IN a new twist, Renbel Assembly yesterday elected a new premier in a meeting embattled premier LenceTangosia boycotted.
Timothy Johnston was elected during the meeting held at the Pacific Casino Hotel.
Renbel Provincial Speaker Norman Sao confirmed the election, saying Mr Johnston took his oath immediately after he was elected to power.
Early this week, Mr Tangosia wrote to the Minister of Provincial Government Silas Tausinga, asking him to suspend the assembly.
This was after four of his executive members deserted him over allegations Mr Tangosia misused provincial funds.
The four teamed up with the non-executive bench to form the new government.
Mr Johnston, who was the first premier when the current Assembly assumed power four years ago, became the fourth premier in the life of the current House.
He’s got only three months to run the province before the term of the current assembly ends in December this year.
The last four years has been turbulent for Renbel’s political leadership.
Mr Johnston yesterday told the Solomon Star he will use the last three remaining months to sort out the “mess” left behind by the last government under Mr Tangosia’s leadership.
“We cannot do much. We’ll just get in there and restore order at the political level and then wait for the next election,” he said.
Mr Johnstone’s deputy is Kusol Tepuke, former deputy premier in the ousted Tangosia government.
By DENVER NEWTER