Concerns in Solomons at success of independents

Transcript

Voters in Solomon Islands favoured independents over party candidates in last week's elections.

This is in spite of new legislation aimed at strengthening party politics in the country.

Of the 50 elected MPs 32 are independents and the 18 MPs affiliated with political parties represent only half of the 12 parties registered.

One of the parties able to field successful candidates is the People's Alliance Party, which has two MPs.

Koroi Hawkins asked its president and former Governor General of Solomon Islands, Sir Nathaniel Waena, about the Political Parties Integrity Act and its impact on the poll.

NATHANIEL WAENA: The impact of the new law has done very minimal progress by way of people affiliating to political parties in a serious manner, and therefore it has left the country in a situation of uncertainty as to what the law has been intended to achieve. I would want to qualify that statement by way of saying that the people who actually participated in the enactment of the law itself have decided to go to the polls as independent individuals. That poses a question of how serious they are as national leaders who have enacted the law that opted out from it.

KOROI HAWKINS: The People's Alliance Party has several winning MPs. Based on the way the law affects the forming of government, the forming of coalitions, what is the next step and what has the party been talking about in terms of working within this law to form government?

NW: As a party, we feel obliged to be involved in the possible formation of a new government administration. That being said, we are of the opinion that the number of seats that have been secured by registered political parties this far is posing some measure of concern.

KH: There has been a court case in relation to unregistered parties and independents challenging the legislation and saying that they should be allowed to form government, they should be allowed to make coalitions outside of the registered parties. Do you think the grey areas in this legislation could cause problems when it comes to choosing a Prime Minister and forming government?

NW: It could well be, but one hopes that the matter of getting people together must become the focus of attention if we are serious as a nation, and especially amongst the leaders who have been given a mandate to govern the nation and provide stability. It really is a matter that rests squarely upon their shoulders. They cannot at this point feel that they can do anything their own way. The law is there, the constitution is there, the High Court has made a decision as regards the application of the Political Parties Integrity Act. And therefore, one could say that firstly, the newly-elected members of parliament must act responsibly if their intention to go to parliament is to advance the sovereign affairs of this country.

KH: There have been overwhelming numbers of candidates returning and a lot of independents that have come through successfully, what do you think that speaks of as to the mentality and mindset of voters in the country?

NW: Well at the moment the idea of political parties is a fairly new phenomena that is alien, if you like, to the ordinary voter. They relate themselves to individual persons rather than to a political entity called a political party and therefore, the mindset at the rural level as we speak is that 'if I know Jack, then I vote for Jack, I do not vote for the party'. So it's a personal relationship affair between the voter and the candidate in question. So the person that has harmonious relations with the individual voters gets the popular vote.

KH: Any reflections finally on this legislation? Is it important going forward into the future? Do you see it developing or becoming something different? Is it a step in the right direction?

NW: Certainly it's a step in the right direction in that we a nation of diversities; cultural, social and whatever else and therefore the law sets the basis upon which, or the foundation upon which our leaders must improve upon whatever is there. If there are loopholes, those loopholes need to be addressed and realigned so as to make the law become a mechanism that provides stability. And I'd like to say to Solomon Islanders: let us make our home, Solomon Islands, our pride, because this is the future for our children to come.