Renbel premier Derek Pongi faces no-confidence vote
BY IRWIN ANGIKI
The motion of no-confidence against Rennell-Bellona premier Derek Pongi is set for today at the provincial chamber in Tigoa station, Rennell island.
The meeting is set to begin at 9.30am.
As of last night, the number stands with motion-mover MPA for ward 4 Eric Sau’eha commanding six members against Premier Pongi’s four.
Premier Pongi and Speaker Jephthah Tuhagenga could not be reached for comments, however, non-executive member Collin Tesu’atai, MPA for ward 8, speaking to the paper from Tigoa last night said the provincial capital is calm ahead of the motion.
“We expect a smooth, clear forward meeting tomorrow. We still are rock solid with six members, and could increase by tomorrow.
“After the motion tomorrow, the next day [Tuesday, Dec 30] will be the nominations of the new executive portfolio holders. Then on Wednesday will be the official swearing in of the new Premier and the new executive,” Mr Tesu’atai said.
All of Renbel’s MPAs are in Tigoa for the meeting.
Motion of no-confidence caps off two-week impasse
The motion follows two weeks of standoff between Renbel’s executive and non-executives. Apparently there were two premiers at one point.
Two members of premier Pongi’s government had defected to the other side, giving the non-executive a majority of six members against Pongi’s four.
On Tuesday, December 2, the non-executives with their newfound majority submitted a notice to the Speaker of the Renbel provincial assembly petitioning the premier to step down since he no longer commanded the majority, along with other allegations.
That same day letters of resignation by the two ministers of Premier Pongi’s executive were tendered to the Speaker.
The petition notice requested that the Speaker set an extra-ordinary meeting on Friday, December 5 to hear out the petition.
The petition notice was also served to Premier Pongi.
However, the next day, Premier Pongi ignored the gravity of the matter and flew off to Fiji for a rugby 7s tournament, accompanying his team, ‘Islanders’.
His departure stalled proceedings and an extra-ordinary meeting could not be held on December 5.
On December 8, the non-executives submitted another petition notice to the Speaker, similar to the first one submitted on December 2 but with amendments to the dates.
An extra-ordinary meeting was scheduled and held on December 10. Pongi and his executive reportedly did not attend.
Pongi arrived back in Honiara on December 10. His team had lost – an early exit in the tournament.
During the extra-ordinary meeting on December 10, the Speaker ruled the petition successful and a new premier was sworn in, MPA for ward 4, Eric Saueha, along with his new executive and a new deputy speaker.
Absence of a member acceptable by law requires that the reasons are related to – death, health problems, or any other more important government business. Premier Pongi’s absence satisfied neither.
But, on December 12 a letter from the Minister of the Ministry of Provincial Governments and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) declared the meeting and outcomes of December 10 null and void.
The non-executives pursued the matter as far as the Attorney General’s (AG) Chambers.
The directive from the AG Chambers, sighted by this paper, was reportedly given to the Speaker on Wednesday, Dec 24 by the MPGIS. The AG’s memorandum was dated December 18 addressed to the Permanent Secretary of MPGIS, Dr Derek Futaiasi, and signed by AG John Muria Jnr.
Muria Jnr’s letter recognised that the notice of motion of no-confidence by the non-executive was filed on Friday, December 12.
However, it was pinned on the provincial assembly notice board by the clerk on Wednesday, Dec 17, Muria Jnr said.
The Attorney General said the notice matured on December 24 but due to public holidays the next possible date that a meeting to accommodate the motion of no-confidence could legally be held on was December 29.
The AG has not responded to enquiries by this paper.
MPGIS PS Mr Futaiasi, when sought for comments early last week declined saying the matter was in the hands of the AG.
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