Solomon Islands Opposition Leader, Matthew Wale, has warned that a wave of cabinet reshuffles within the government’s finance portfolio exposes deep political instability and growing foreign interference in the country’s decision-making.
Within just three weeks, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele’s Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) has replaced its finance minister three times, following the controversial Sufferance Wharves saga that has rattled the administration’s credibility.
The latest change saw Rex Ramofafia appointed as the new Finance Minister, replacing Trevor Manemahaga, who himself had replaced Harry Kuma only days earlier.
In a statement, Wale laments the never ending reshuffling that points clearly to the weak leadership of the Prime Minister and the undeniable fact that outside interests decide who is appointed to the Finance portfolio.
“Citizens of this country are concerned that a key portfolio like the finance ministry can be reshuffled three times in a span of three weeks. But it is clear that this is what happens when greed, money and outside interests are at play,” he said.
The Opposition Leader claimed that the GNUT government has become captured by competing external factions, saying this has left national interests sidelined in favour of private and foreign agendas.
“Solomon Islands national interests are disregarded in these decisions. The Prime Minister is too weak & indecisive to be trusted to do the right thing to protect Solomon Islands national interests,” Wale adds.
He also accused the Prime Minister of being “too weak and indecisive” to resist financial and political pressure, saying decisions are now influenced by who offers more money rather than what benefits the country.
Wale said GNUT has gone NUTS.
The Opposition Leader said the various power factions in the NUT government are controlled by competing outside interests.
He said their competing loyalties to outside interests has paralysed the NUT government from protecting the people’s national interests.
“These reshuffles are evidence of state capture through NUT government elite capture, especially capture of the power faction warlords within the NUT government,” he said.
Hon Wale said NUT government decision making is now solely determined by how much money is on offer by these competing outside interests.
He said it is not a surprise that a decision can be reversed in the same week depending on a higher sum of money being offered.
“This is the bottom line for NUT government decision making and Solomon Islanders must be very concerned about this tragic abuse of their government,” he said.
The Opposition Leader said instability within the NUT government will continue because the root problem has not been addressed and ignored.
“The reshuffles are the symptom of weak compromised leadership. The NUT government is not focused on the interests of Solomon Islanders, because it is perpetually focussed on itself, the instability within and outside interests,” he said.
