THE stability and solidarity of the ruling Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) has come under question mark.
Critics say if GNUT is really stable, why the secret meeting between former Prime Minister, now Minister of Finance and Treasury, Hon Manasseh Sogavare and former Prime Minister and MP for Central Honiara, Hon Gordon Darcy Lilo MP.
Solomon Star has confirmed with various sources it spoke to that both men had met.
“It was a brief meeting but they did meet. That’s a fact,” sources familiar with the meeting told Solomon Star.
While details of the meeting remain unknown, one source described the meeting as “cordial”.
“It was held under an unstable and shaky environment, reflecting a rather unstable situation in government. Even the statement GNUT issued following the initial article which Solomon Star published on Monday, anyone with political savvy knows everything is not as stable and solid as what the government made it out to look,” one observer said.
“Less convincing is the best description of the Government’s Press Statement,” the observer said.
“Something is not quite right and the government knows it.”
Others also questioned why the Governor General had been formally invited to give the traditional speech from the Throne.
“When you think about it, the notion of inviting the Head of State to deliver the Speech from the Throne, it is almost laughable. For example, the government has not delivered one achievement of its First Day in Office.
“Secondly, its national economic summit, which followed the First 100 days in Office, has produced nothing for the citizens of this country to look forward to. Unless, GNUT is re-inventing the wheel, perhaps the government could be excused,” they said.
At the moment the perception is that there is a fissure (a hole) within the three-Party coalition, in spite of what the government is saying,” they said.
In the initial article published on Monday, reports had it that former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is ready to walk out of the coalition with nine supporters in tow.
The People First Party was also reported it was ready to move out with as many as 19 MPs. There are suggestions the most logical arrangement would be for Hon Sogavare and Hon Lilo to lead the next coalition government.
The Government statement neither confirm no deny the contents of the initial article which appeared on Monday.
By Alfred Sasako
