25 Nov 2013

Forced exit not good for Solomons says former auditor general

2:42 pm on 25 November 2013

A former Solomon Islands auditor general says his forced departure from the role is not in the country's best interests.

Edward Ronia has been ordered to step down on the grounds of reaching 55 - the official age of retirement under the constitution.

But Mr Ronia says he turned 55 last year and understood that he was allowed to remain in the job till the end of his contract next year.

"It's not a good thing to be causing the audit office to be seen to be unstable, to be seen to be fluctuating. Because the neeed of accountability and to work on areas of corruption in the country is so high, it needs the office to be steady."

Edward Ronia says there is a provision in the constitution for an extension of employment for a holder of public office who reaches 55.

But he says he has not been able to get a meeting with the governor general to discuss that.