16 Oct 2006

Solomons Prime Minister sacks two ministers

6:53 pm on 16 October 2006

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, has sacked two of his cabinet ministers.

The two are the Finance Minister, Bartholemew Ulufa'alu, and the Agriculture Minister, Trevor Olavae.

Their replacements are to be sworn in tomorrow morning.

Our correspondent Dorothy Wickham reports.

"The two new ministers will be Steve Abana, the chairman of government caucus and the other one is Mark Kemakeza, the brother of Sir Allen Kemakeza the former PM. There appears to be a split in the Sogavare cabinet over the issue of the Regional Assistance Mission. Meanwhile, Fred Fono the opposition leader says this is a signal that there are ministers inside the groupings that aren't too happy about how Mr Sogavare is handling the issue of RAMSI. Mr Fono warns Mr Sogavare not to touch the Regional Assistance Mission issue, as he says he'll be tampering with the peace in the country."