Caretaker PM Sogavare has accused US of being insincere about wanting to deepen relations with SI, claims foreign forces may fund some political parties to stage another riot during coming NGE
CARETAKER Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has accused the United States of insincerity about wanting to deepen its bilateral relations with Solomon Islands at a reception to welcome the United States Non-Resident Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Ann Marie Yastishock.
Ambassador Yastishock who resides in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea was in Honiara last week to present her Letters of Credentials to the Governor General (Acting) Patteson John Oti.
A government insider who spilled the beans told Solomon Star that the action of the Caretaker Prime Minister was disrespectful and as a government official, he was embarrassed about it and regretted attending the reception.
He said the Caretaker Prime Minister in his speech at the occasion claimed the United States was insincere about wanting to deepen its bilateral relations with Solomon Islands as it failed to send an Ambassador to take charge of its Honiara Embassy. The US Embassy in Solomon Islands is headed by a Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
The Government insider said the Prime Minister described this as a disrespectful act by the US.
The insider said the Caretaker Prime Minister further claimed in his speech at the occasion that according to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), foreign forces are intervening in the country’s ‘National General Election’ this year.
He said according to the Caretaker Prime Minister, foreign forces may fund some political parties and plan to stage another riot during the election to disrupt the electoral process and undermine social stability.
He said the Caretaker Prime Minister even claimed that ‘some political parties are becoming more and more radical and some are even planning to kill their opponents by assassination or other violent means.’
The government insider said the action of the Prime Minister during reception for the Non-Resident US Ambassador was unbecoming of him as the head of a political government that promotes ‘the Friend to All and Enemy to None’ Foreign Policy.
He said Solomon Islands needs leaders who walk their talk and the time to choose such leaders is at the coming National General Election.
