by Ronald Toito’ona
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has addressed growing concerns over the recent unauthorized signing of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Vietnam, assuring the nation that disciplinary measures are underway and the government remains committed to transparent development.
In a press conference today, Prime Minister Manele directly responded to criticisms raised by the Opposition Leader, clarifying the government’s position on the matter.
“I wish to address the recent concerns raised by the Leader of the Opposition, regarding the unauthorised signing of a MOU with a foreign entity concerning SEZ,” the Prime Minister said.
He confirmed that the controversial signing took place without Cabinet approval and outside proper diplomatic channels, resulting in a swift administrative action.
“We are taking steps to address the matter, in accordance with the administrative procedures of the government,” Manele stated.
“To prevent recurrence, we are also reviewing existing protocols related to government travel delegations and foreign agreements, including clarifying requirements for Cabinet approval and oversight of political appointees and ministers.”
PAs disciplined, Ete is new Chief of staff
The Prime Minister confirmed that disciplinary processes have already begun. Two political staff involved in the delegation have stepped down—Chief of Staff Mcfadden Araonisaka has resigned, while a junior officer is also set to resign shortly.
“With regards to the two staff, the Chief of Staff has resigned, a replacement has been appointed. He is already on board. The other officer is also going to resign very shortly.”
The Prime Minister also confirmed that former East Honiara MP, Douglas Ete, is now serving as the new Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister.
“Our new Chief of Staff is Mr Douglas Ete, former MP for East Honiara.”
He added that further disciplinary action is being considered for the Minister responsible, and decisions will be made collectively based on internal findings.
“We are looking at disciplinary processes and collective decisions in terms of the involvement of the Minister,” Manele said.
Reinforcing Cabinet Protocols and Government Integrity
Prime Minister Manele took the opportunity to emphasize the need for stronger oversight and adherence to established processes regarding overseas engagements and MOUs.
“Of course, there are areas we need to improve in terms of our systems and processes. We aim to strengthen these, particularly protocols related to overseas travel by ministers and the signing of agreements.
“By convention, any agreement intended to be signed overseas must first go through Cabinet for approval. That practice is already in place and must be respected. We are reviewing these systems to identify and address any weaknesses.
“I am reminding all ministers that they must seek approval before travelling. In this particular case, permission to travel was granted. However, it is important to remember that any Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed abroad must receive Cabinet endorsement and go through the Attorney General’s Chambers before signing,” PM Manele said.
These reminders have been communicated to ministers, and we await a report on the Vietnam trip, he added.
He also went on to clarify that the agreement signed in Vietnam is non-binding.
SEZ Act Still a National Priority
Despite the controversy, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s full commitment to the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Act 2024, which aims to attract foreign investment through designated economic zones with tailored incentives.
“I want to assure the public and investors that this incident will not detract from the government’s commitment to the Special Economic Zone as a key economic priority. We remain focused on transparent, accountable and lawful development processes that serve our national interest.”
The SEZ Act 2024 is a cornerstone of the government’s economic strategy, with potential to stimulate employment, infrastructure development, and long-term growth. The Prime Minister reiterated that all future SEZ-related engagements will follow strict protocols to safeguard national interest and credibility.
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