by Georgina Maka’a

Government “stop notices” were issued against all four regional judges not to leave the country after last Saturday night’s pageant crowning event.

This is so that they could remain here while it investigated allegations that the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant results were rigged.

But only two were stopped at the airport before they could board their flights.

The other two, Papua New Guinea’s Pakop Sovo and Tonga’s Anna Tupou left the country on Sunday before the stop notices could be produced.

Immigration officials armed with the stop notices were able to stop Chief Judge Samoa’s Jerry Brunt and Vanuatu’s Jane Kanas from boarding their flights on Monday.

The decision has now evolved into a diplomatic furore, with the government of Samoa today demanding “official information” from the Solomon Islands government “on the circumstances surrounding the stop orders”.

Government earlier today promised to issue a statement explaining the basis of its decision, but this never happened.

Its chief legal adviser Attorney General John Muria declined to comment, saying any statement on this issue would best come from the GNUT government.

In-depth Solomons understands the Government decision was based on the believe that the results were rigged.

And that the Government wants the judges to be here while it investigates the claim.

However, several lawyers In-depth Solomons spoke to said the decision is “highly likely to land the GNUT government in hot waters”.

“The decision to stop the pageant judges from leaving has no legal basis,” one prominent lawyer who asked not to be named, said.

“It is simply illegal,” he added.

The lawyer said non-citizens could only be stopped from departing Solomon Islands if that person is required to assist with an investigation of an offence under the Immigration Act or a court order requiring that the person be stopped from  travelling internationally.

“None of the judges who were stopped from leaving the country fall under those categories.

‘Or is there a court order that I am not aware?”

Another lawyer said: 

“The government has gone beyond what it should be doing in circumstances like this.

“It’s a matter best left to organisers of the Miss Pacific Islands event to deal with.”

Andrew Muaki, a social media commentator and lawyer by training, described the decision as a potential threat to tourists and visitors.

“The message that’s been sent out is that foreigners can be stopped from returning to their home country if they get involved in any private disputes with anyone in the country,” Muaki said.

“The involvement of the government in what is essentially a private and organisational issue within the Miss Pacific Pageant basically kills tourism and the opportunity for Solomon Islands to host regional events,” he added.

Traumatized

Jane Kanas, the judge from Vanuatu told In-depth Solomons she was traumatised by the action of immigration officers who stopped her from boarding her flight.

She said after checking in at the airport on Monday, immigration officials identified her as one of the judges who would not be allowed to board.

‘I was not informed of why I’ve been prevented from boarding. But I know it was something to do with last Saturday’s crowning event,” Kanas said.

She said she saw a handwritten note indicating a “stop departure” order for four judges of the Miss Pacific islands Pageant.

“I believe the stop notice applied to the four of us who were traveling out from the country but the other two have already left on Sunday. So it’s just me and Jerry who are now affected.”

Five Judges were engaged by the Pageant Organizing committee to judge the event. Four from the region and one Solomon Islander.

Kanas said Jerry, who was also pulled aside, tried contacting pageant staff, hoping they could help, but to no avail.

“There were phone calls made to the authority by the head of the local organizing committee.

“But they were not successful and in the end the plane had to leave without us.”

Kanas said the whole Tuesday, no immigration or police officers visited her.

“The authorities have not come to explain why they stopped me from travelling.

“There was no communication from anyone so I don’t know when I’ll go home.

“In fact, I do not know why I am still here when I have a job to go back to,” she said.

Jerry, who was at the centre of the controversy, could not be reached today for comments.