SOLOMON IS: New Finance Minister admits compromise
Updated
The new Solomon Islands Finance Minister Peter Boyers has admitted compromising his strong criticism of Prime Minister Sogavare's leadership style by joining the government. Mr Boyers says he agreed to join the government after the Prime Minister agreed to two conditions.The first is that the government does not raise the issue of re-arming the police force, and the second that the Regional Assistance Mission remain in Solomon Islands under its present arrangement.
Presenter: Sam Seke
Speakers: Peter Boyers, Solomon Islands Finance Minister.
BOYERS: Of course my position is very controversial but following the events for the last two weeks, I've been overseas, I only arrived yesterday, but irrespective of the situation the national issues at hand and although I was lobbied, and of course I should have been the last person to join the government, but I thought there could have been an opportunity here to clarify issues in relation to stability, security, and then I was offered the portfolio. Of course I didn't accept, but as a leader one must have to make a decision on what can they do to contribute to a country. So I made it hard by saying I could only join a government that had a policy that would not rearm, the rearmament issue would not be brought up, and that on the condition that RAMSI must stay in the Solomon Islands under its present arrangement. I sent back those conditionalities to the Prime Minister which he agreed, and I said well I'll have to have it in writing and the Prime Minister wrote me a letter and agreed to those two conditionalities. So that created an entry strategy for me and in the hearts and minds of all Solomon Islanders I think that's an issue that's paramount.
SEKE: I think you're right on those two conditions, but the fact still remains that you were one of the most outspoken critics of Prime Minister Sogavare's style of leaders.
BOYERS: That's right.
SEKE: What actually convinced you that you should now join the government after all your criticisms of him?
BOYERS: Well yes I've been very outspoken, probably the most critical of this government and I stand by everything that I've said in the paper, although I have contradicted myself by joining. But at the end of the day in politics there's no reward for virtue, and as much as I hate politics sometimes you've just got to make the choices before you are not all good but you've got to make the best of them. And for me it's the choice of the lesser evil and I find myself in a very compromised position I must be honest, but at the end of the day I have to make sure that in my capacity am I contributing, am I trying to improve the situation? That was my decision, I set a goal to say I could never join a government that traded instability. Well the Prime Minister's just come out and he's made a commitment on those two areas and for me that's a, I'm contributing as a leader to support a process and a government that's making that commitment, which has been in question in the past. And if you look at a lot of my criticisms of leadership it's in relation to guns, it's in relation to the previous attacks on RAMSI, verbal attacks. So I'm hopeful that there can be a new beginning and I believe even though the Prime Minister's a very passionate person in his style of leadership, I think everyone has the opportunity to change and move forward. And I don't know what the alternatives are either.
SEKE: Peter I know you've just been sworn in as Finance Minister but what can you tell us about the budget? Is it going at all before parliament this year?
BOYERS: I believe the budget's going to be re-looked at. I believe that in its present form it was totally unacceptable; in fact it was quite confusing apparently. I haven't seen it. I don't think the budget's going to be in time for this year, maybe January it'll be able to be in a presentable form, and really I can't make much judgement on it because I haven't seen it and I haven't got the details. I haven't even been into the office yet. So I believe it's not going to be presented till the beginning of next year.
