PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has turned down a MARA government invitation to attend Malaita Provinces 39th Second Appointed Day anniversary celebrations in Auki, Malaita Province, as the Guest of Honour.
Malaita Province’s Second Appointed Day celebrations will be held next Monday, August 15.
The Malaita Provincial Premier Daniel Suidani confirmed to this paper that an official invitation was sent requesting Prime Minister Sogavare to attend the event.
This is the first time that the MARA government under the leadership of Premier Suidani sent an official invitation to the PM to attend Malaita’s Second Appointed Day celebrations.
According to Premier Suidani, the 39th Second Appointed anniversary will be a historical one for Malaita Province as the MARA government is preparing to present the “Malaita People’s Log of Claims” to the ruling Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement Government (DCGA).
Prime Minister Sogavare who attended other Provincial Second Appointed anniversaries was accused of snubbing the past three Malaita Provincial Second Appointed anniversary celebrations hosted by the MARA government.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had claimed that Prime Minister Sogavare’s non- attendance of past Malaita Second Appointed Day anniversaries was due to the absence of an official invitation from the MARA government.
During the 37th Second Appointment in 2020, the Opposition Leader Mathew voiced his frustration over the Prime Minister’s non-attendance saying it did not speak well of him as a national leader.
This paper was reliably informed yesterday that even with the official invitation, Prime Minister Sogavare declined to attend and his declination this year makes it the fourth time in a row for the Prime Minister to be absent from Malaita Province’s Second Appointed Day anniversary celebrations and all four celebrations are those hosted by anti-China Premier Suidani’s MARA government.
Asked if the MARA government will still present the “Malaita People Log of Claims” in the absence of the Prime Minister, Premier Suidani said the MARA government is determined to present the “Malaita People Log of Claims” to any national government minister that will attend the event on Monday.
By WILSON SAENI
Solomon Star, Auki
