EXPLAIN LOGIC BEHIND SHANEL’S APPOINTMENT: OPPOSITION

The Office of the Leader of Opposition is calling on the Prime Minister to explain the logic behind the appointment of his new Police Minister.

In a statement, the Opposition’s Shadow Minister for Police, National Security & Correctional Services Honorable Chris Laore said the appointment of MP for Central Guadalcanal Honorable Peter Shanel, as the Minister for Police, is yet again another ‘dubious’ decision made by the Prime Minister in a span of two weeks.

This followed the Prime Minister’s controversial appointment of Honorable Bodo Dettke as Forestry Minister.

Mr. Laore explains, Mr. Shanel has been arrested and charged on October 9th this year after he assaulted one of his constituents.

He claims Shanel is expected to re-appear in court.

He says it is ridiculous for the Prime Minister to appoint someone who has been charged and under continued police investigations to head the Police Ministry.

Mr Laore adds, if the Prime Minister sees it inappropriate to allocate the Finance Ministry portfolio to MP for Aoke Langa Langa Matthew Wale who is currently under investigation, then, how can the Prime Minister justify his appointment of Mr Shanel who has already been charged to look after the Ministry of Police.

He calls on the Prime Minister to explain and justify to this nation his unpopular decision.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Leader of Opposition supports the call by the Leadership Code Commission for Mr Dettke to resign as the Minister for Forestry and Research.

Mr. Jeremiah Manele reiterates its call for the Prime Minister to restore integrity in his Cabinet and replace Honourable Dettke.