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Solomon Islands leader wins no-confidence vote after riots

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Solomon Islands leader wins no-confidence vote after riots

The leader of the Solomon Islands survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament on Monday following riots in the capital last month.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told lawmakers in a fiery 90-minute speech that he’d done nothing wrong and would not bow down to “the forces of evil” or to “Taiwan’s agents.” At one point he picked up his chair and banged it on the Parliament floor to emphasise a point.

Opponents accused him and his government of lying, looting, and using Chinese money to cling to power during a debate over a no-confidence motion brought by opposition leader Matthew Wale.

In the end, Sogavare easily had the numbers, winning 32 votes to 15, with two abstentions.

China, meanwhile, said it was shipping in aid for its citizens caught up in the violence.

Many businesses remained closed in the capital, Honiara, ahead of the vote over concerns that violence could erupt again, leading to an eerie calm.

The riots in Honiara grew from a peaceful protest and highlighted long-simmering regional rivalries, economic problems, and concerns about the country’s increasing links with China. Rioters set fire to buildings and looted stores.

Troops and police from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and New Zealand have been helping keep the peace at the request of the Solomon Islands government.

Lawmakers debated the no-confidence motion throughout the day, using a mixture of English, the official language, and the commonly spoken Melanesian pidgin.

The opposition leader used a calm and measured tone that contrasted sharply with that of the prime minister. Wale described a nation plagued by unemployment, exploited resources and “looting at the top.” He said Sogavare had repeatedly lied to lawmakers and to the people.

Wale said he was hesitant to even bring the motion because it “may further add to what are already high levels of anger in certain quarters of our society.”

But Sogavare said he would resist the no-confidence motion just as he’d resisted calls to resign.

“If I resign, sir, it would be a message to our young children and youth, that whenever we are not happy with those in authority, we take the laws into our own hands,” Sogavare said. “This is a very dangerous message to our people and future generations.”

Sogavare said Chinese money was crucial for the nation’s development.

Lawmaker Rick Hounipwela argued that Sogavare needed to go, saying there had been an increase in corruption and that the prime minister was blinded by “anything that glitters.”

“I’m sure he’s very capable of throwing out even China” should a better offer come along, Hounipwela said.

Other lawmakers expressed support for Sogavare.

Health Minister Culwick Togamana said the government had been democratically elected and changing it now would vindicate the rioters, proving that the ends justify the means.

Togamana said evidence of the government’s effectiveness could be seen by the fact there was no community spread of the coronavirus. The Solomon Islands has reported just 20 cases of the virus and no deaths.

The riots and looting targeting Honiara’s Chinatown and downtown precincts erupted 24 November following a protest in the capital by people from the province of Malaita. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the demonstrators, who set fire to a police station and many other buildings.

Critics also blamed the unrest on complaints of a lack of government services and accountability, corruption and Chinese businesses giving jobs to foreigners instead of locals.

Sogavare angered many in 2019, particularly leaders of Malaita, when he cut the country’s diplomatic ties with Taiwan to recognise China instead.

Daniel Suidani, the premier of Malaita, said Friday he thinks the Solomon Islands should partner with Taiwan because they share democratic values.

A notice posted on the website of the Chinese Embassy in Honiara on Monday said members of the Chinese community have been “hit hard by looting and destruction.”

It said the first aid shipment would arrive shortly but gave no details.

“The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China strongly condemns the recent riot in Honiara, which left Chinatown and Chinese-owned shops among other areas in ruins, resulting in huge property loss and social panic,” the embassy statement said.

“Hundreds of Chinese families including elders, kids and women were driven homeless and displaced in distress. There is not any excuse to justify the blatant damage to properties and lives,” it said.

China has said foreign interference factored into the violence, in a reference to the move to recognise Beijing and drop diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the self-governing island that China considers its own territory.

The embassy blamed attempts by outside players to undermine bilateral relations.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations “our cooperation has achieved more fruitful and tangible outcomes,” it said. “Any attempt to sabotage the relationship is doomed to failure.”

The Solomon Islands has a population of about 700,000 and is located northeast of Australia.

SOURCE: AP/PACNEWS

Fiji Opposition MPs matter transferred to High Court

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Fiji Opposition MPs matter transferred to High Court

The matter against six Fiji Opposition Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) Members of Parliament has been transferred to the Suva High Court.

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) had made an application to transfer the matter to the High Court on the grounds that it is of public interest and the accused are parliamentarians.

The matter involves SODELPA MP Salote Radrodro, Peceli Vosanibola, Niko Nawaikula, Adi Litia Qionibaravi, Simione Rasova, and Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, who is charged with giving false information to a public servant and obtaining financial advantage.

MPs Radrodro, Vosanibola, Nawaikula, Rasova and Matanitobua appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court Monday.

The other accused is former FijiFirst MP Vijendra Prakash, and his case has also been transferred to the High Court.

The matter has been adjourned to 03 January, next year.

SOURCE: FBC NEWS/PACNEWS

FSM experiencing massive flooding

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FSM experiencing massive flooding

Low-lying islands in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) are experiencing massive flooding that threaten the communities across the nation.

“We are watching what’s happening,” FSM President David Panuelo said in a statement, “And, first and foremost, I would ask our citizens to feel assured that their government is aware of what’s happening and is ready to take action.”

The FSM government said it has learned of the extensive saltwater inundation through the social media. “The government has received numerous requests from citizens asking for support,” according to a statement from the FSM Information Service.

“We stand by to offer our full support to the state governments when the requests come in,” Panuelo said.

Richard Clark, spokesperson for the FSM government, said the flooding was caused by King Tides, “which can be made worse by swells.”

Panuelo said the national government has been communicating with state officials in Chuuk, Kosrae, Yap and Pohnpei to assess the damage caused by the storm surges in their respective communities.

“Citizens affected by the ongoing flooding activity are encouraged to document the event extensively, both with photographs and in writing,” the FSM government said. “Cataloguing the damage and the effects as they occur will assist the state and national government assessments following the event and expedite the issuance of necessary assistance.”

Clark said no there are no current evacuation plans.

“The state governments did not describe any evacuations occurring and we are not aware of any, but I am aware of multiple families moving from the shore to schools and other bigger buildings, at least temporarily. I am aware of the President discussing the situation with several members of Congress (informally via phone and messenger),” he said.

The national government said relief efforts will be provided to affected communities.

“Whether it’s construction supplies or food, we will never abandon our citizens to the existential threat of climate change,” Panuelo said.

SOURCE: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES/PACNEWS

Australian Labour rules out post-election climate deals, dismissing Coalition scare campaign

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Australian Labour rules out post-election climate deals, dismissing Coalition scare campaign

The Australian opposition has attempted to blunt a Coalition scare campaign by ruling out negotiating a stronger emissions reduction target if next year’s election results in a hung parliament.

The senior Labour frontbencher Chris Bowen said his party had “paid a big price” in the “climate wars” over the past decade, and a central task of an incoming Albanese government would be to end the “destructive” politics on the issue.

Labour’s climate and energy spokesperson said the party was pledging to cut emissions by 43 percent by 2030 as that was “what’s achievable coming to office in 2022” – compared with the Coalition’s Abbott-era target of a 26 percent to 28 percent cut on 2005 levels.

With the prime minister, Scott Morrison, attempting to portray the Labour promise as just an “opening bid” for post-election talks with the Greens, Bowen explicitly ruled out such changes.

Asked if the 43 percent target was negotiable, to secure support in either the lower house or the Senate, Bowen replied: “No.”

Several studies have suggested Australia should be making at least a 50 percent reduction this decade, and almost certainly substantially more, to play its part in tackling the crisis.

“Of course, we are driven by science, but we’re also driven by what’s achievable coming to office in 2022 for a 2030 target,” Bowen told the National Press Club in Canberra on Monday.

Analysis shows despite a range of countries’ upgraded emissions reduction pledges in Glasgow, the world remains on track to overshoot the goal of pursuing efforts to limit global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Pressed on whether Labour would be prepared to contemplate a higher target down the track, in response to international momentum for even stronger action, Bowen declared that the newly announced policy was “what we’ll implement and legislate.”

Avoiding specific future commitments, he said a Labour government would then set a subsequent 2035 target “at an appropriate time”.

Leaders of Pacific Island countries view climate change as an existential threat and have urged the Australian government to take far stronger action by 2030, including curbing coal.

The Australian foreign minister, Marise Payne, told Guardian Australia during a visit to Palau on Friday that Australia’s target of achieving net zero by 2050 was “ambitious” and acknowledged the issue was “of great importance to the Pacific”.

Although the Australian government has not formally upgraded its Abbott-era 2030 target, Payne pointed to the projection that it may achieve up to a 35 percent cut in emissions by 2030. She also said she wanted to share low-emissions technology with the region.

Asked whether the watering down of the language in the final Glasgow communique was a monumental failure and a blow to the Pacific, Payne said Cop meetings were “always challenging.”

“Nobody gets everything that they want,” Payne said.

“But I think the presence of the Pacific countries – and I know it is no small thing to travel from Palau to Glasgow in the middle of a global pandemic – the presence of Palau and other Pacific nations were extremely important to, I guess, act as a very clear marker to the rest of the world of what the Pacific regards as important.”

Morrison attempted unsuccessfully to boost Australia’s 2030 target in the lead-up to November’s Cop26 summit in Glasgow, but that idea was vetoed by the National party.

With the Australian federal election due by May, the prime minister has attempted to characterise the Labour plan as a threat to jobs and “unsafe.”

Morrison campaigned on Monday alongside Liberal MP Dave Sharma, who has been pushing for the Coalition to upgrade its medium-term targets and who is facing a challenge from climate-focused independent candidate Allegra Spender.

The prime minister said the 43 percent target was “just the opening bid from Labour”.

“I mean, for Labour to legislate if they were to form government, they would have to do that with the support of the Greens,” Morrison said as he launched a pro-recycling campaign.

“And you know what the Greens’ target is, it’s 75 percent. So, vote Labour, you vote Greens, and you vote for the Greens targets.”

Bowen said the Coalition’s first instinct in responding to Labour’s climate policy on Friday was to promote division “as it is in their political interests to keep the climate wars going.”

He said on Monday it was time for Australia to turn the page on the “toxic climate politics of the last decade” and to embrace the opportunity to become “a renewable energy superpower.”

“The Australian people, fatigued from the last decade, the last two years in particular of the climate wars, deserve so much more than this,” he said.

“They deserve a government with concrete plans and an intention to unite Australians – not divide them – on this most important journey.”

Bowen said Labour was seeking an electoral mandate for its approach to climate change as a “first step to building the national unity.”

He said he wanted to be “very clear” that there would be “no coal-fired power station closures as a result of Labour policy” – while noting some closures had already been announced and it was ultimately for the market to determine.

Decisions about the future of Australia’s coal and gas exports would be “made in the boardrooms in Tokyo, Beijing, New York, New Delhi, London” rather than in the Australian cabinet room.

Bowen said there would be pressure on Australian exports as a result of the world decarbonising, and it was important to support affected communities, invest in job diversification “so that young people coming into the job market … have choices”.

When asked about gas in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo basin, Bowen said Labour had “supported the exploration, which I think is an appropriate thing to do” – but whether that gas was exploited was primarily a matter for the NT government.

The leader of the Greens, Adam Bandt, said on Monday: “With Labour matching the Liberals on more coal and gas, it’s clear the only way we’ll get climate action is by kicking the Liberals out and putting Greens in balance of power to push the next government to listen to the science.” .

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN/PACNEWS

First Covid-19 case in Cook Islands ‘a good test’ ahead of border opening

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First Covid-19 case in Cook Islands ‘a good test’ ahead of border opening

The Cook Islands says its first case of Covid-19 is a good test ahead of the opening of its borders next month.

The case is a weak-positive result from a 10-year-old boy who travelled from New Zealand with his family last week.

The case was detected on arrival when the boy was asymptomatic. The family arrived on a repatriation flight with 176 other passengers, and everyone on the flight will be tested on day five and day nine of isolation.

Cook Islands Health Secretary Bob Williams says the risk of others being exposed to the virus is “very low.”

He said s everyone was wearing full PPE from the bus drivers to the airport and MIQ staff.

“The process has worked really well.”

But further investigation found that the boy’s family had a big farewell dinner before arriving in Rarotonga.

Williams says travellers are supposed to self-isolate for ten days before departure.

“It is important that when we give requirements to our people in New Zealand, that they comply.”

Despite this, Williams says it is a good test of the Cook Islands’ Covid-19 protection system ahead of the border opening on 14 January.

He said there won’t be any changes to the current quarantine process.

The return of tourists will be a welcome boost to the Cook Islands economy, with tourism making up 85 percent of its Gross Domestic Product.

Liana Scott, the President of the Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council, said they do expect some cases, but it’s a manageable risk.

Ninety-six percent of the Cook Islands’ 17,000 population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Meanwhile, the Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health confirmed the positive Covid-19 case detected in the managed isolation quarantine at the Edgewater Resort on Friday was a ‘historical case’ after the recent test returned a negative result.

SOURCE: PMN/PACNEWS

Porgera mine to be reopened in April

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Porgera mine to be reopened in April

The new date for the reopening of the multi-billion-kina Porgera mine is April next year, according to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape.

He told The National that the country’s three other major resource projects – Papua LNG, P’Nyang and Wafi-Golpu – were “on track.”

The Government also wants to get the Pasca A oil and gas project “over the line.”

“For Porgera, work to restart (the mine) has happened and we are looking at April 2022,” Marape said.

“For P’Nyang, we brought it back on the table and it’s pretty much in advanced discussions with the SNT (state negotiating team).”

He said the Government wanted to get back more “for our resources.” “The industries respect what we want, even in the context of existing law,” he said.

“The push to get back more for our resources remain very much active on the table.

“We are trying to synchronise P’Nyang with the Papua LNG.

“Papua is moving ahead. They will be going into feed next year and hopefully by 2024, they go into FID and construction later on.

“We are trying to ride P’Nyang on the back of Papua. If the two constructions are sequenced properly, this country will see the benefit of six, seven or eight years of construction activities.”

He said talks on Wafi-Golpu with landowners and the Morobe government would resume soon.

SOURCE: THE NATIONAL/PACNEWS

PM Sogavare defeats motion of no confidence

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PM Sogavare defeats motion of no confidence

Members of  Solomon Islands Parliament have defeated the motion of no confidence in Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare tabled by the Opposition Leader Mathew Wale.

Those that voted in favour of the motion was 15, those that voted against the motion was 32 with 2 MPs abstained from voting.

The Prime Minister has survived the motion with 32 voting against the motion and 15 for the motion.

Speaker of Parliament, Patterson Oti, went straight to the division of the house through a roll call of those present when debates completed.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare remains head of the government executive.

Parliament has adjourned  to 07 December 2021.

SOURCE: SOLOMON TIMES ONLINE/PACNEWS

PM Sogavare says he is a defender of democracy

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PM Sogavare says he is a defender of democracy

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has acknowledged those in government that have remained firm despite pressure from rioters for them to resign in the past week.

He said the government stood their ground because they love the country and are the defenders of the country’s young democracy.

Sogavare said the decision not to resign rests on the Constitution of the Solomon Islands, quoting the preamble of the Constitution – which says power is exercised on behalf of the people by elected representatives.

He said he was elected Prime Minister by the Parliament of Solomon Islands, and that is why he resisted calls for his resignation.

Sogavare said he will not bow down under a state of lawlessness because he has done nothing wrong, and still commands the numbers to stay in government.

The Prime Minister said there are those that want to advance their own agenda at the expense of the country. He said the moment we stop defending our values is the day we lose ourselves.

Sogavare said that he will not be removed or resign by Taiwan’s agents, seeking to topple his government.

He said what transpired over the past week was an attempted coup, promoted by foreign agents, and not in the best interest of the country.

Seating arrangements in parliament today suggest Sogavare will win the confidence vote.

Meanwhile, a joint operation between Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) and Australian Federal Police (AFP) executed a search warrant and confiscated alleged looted items buried behind Panatina village Sunday.

The joint operation was initiated to target offenders alleged to be involved in the looting and theft of machinery and tools from hardware stores in the Ranadi industrial and commercial district.

Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said: “The joint operation arrested five suspects in relation to the search warrant and they are in police custody. The suspects arrested include three adults and two minors. Amongst the five suspects is a female in her 30s.”

Commissioner Mangau said police received information from the community that two alleged suspects had buried a large number of stolen properties around their residence.

“Some of the stolen items were generators, chainsaws, electrical tools and consumable goods,” he said.

“I call on anyone who may have been involved in the looting to hand over the stolen items to police. You will not be able to hide. We have received information on those who were involved in the looting, and it is only a matter of time before we are at your door,” he said.

SOURCE: SOLOMON TIMES ONLINE/SOLOMON STAR/PACNEWS

Motion in recognition of anger based on political and economic issues: Solomons Opposition leader Wale

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Motion in recognition of anger based on political and economic issues: Solomons Opposition leader Wale

Solomon Islands Opposition Leader says the motion of no confidence on the Prime Minister is in recognition of the anger on longstanding political issues.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament the Opposition Leaders said his decision to call on Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to resign at the height of the unrest is democratic, and his decision not to was also democratic.

Wale said that his call on Members of Parliament to resign was also democratic, and their decision not to also democratic.

The Opposition Leader said the motion before the house seeks a political solution, and the people of Solomon Islands want an end to the economic problems gripping the country.

He said the vast majority of Solomon Islanders live on the margins; resource rich but cash poor – and they want better opportunities for their children. Wale says our people are angry, and they ask why this is the case.

Wale said no serious efforts have been taken to address such issues, and the influence of the logging sector on the formation of government at the cost of the sovereignty of the country is the cause of people’s frustrations.

“We must condemn all the criminality in the strongest terms, but it pales, in comparison to the looting happening at the top,” he said.

Wale said in the recent past the actions of the Prime Minister appears to target certain leaders and province, and says he is being directed by elements that are not in the best interest of the country and its people.

He said the involvement of foreign loggers in the country’s government is one of many issues that incite people’s anger.

Wale said this government was formed with money from foreign loggers and interests because after the elections the loggers financed the Prime Minister to finance the Members of Parliament, so he has the numbers to rule.

“Do you call that democracy?

“The people see their democratic process hijacked and are angry- angry that their leaders are so fickle and unprincipled and will sell themselves for 30 pieces of silver,” Wale said.

He said people are angry because their government is not working for their best interests but for the interests of foreign cronies.

“Public anger has been building up for over many years by all these bad governances. No serious efforts have been taken to address these serious issues,” the Opposition Leader said.

He said provincial governments over the past several years have repeated their desire to be given the constitutional mandate to manage their own affairs and destinies.

“Honiara has been consuming all the wealth that has been generated from resources exploited from the provinces.

“Honiara has been controlling everything for everyone, including decision making that the provinces have lost trust in Honiara.

“This is the situation specifically with Malaita Province,” Wale said.

He said the Prime Minister’s consistent and persistent persecution of Malaita is the final straw in the public anger that has been building up over awhile which then resulted in the unrest last month.

Speaking in favour of the motion, former prime minister Rick Hounipwela described Sogavare as the ultimate opportunist whose accession to prime minister over four stints “has always been under abnormal circumstances”.

Blaming the prime minister for negligent management of the country’s finances, Hounipwela said the country’s corruption problem had deepened under Sogavare’s rule.

“We’ve experienced huge tax exemptions worth millions of dollars given to the people who least needed it, usually the loggers and mining operators.”

He also claimed Sogavare has used police to repress public criticism of his leadership, and of directing foreign embassies and high commissions in the country to notify the government of their moves around the provinces.

“To vote against [the motion], members would be aiding and abetting his zeal for power and to rule this country with an iron fist. That’s what we see as a track record.”

Member of Parliament for East Guadalcanal Bradley Tovosia and Member of Parliament for Maringe/Kokota Dr Culwick Togamana have defended governments record under the leadership of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

Bradley Tovosia accused the Opposition bench of raising issues and accusations that they are also guilty of. He says corruption is endemic and no leader have not participated in or are free from corruption.

He said that Guadalcanal did not participate in the lawless activities in Honiara and said that his people are not against the leadership of Sogavare.

Dr Culwick Togamana said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sogavare the government has ensured that the country remains COVID-19 free. He said the state of the countries public health sector has been addressed systematically by the government and donor partners.

Togamana said that criminal activities should not dictate political outcomes and calls on leaders to ensure that people do not feel encouraged to resort to violence when one disagrees with government.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for South New Georgia, Rendova/Tetepare Danny Philip has called on leaders not to allow leadership to come from the ashes of riots.

Speaking against the motion the former Prime Minister said that what needs to happen is an open dialogue with those that do not agree with government.

He said it appears that the main issue is the China switch, and Malaita’s resistance to the government’s push for China led development.

Philip said that the relationship with China is driven by the need to develop as a country. He also defends the government’s decision to engage with China on infrastructure projects and says much of the assistance from China is through grants and not loans.

Philip said that he speaks on behalf of those silent majority that are against violence. He said families from his constituents have crowded ships to return to their home village.

He also alleged that he was offered the Prime Minister position by the Opposition which he turned down.

SOURCE: SOLOMON TIMES ONLINE/PACNEWS

PNG deputy PM cleared of all misconduct charges

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PNG deputy PM cleared of all misconduct charges

The Leadership Tribunal inquiring into misconduct charges against Papua New Guinea deputy Prime Minister and Member for Bulolo Sam Basil has cleared him of all charges.

The tribunal found that evidence put forward by the Public Prosecutor were deficient and did not meet the relevant standard of proof to sustain the allegations and that there was no merit in the allegations.

There were five allegations against the leader which were categorised in to three sections;

Category one contained the first allegation in that he had interfered with the decision of the Central Supply and Tenders Board by failing to to implement the construction of Wau Commercial and District Headquarters.

Category two, which was “Use of office for personal benefit” contained allegations two, three and four, in which the leader was alleged to have indirectly asked for and accepted on his behalf a total sum K150,000(US$42,750).

Whilst category three, which was “Failure to declare to the Ombudsman Commission the use of K150,000 (US$42,750). from the Bulolo District Operating Account was allegation five.

Tribunal members comprising Justice David Allen as Chairman and senior Magistrates Mark Selefkariu and Josephine Kilage in a 23-page decision discussed firstly the Category 2 which contained three allegations two, three, and four.

They said “closer examination of the Reference shows that except for Allegation two where the Leader is charged under s5(1) of the OLDRL, for Allegations three and four, the Leader is charged under what is preferred as s5(a) of the OLDRL.

“There is no such provision as s5(a) under the OLDRL.

“A person can only be charged and tried for an offence that is clearly defined by a written law and that is guaranteed under s37(2) of the Constitution.”

“We find that the Leader did not use his office or his official position (to directly or indirectly ask for or accept on behalf of himself cash totalling K150,000 from three cheques drawn from the Bulolo DTOA worth K50,000(US$14,240) each) for his personal benefit as alleged in Allegations two, three and four. The allegations have no merit. Consequently, we dismiss Allegations two, three and four.

For category three which contained allegation five the tribunal said: “The Public Prosecutor conceded that there is no evidence to demonstrate that the Leader did not declare that he received the sum of K150,000 drawn from the Bulolo District Treasury.

The Annual Statement for the reporting period 06 August 2014, to 05 August 2015, was not in evidence.

It did not form part of the SOR. That is a fundamental omission.

And lastly the category one containing allegation one, the tribunal said: “None of the witnesses called by the Public Prosecutor gave any evidence as to any interference and/or failure by the leader to implement the decision of the CSTB that would place the leader in breach of s27(1) of the Constitution. The evidence is to the contrary in that the Leader was not involved in any way whatsoever with the implementation of Contract No. CSTB 3037

All five allegations were dismissed.

The tribunal ordered that the suspension of the leader, Sam Basil, Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Bulolo Open in the National Parliament and Member of the Morobe Provincial Assembly, under s28 of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership is lifted and discharged forthwith and that a copy of this decision and verdict shall be sent to the Speaker for presentation to the National Parliament and to the National Executive Council.

SOURCE: THE NATIONAL/PACNEWS

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