Sogavare adjourns parliament to accompany games committee
PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare and his deputy will lead a high-powered delegation to Vanuatu next week to lodge the country’s bid for the 2023 Pacific Games.
Mr Sogavare revealed this yesterday as he adjourned parliament to May 17 to allow him and his deputy, Manasseh Maelanga, who is also minister responsible for sports, to travel with the bidding committee.
Solomon Islands and Tahiti are the only two countries bidding to host the 2023 Pacific Games.
Both the Opposition and Independent leaders supported the adjournment and wish Mr Sogavare and the delegation all the best in the bid to bring the 2023 Pacific Games here.
Mr Sogavare strongly wanted the 2023 Pacific Games here and has given full government support behind the bid.
But it’s understood the local bidding committee faces an uphill battle against a well prepared Tahiti, who have 70 per cent of sporting facilities already available.
Mr Sogavare’s travel with the local bidding committee is a move designed to give more weight behind the country’s bid.
A recent visit by the Pacific Games Council President Vidhya Lakhan to the two bidders found Tahiti has 70 per cent of their sport facilities ready while Solomon Islands will have to build 80 per cent of the structures to host the event.
The Pacific Games general assembly will make the final decision after receiving the bids from the two countries next week.
Meanwhile, Mr Sogavare said the adjournment of parliament will also allow government time to look through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
The TRC report was never tabled in Parliament as requested by the Truth and Reconciliation Act, passed in 2008.
In February of 2012 the TRC Commission presented its five-volume report to Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo.
Under the terms of the governing Act, ‘The Prime Minister on receiving the report of the Commission, shall cause it to be laid before Parliament and the report be made available to the public’ (s 17).
On April 28th 2013 Bishop Terry Brown, who was not one of the five Commissioners but the editor of the final report, released the document to around 60 individuals and selected media outlets.
The Sogavare government intends to table the report in parliament.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
