The country’s High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea William Haomae is resigning to contest the Small Malaita seat.
Haomae arrived back on Tuesday and is understood to have submitted his resignation letter to the Prime Minister’s Office.
He checked into Mendana Hotel on arrival, but when the Sunday Star called his room on Thursday for an interview, he had already checked out.
Attempts to locate him in Honiara proved futile.
However, the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday confirmed receiving Haomae’s resignation letter.
By procedure, the prime minister should recommend Haomae’s resignation letter to the Governor General, who will then revoke his appointment.
But press secretary to the prime minister Douglas Marau said caretaker Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo is still waiting for Haomae to produce receipt that he paid the Solomon Islands Government three months salary.
“This is to waive three moths notice as required under Haomae’s contract before consultation can be made with the Public Service Commission and recommendation forwarded to the governor general,” Marau said.
He said the governor general has the final say whether to accept Haomae’s resignation or not.
“If Haomae produces the receipt quickly, then it will quicken the process for the governor general to consider his resignation.”
Haomae is expected to take on caretaker Finance minister Rick Hou for the Small Malaita in the November 19 elections.
He previously served Small Malaita for two terms, during which he held a number of ministerial portfolios.
Haomae, a former journalist, first entered parliament in 1997 and served the full four-year term.
He lost the 2001 national elections to businessman Alex Bartlett, but regained the Small Malaita seat in the 2006 elections.
Haomae went down in the last election to former Central Bank governor Hou.
Observers said he has chances of reclaiming the seat.
BY OFANI EREMAE
