SI Parliament Speaker says Julian Moti's appointment as new AG unprocedural

The Solomon Islands Speaker of National Parliament Sir Peter Kenilorea says procedures were not followed in the appointment of the new attorney general Julian Moti.

Sir Peter says the appointment of Mr Moti was made outside the normal ways of recruitment. He says although the Prime Minister has the right to recommend candidates for the post, the position was not vacant or advertised.

Sir Peter says advertising the position would have been the normal procedure which would have given a chance for other qualified local lawyers to apply. "One would have thought that normal advertisement would have been the case. We advertise vacant post and of course people would apply as a result of that advertisement, and then it would have been processed through the Judicial and Legal Services Commission".

Sir Peter was contributing to a debate in the media on Mr Moti's suitability for the position.

Meanwhile, former East Kwaio MP, Alfred Sasako has accused the Judicial and Legal Services Commission for not acting independently in the appointment of Julian Moti as the new attorney general.

Mr Sasako says the commission was fully aware of the politics and controversy that persisted to the time of the appointment. He says this undermines the independence of the commission.

Mr Sasako says the commission had the power to declare un-procedural, the manner in which Mr Moti was recommended as the only candidate for the position. He says the post should have been advertised to give a level playing field to other highly qualified local lawyers.

Mr Sasako says the commission should explain the wisdom which led it to make the appointment. "I believe that the commission has a responsibility not only to itself but to the people of this nation. And therefore any decision that it makes
that calls into question the very independence of that institution. I believe that ought to be explained and explaining it you are accounting for your actions, and two transparency. These are the so called pillars of good governance."

Source: SIBC