to rejoin government

Solomon Islands

Former minister wants

A Solomon Islands government minister who resigned and defected to the oppo sition has applied to rejoin the govern ment. Allan Paul who resigned as minister of culture, sports and tourism in November (see PIM December issue) when two other ministers, Dennis Lulei and Eric Seri, also defected in the belief the government would be toppled and the opposition would form the new administration.

In early December the acting parlia mentary leader of the People’s Alliance Party, the health and medical services minister, Nathaiel Waena confirmed Paul had applied to rejoin the party.

According to the regional news service PACNEWS at least one of the other two ministers who defected to the opposition has also made approaches to the govern ment.

The opposition had earlier refuted claims by the government that more opposition MPs are expected to switch sides. The government made the claims after the MP for Small Malaita, William Haomae said claims of more defections were pure speculation. He said Maetia’s decision to defect to the government had been circumstantial and the opposition respects it.

Following the High Court disqualifi cation of the May election of East Honiara MP and opposition member Charles Dausabea in November and the defection of Maetia, it now appears the government has 24 MPs and the oppo sition 22.