A Solomon Islands corruption watchdog says now is not the time for the country to be without an auditor general.
The comment follows Edward Ronia's forced departure from the role on the grounds of reaching the official retirement age of 55.
Transparency International Solomon Islands' chairperson says there is a constitutional provision for the governor general to extend the employment of a public office-holder who has turned 55.
Ruth Liloqula told Annell Husband the governor general should exercise that provision.
RUTH LILOQULA: Because he's an effective and active auditor general and has done a very, very good job since he got the job he should be allowed to continue until the end of his contract, which is December 2014.
ANNELL HUSBAND: Why, then, do you think he has been terminated?
RL: That is something that we're still trying to find out - the reasons for his termination. So far his performance in the public side, it's to be commended.
So if there is any other reason that he is being terminated other than the age then that needs to be explained to the auditor general and also to public that is asking why this is happening.
AH: Even on the grounds of age, though, it doesn't make sense, does it, because he passed that age some time ago?
RL: Yes, he passed that age some time ago and the governor general has discretionary powers to allow him to continue in this post, and we are calling for him to invoke this and reinstate him so that he can do proper work, he can finish his time in office properly.
AH: Mr Ronia himself said to me this is not a time when Solomon Islands should be without an auditor general. Do you agree?
RL: Most definitely it is not the time for Solomon Islands government or Solomon Islands as a country to be without an auditor general. We have worked so hard to get somebody that is capable of doing the job and it comes from outside of the system at the date of the former one. So I do agree with him that, yes, definitely, it is not the time for him to be retired. There is nobody in the pipeline as far as I know.
AH: Yes, that's the difficulty, isn't it, replacing him? How possible is it that someone from within Solomon Islands will be able to step up to that job?
RL: Those are the issues that we have taken into consideration and the reason for asking for his reinstatement. Because those questions, I am sure, have not been taken into account when this decision was made.
