of no confidence and this gives the Prime Minister confidence to defeat the motion submitted by the opposition leader Dr Derick Sikua.

The insider said the 17 who attended excluded the strong-holds of NCRA so there is no doubt we are rock solid. The Opposition is currently playing a political tactic in trying to put Opposition strongman and former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare as their likely candidate for Prime Minister to lure support from members of the government.

The motion came in the light of the issue of good will payment for failed PNG Chancery Building in Honiara, new appointments of Solomon Islands diplomats to Taiwan and Fiji. For sure, the opposition would like to take over the power to correct things. It will be all on majority rule game that these two camps are fighting to take. Any group wins majority number will rule. Ordinary Solomon Islanders just watch as this will be on their Parliament representatives.

The government’s biggest mistake.

In light of this power struggle, for sure the current government must fight had to clear its name. Not long after the government appointed its two new foreign diplomats, Laurie Chan and Pattison Oti, former foreign ministers, the opposition criticized the appointments and asked for the government to re look at this. This was because the opposition said that these people were not suitable to head the foreign mission and said there were some experience and qualified people for the post, who were not chosen.

To make things went from bad to worse, one of these appointed diplomats was found carrying out foreign interests in Solomon Islands.

Just recently, a document taken by Solomon Star, which was believed to be from wikiLeaks, showed that Mr Chan was secretly working as spy for Australia and the US in Solomon Islands. The report said that Mr Chan was a reliable source of the US and Australia local intelligence in the country.

A document revealed in April, 2006 just five days before the election of former Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Snyder Rini, causing the April Riot in Honiara, which was tracked by several countries like Solomon Islands, Guatemala and China stated that Mr Chan had a secret conversation with US Ambassador to Solomon Islands.

In this conversation Mr Chan said if his government wins power, he will continue to support the US idea for Guatemala at the UN, but he said that he is afraid of other group led by Charles Dausabea which also fought for power. Mr Chan said that he feared that this group might support Taiwan interests and oppose Australian led mission, the Regional Assistant Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

Similar revelation was disclosed about former Attorney- General of Solomon Islands, Julian Moti. It was reported secret conversation going between the Australia Government and Mr Chan to deport this man to Australia. This secret intelligent resulted in the deportation of Mr Moti to Australia where he faced child sex charges committed in Vanuatu, which was believed to be cleared by Vanuatu court.

It is another time for only big boys fighting for the power. During times like this, ordinary Solomon Islanders just powerless as any government to form depend on majority number of MP which any of the two groups will have in the coming Parliament meeting. It is believed that some foreign powers will involve in the fight for power like what already happened in the past.  Aid assistance will be one of the strong force in this fight. It is another government which, if defeated, will not complete its term in power and the country will suffer its consequences.