This is despite mounting public concerns about the cost of the trip.
They leave tomorrow after Mr Lilo asked for parliament to be adjourned until 22 October.
The Opposition and a local pressure group say the big delegation, which include Mr Lilo’s wife and his executive secretary, plus other political appointees, was a waste of tax payers money.
But Mr Lilo told parliament on Tuesday that the important thing is for them to attend the meeting to link certain activities that happen in this country.
He said they want to build on the Rio Plus 20 summit they attended this year because the “goal post had widened from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainability Development Goals”.
“Not only that but we want to push for nomination in some of the bodies in the UN and promote gender equality in CEDAW because the country did not support it through its policy.
“People look at cost. Cost is not end to its means.
“We have to consider what’s outcome on particular activity we do,” he said.
“People run argument on cost quite stand alone.
“We need to make assessment on an outcome activity to relate cost consideration,” he said.
MrLilo said they don’t go there for holiday.
“We have already assigned people to attend various meetings,” he said.
However, MP for East Choiseul and former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said the number was not appropriate because Solomon Islands will play little part in the UN meeting.
He said even if the country’s high commissioner in New York attends the meeting would still be fine because Solomon Islands is not a big player at the meeting.
By Eddie Osifelo
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