Sogavare slams PM’s statement on RAMSI.

OPPOSITION leader Manasseh Sogavare says a statement Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua made on RAMSI is premature and a blatant disregard of parliament directives. He was referring to Dr Sikua’s statement on a possible future partnership between Solomon Islands and RAMSI.Dr Sikua said this when he addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York, last week.“Dr Sikua’s statement was premature on the basis that the review of RAMSI is still in progress,” Mr Sogavare said.“It is this review that will have a bearing on the future status of the Solomon Islands-RAMSI partnership,” he said.Mr Sogavare said if the statement was a declaration of the Government’s official position on the future of RAMSI, the Government is making a total mockery of the review process. “The government must appreciate that any express government policy on the future of RAMSI would now be subject to the outcome of the review,” he said.The review is being undertaken by the Foreign Relations Committee. “It is therefore out of order and blatant disregard of parliament directives for the government to preempt the outcome of the review. “Indeed it would be a serious mistake for the country to take that line of thinking.“RAMSI is a forum responsive initiative to address a break down of the formal system that supports the effective workings of the economy. “It is never the intention of the Pacific Islands forum to make RAMSI another aid agency in Solomon Islands.“Hence its role should effectively end at the completion of the restoration stage,” Mr Sogavare said.

Source: Solomon Star.