18 Jul 2003

Sth Guadalcanal people plea for parliamentary representation

3:33 pm on 18 July 2003

The people of South Guadalcanal in Solomon Islands are urging the national government to ensure that the constituency has a voice in Parliament.

They have been without a representative in Parliament since the assassination of Cabinet Minister Fr Augustine Geve nearly a year ago..

The rebel leader Harold Keke had claimed responsibility for that killing.

There are also reports that the region's provincial assembly MP, Alas Tibamate, is being held as a hostage by Keke.

A church leader has told the local broadcaster, the SIBC, that the people of Sth Guadalcanal have no representative in either assembly to raise their concerns.