PM says crucial bills prompt cancellation of UNGA trip
CRUCIAL government agendas to attend to domestically has prompted Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele to cancel his participation in the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.
As the head of Solomon Islands Government, Prime Minister Manele should lead the Solomon Islands Government delegation to this annual august world summit but he told a Press Conference last Friday that there are several key legislations for the creation of a conducive environment for transformational change in Solomon Islands that he must attend to.
PM Manele said as the leader of the government, it is his duty that he must ensure that he personally leads these efforts, prioritizing the preparation and completion of these transformational legislations with his respective ministers to be tabled in Parliament this year.
“I must balance my attention to balancing our domestic priorities with my international responsibilities, in which I represent our country at key events we participate in.
“Therefore, after much thought, I will dedicate the next week in meeting with relevant ministers and their ministries and the drafting department of the Attorney General’s Chamber to expedite the progress of these legislations.
“Ensuring that these transformational legislations are tabled in Parliament will unlock the opportunities for transformational change in our development agenda and I will therefore not attend the UNGA meeting in New York this year.”
PM Manele said he has tasked the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Peter Shanel Agovaka to lead Solomon Islands delegation to the 79th UNGA session.
He said despite his non-attendance of the world summit, he is extremely happy to say that Solomon Islands is better prepared to engage positively through the participation of respective responsible ministers and senior government officials who are accompanying them.
PM Manele said the theme for the 79th UNGA session is ‘Leaving No One Behind Acting together for the Advancement of Peace Sustainable Development and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations’.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
