The new Member of Parliament for the North Malaita constituency, Jimmy "Rasta" Lusibaea says his win in the elections is a slap in the face of people, including the 'outside world', who have continuously labeled him as an ex-militant.
Mr Lusibaea first gained national and regional attention when he came out as a Commander of the Malaita Eagles Force during ethnic tensions of 2000.He has served a prison sentence for tension-related crimes and is now owner of Lion Heart - a road construction company.
His contest in this year's elections for the North Malaita seat saw him win by a landslide margin of over two-thousand votes against his runner-up, Reverend Michael Maeliau.
Speaking to SIBC News in his home in Malu'u yesterday, Mr Lusibaea says while he has always been labeled as an ex-militant and ex-commander of the Malaita Eagles Force, his landslide victory has proved those labels wrong.
The North Malaita MP and his executive committee were blessed and commissioned at a public service in Malu'u yesterday morning attended by thousands.