PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT

Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center
With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i

By Ofani Eremae

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, April 13) – Two newly elected Members of Parliament in the Solomon Islands arrived in Honiara yesterday to find themselves in the tussle between two political camps vying to form the next Solomon Islands government.

Martin Maga, Member of Parliament for Temotu Pele, and Japhet Waipora, Member of Parliament for West Makira, didn’t know that political lobbyists were waiting for them.

As soon as they checked out of Henderson Airport’s domestic terminal, they were whisked away to Honiara Hotel in a waiting car.

The waiting car was arranged by Association of Independent Members of Parliament president Sir Thomas Chan.

Patteson Oti, a National Party Member of Parliament who is also a member of a grand coalition lobbying to form the government, didn’t know that Association of Independent Members of Parliament lobbyists were waiting for the two newly elected Member of Parliaments.

When he arrived at the airport, he was told Maga and Waipora were already taken in a car to Honiara Hotel.

Oti turned around and went straight to Honiara Hotel.

There, he went in and pulled out the two Members of Parliament in the presence of Association of Independent Members of Parliament members.

Oti then took the two men to Iron Bottom Sound Hotel, where his camp is based.

The two men, however, left without their luggage, which was already kept in two separate rooms they were booked to stay in.

At the Iron Bottom Sound Hotel, messengers were sent back to Honiara Hotel to collect the luggage.

But hotel owner Sir Thomas refused to release them.

He told the messengers that since the two Members of Parliament were already booked at the hotel, they must check out and settle their bills before leaving.

The messengers returned and sought the assistance of the police.

A police officer accompanied them to Honiara Hotel but was given the same answer.

On the third occasion, East Honiara Member of Parliament Charles Dausabea, who was in the grand coalition’s camp, decided to go.

Accompanied by a few boys, he took the room keys with him, drove to Honiara Hotel, went in there and got the luggage from the two rooms.

He handed back the keys and went back to Iron Bottom Sound, where he handed the two Members of Parliament their luggage.

A spokesman for Association of Independent Members of Parliament said the two Members of Parliament were pulled out from Honiara Hotel against their will.

But Maga said outside the Iron Bottom Sound Hotel yesterday they were taken to Honiara Hotel on their arrival against his will.

Maga contested the elections as an independent, while Waipora is a member of the Liberal Party.

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