Solomon Islands PM dumps public service chiefs

By MARY-LOUISE O'CALLAGHAN Herald Correspondent

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza, under increasing pressure to stamp out corruption, has removed eight department heads from active duty and shifted his controversial deputy from the key finance portfolio.

The purge, which has not been made public, comes as the Australian-led force deployed for the first time outside of Honiara yesterday, establishing a joint-post at Avu Avu at the east end of Guadalcanal's remote Weathercoast.

Senior Solomon Islands Government officials told the Herald that Sir Allan had made the politically risky move of a ministerial and departmental reshuffle to try to maximise the benefits of the intervention for the nearly bankrupt country.

"He took a risk asking the intervention in and now he's taking a risk moving these people but he wants to do it. He knows we can't move forward without some radical reform," said an official, who asked not to be named.

Under the intervention plan a phalanx of expatriate experts mostly from Australia and New Zealand will be placed in key Solomon Islands institutions such as the Treasury and the Ministry of Finance in the next few weeks.

Reform of regulatory bodies such as the Ombudsman and Leadership Code Commissioner and an overhaul of their legislative powers are also planned.

Sir Allan, who has been under increasing pressure over allegations of corrupt practices within his Government since the arrival of the regional intervention force almost a fortnight ago, has not yet publicly announced the reshuffle of 16 senior public servants officially approved by the country's Public Service Commission late last week.

However, it follows the removal of the Deputy Prime Minister, Snyder Rini, from the finance portfolio.

Rini, who was overseas at the time of the reshuffle, has been earmarked for the education portfolio but it is not known whether he is willing to take up the post.

The former education minister, Francis Zama, has been made Finance Minister and a new Police Minister, Michael Maina, has also been appointed.

Sir Allan, facing calls for his resignation from the Opposition over the weekend, said it was up to the police to investigate allegations of wrongdoing but denied that he had told militants during a gun amnesty last year to keep their weapons.

The commander of the intervention's military forces, Lieutenant Colonel John Frewen, said that 50 Australian and Fijian soldiers and two policemen had been deposited at Avu Avu yesterday.

This followed the redeployment late on Sunday of the Australian warship the Manoora, which had been stationed off Honiara since its arrival in Solomon waters 13 days ago.

The civilian leader of the intervention forces, Australian diplomat Nick Warner, will fly to Avu Avu tomorrow for a weapons surrender by local militants.

Warner refused to comment on communications with the key Weathercoast rebel Harold Keke, who has asked to meet him this week.

The intervention force is now in control of more than 300 firearms, Warner said yesterday.

Just over 160 guns have been handed in by police officers.