19 Apr 2011

Riumana at loss over sacking from Solomons cabinet

4:23 pm on 19 April 2011

One of the six cabinet ministers dumped by the Solomon Islands Prime Minister says he doesn't know what he's done wrong.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister Danny Philip dropped Selwyn Riumana as agriculture minister, replacing him with Connelly Sandakabatu, as part of a cabinet reshuffle.

Jo O'Brien reports.

"The Prime Minister has said elements within the current government have caused instability which has prevented it from making progress. But Selwyn Riumana says he's confused, as he has always remained loyal to the government, and has never switched sides to the opposition. The former agriculture minister says he accepts the decision and is happy to have more time to spend with his people. But he says he's waiting to hear whether Danny Philip wants him to remain in his government. Meanwhile, the opposition office says its watching to see whether the dumped ministers will decide to join its ranks, although it says no approaches have been made on either side."