Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Solomon Islands Governor General accepts ruling on Lusibaea

Posted at 06:25 on 18 October, 2011 UTC

The office of the Solomon Island’s Governor General has accepted yesterday’s High Court ruling regarding North Malaita MP Jimmy Lusibaea.

Mr Lusibaea lost his seat after the High Court heard a legal challenge regarding his continued presence in parliament

He had been initially ousted because of an assault conviction but when his sentence was reduced below six months he was able to continue as an MP.

The deputy private secretary to the Governor General, Rockliff Ziza, says before the court decision, the Prime Minister had instructed the Governor General to appoint Mr Lusibaea as Minister of Fisheries but the decision means that won’t happen now.

But Mr Ziza doesn’t believe this will spell the end of Mr Lusibaea’s political career.

“I don’t think so. He still has the opportunity to contest the elections again, maybe in 2014 or it might be during the by-election. But subject to any other qualifications maybe advice from the Attorney General’s office would be the appropriate judge whether or not he can run for the by-election.”

Rockliffe Ziza says the by-election for the North Malaita seat will be held next year