Islands Business - Politics/ Solomon Islands: 'I DON'T WANT A MINISTERIAL POST'

Bailed Dausabea wants to work with the people

Robert Iroga
One of the key suspects of the Honiara April riots has been released from Rove prison on medical grounds after spending seven months in custody.

Ride of a lifetime... Charles Dausabea in a police van.

Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Charles Dausabea, was bailed by Fijian judge Justice Sekove Naqiolelevu on December 1.

The bail came after Dausabea spent weeks in hospital suffering from diabetes.

The MP had unsuccessfully sought on many occasions his release from detention since the aftermath of the April riots.

The riots targetted mostly at Chinese businesses resulted in the burning down of Honiara's Chinatown, as well as the Pacific Casino Hotel, one of four big hotels in the capital.

Describing himself as a government hardcore supporter, Dausabea said it was a relief to be out and particularly for his constituents who "feel like sheep in a field without a shepherd".

"I could not do much but now I'm happy because my people are coming to see me, to congratulate me and talk to me about plans for East Honiara," said Dausabea.

Dausabea was charged with his brother David, and Central Honiara MP Nelson Neé, and former MP Alex Bartlett in connection with the April riots and were committed to the High Court to face trial.

Dausabea could not hide his joy when he was granted bail by the High Court.

He promised to work closely with his people to implement plans for east Honiara which he was unable to carry out following his arrest.

Dausabea was appointed police minister when Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare named him in his cabinet after the April riots eventhough the East Honiara MP was in custody.

Australia opposed his appointment forcing Sogavare to replace him with Enock Isaac, who is now the minister responsible for the ministry.

Dausabea says he's not interested in any ministerial positions. "I'm a hard core member of the coalition, regardless of what happens-I'm with the government.

"I don't want to be a minister or chairman. I want to be a backbencher to catch up with work because of the time I've lost with my people which means I have to catch up with the government's bottom-up approach programme," he said.

Dausabea was released on the condition he remains attached to residential stay at the hospital, does not talk to prosecution witnesses, as well as the co-accused.

Meanwhile, exactly a week after his release, Dausabea was again summoned to the High Court during which the prosecution made a submission to ban him from performing his parliamentary duties whilst on bail.

But Justice Naqiolevu rejected the application saying Dausabea can't be stopped from performing his duties since he's a Member of Parliament.

Prosecutor Peter Little told the court that he had been asked to seek the court's approval to stop Dausabea from engaging in employment.Little, however, didn't state who gave him instructions to stop Dausabea from engaging in employment.

But Justice Naqiolevu said that would be difficult as he needs to talk to his constituents. But he ruled that Dausabea surrenders his passport and not to go near any airport.

ISLANDS BUSINESS understands a medical report tendered to the court recommended against confining Dausabea to his hospital bed.