Solomon Islands Government

Key points:

Key points:

• The Solomon Islands government is able to make board appointments directly, after removing national broadcaster as a state-owned enterprise
• Critics say the government is moving to control the public broadcaster's editorial policies 
• SIBC's chief executive and the Solomon Islands government deny censorship claims 

Concerns have been mounting over the fate of the independence of Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) since it became a fully government-funded entity. 

Key points:

• The Solomon Islands government is seizing financial and editorial control of the Pacific nation's public broadcaster 
• The government says its censorship will protect the public from "misinformation and lies"
• Local media and observers fear democracy will suffer as a result 

Staff at Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) confirmed to the ABC that acting chairman of the board William Parairato met with them last Friday to outline the new requirements. 

The vote was triggered after a series of defections from Mr Sogavare's coalition, which has been in power since 2014.

It is not clear what has caused the defections, but some government supporters suggest it's in response to a proposed anti-corruption bill.

The opposition leader, Derek Sikua, is expected to spell out his reasons for the motion in parliament today.

The government and opposition have spent the past week battling to consolidate their numbers ahead of today's vote.

The broadcaster SIBC reports the Speaker of Parliament Ajilon Jasper Nasiu has received the motion from the Leader of the Parliamentary Independent Group Dr Derek Sikua.

No explanation has been given for the motion of no confidence, but Dr Sikua is expected to state his reasons for not having confidence in the Prime Minister when he moves the motion.

Seven ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga, tendered their resignation on Saturday.

Among the defectors were also former prime ministers Danny Phillip and Snyder Rini, lending weight to reports that a new group is forming to change government.

The group is basing its lobbying at the Honiara Hotel, and was yesterday joined by more ministers and government backbenchers.

They claim the current government, called the Democratic Coalition for Change, has lost trust and confidence in the leadership of Mr Sogavare.

The cost of destroying the blue boats was revealed during a Public Accounts Committee meeting this week.

Permanent secretary for the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Christian Ramofafia said it was the lowest bid presented to the government, which is why they chose it.

Director of Fisheries, Edward Honiwala said the deal to destroy the boats was made because they failed to meet Solomon's seaworthiness standards.

The two Ministers who were relieved of their duties are Minister of Development and Infrastructure Jimmy Lusibaea and Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification David Pacha.

They will be replaced by Members of Parliament, Bradley Tovosia and Andrew Manepora’a.

The Solomon Islands High Commission education attaché in PNG, Claire Damutalau, said 30 students were flown out today.

"For safety purposes we sent them home, it's the call of the National Government," Damutalau told Loop PNG this afternoon.  

"The students moved out off campus on Sunday afternoon and were accommodated at a guest house in (Lae) town until this morning.

"They were really scared and traumatised because it was the first time for them to see men running around with knives," Damutalau said.

This is to ensure compliance to the strict dewatering licence issued to the new mine owner, the Gold Ridge Community Investment Limited (GCIL).

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Dr Melchior Mataki said his officials will work with the company during the dewatering process to make sure the company complies with the conditions of the license.