A government minister has today tendered his resignation from the Grand Coalition for Change Government to join the Opposition group.
In a letter to the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Nathaniel Waena, dated 10th December 2007, the Minister of Communication, Aviation and Meteorology, Hon. Johnson Koli, tendered his resignation "with immediate effect"."In accordance with Section 34 (6) (d) of Solomon Islands' Constitution, I hereby tender my resignation as Minister of Communication, Aviation and Meteorology in the Grand Coalition for Change Government with immediate effect," Mr. Koli stated in his letter.
The resignation adds another twist to the political tug-of-war between the government and the opposition that dates back a month ago from today.
In his letter, Mr. Koli said his decision to resign was "after realizing the force that had been put on me from the Government circle to defect from the Opposition".
Opposition Leader, Fred Fono, who welcomes the move, revealed that "some government agent" had influenced Mr. Koli "by force" to make a cross-over from a group he has been with for the past eighteen months.