Moses Garu
Encyclopedia
Moses Garu is a Solomon Islands
politician.
With diplomas in tropical agriculture and in secondary teaching, he has worked in public service, as a school teacher, and in banking. He was a bank manager at the time of the severe ethnic conflicts on Guadalcanal
and Malaita
in the early 2000s. In May 2000, he was attacked by members of the Malaita Eagle Force
with machetes and axes. They allegedly attempted to behead him, leaving him with a permanent "puckered scar on his right jaw running on down his neck". Jimmy "Rasta" Lusibaea
, one of the leaders of the Eagle Force, was among those charged with attempting to murder Garu, but charges were dropped when "witnesses failed to testify".
Garu's political career began when he was elected MP for West Guadalcanal in the August 2010 general election
, representing the Democratic Party
. Lusibaea was also elected to Parliament for the first time in that election, as an Independent, resulting in the two men sitting across from each other in the assembly. They "spoke at length" after the election, and were reported to have "put their past to rest", with Garu expressing no resentment over what had happened during the conflicts.
With the Democratic Party becoming the main Opposition party, Garu was appointed Shadow Minister for Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs in Opposition Leader Steve Abana
's Shadow Cabinet
. In February 2011, however, he and two other Opposition members defected to Prime Minister Danny Philip
's government majority, stating that they wished to help pass the budget and defend the interests of their respective constituencies. On April 18, he was appointed Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification.
On November 9, 2011, he resigned and rejoined the Opposition, as part of a mass defection which brought down the Philip government two days later. Gordon Darcy Lilo replaced Philip as Prime Minister on November 16, and reappointed Garu to his previous position five days later.
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
politician.
With diplomas in tropical agriculture and in secondary teaching, he has worked in public service, as a school teacher, and in banking. He was a bank manager at the time of the severe ethnic conflicts on Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
and Malaita
Malaita
Malaita is the largest island of the Malaita Province in the Solomon Islands. A tropical and mountainous island, Malaita's pristine river systems and tropical forests have not been exploited. Malaita is the most populous island of the Solomon Islands, with 140,000 people or more than a third of the...
in the early 2000s. In May 2000, he was attacked by members of the Malaita Eagle Force
Malaita Eagle Force
Malaita Eagles Force is a militant organization, originating in the island of Malaita, in the Solomon Islands.It was set up during 'The Tension' in the Solomons, which were mainly centred on Guadalcanal, to defend diasporic Malaitans in Guadalcanal and the property of Malaitans that have left the...
with machetes and axes. They allegedly attempted to behead him, leaving him with a permanent "puckered scar on his right jaw running on down his neck". Jimmy "Rasta" Lusibaea
Jimmy Lusibaea
Jimmy Lusibaea , also known as Jimmy "Rasta", is a Solomon Islands politician.He became involved in the severe ethnic conflicts on Guadalcanal and Malaita in the early 2000s...
, one of the leaders of the Eagle Force, was among those charged with attempting to murder Garu, but charges were dropped when "witnesses failed to testify".
Garu's political career began when he was elected MP for West Guadalcanal in the August 2010 general election
Solomon Islands general election, 2010
A general election was held in the Solomon Islands on 4 August 2010. In May 2010, Prime Minister Derek Sikua announced that the election would be held on 4 August, however, this announcement was deemed to be premature, as only the Governor General has the authority to announce the election date...
, representing the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Solomon Islands)
The Democratic Party is a political party in Solomon Islands.In a country in which political parties tend to be small and transient, and to obtain very few seats in Parliament , the Democratic Party has played a comparatively major role in recent history....
. Lusibaea was also elected to Parliament for the first time in that election, as an Independent, resulting in the two men sitting across from each other in the assembly. They "spoke at length" after the election, and were reported to have "put their past to rest", with Garu expressing no resentment over what had happened during the conflicts.
With the Democratic Party becoming the main Opposition party, Garu was appointed Shadow Minister for Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs in Opposition Leader Steve Abana
Steve Abana
Steve William Abana is a Solomon Islands politician. He is currently Member of Parliament for Fataleka, and was the Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition from August 2010 to March 2011....
's Shadow Cabinet
Shadow Cabinet of Solomon Islands
The Shadow Cabinet of Solomon Islands is the parliamentary Opposition's alternative Cabinet in Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm with a Westminster system of government; the Shadow Cabinet is modelled on the British institution of the same name.The Opposition is formally...
. In February 2011, however, he and two other Opposition members defected to Prime Minister Danny Philip
Danny Philip
Danny Philip is a politician and diplomat from the Solomon Islands. He is the current Prime Minister, who came into office after the 2010 general election. He served as foreign minister from 1995 to 1996 and from July 2000 to June 2001...
's government majority, stating that they wished to help pass the budget and defend the interests of their respective constituencies. On April 18, he was appointed Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification.
On November 9, 2011, he resigned and rejoined the Opposition, as part of a mass defection which brought down the Philip government two days later. Gordon Darcy Lilo replaced Philip as Prime Minister on November 16, and reappointed Garu to his previous position five days later.