Two camps emerge as lobbying heats up in Gizo ahead of the Western Provincial Premier’s election next Thursday
LOBBYING continues to heat up in the Western Provincial capital, Gizo, as two camps emerged in the bid to secure the post of premier and form the next executive government next week.
The election of the next premier is scheduled for Thursday next week and the premier is expected to appoint his executive ministers within one or two days after being sworn into office.
The 26 Members of the Western Provincial Assembly who emerged from the December 14 elections were sworn-in on Monday this week.
Reports reaching Solomon Star said two camps have emerged and lobbying continues to intensify as both groups are working very hard to secure the numbers needed to form the next Western Provincial Government.
An insider also confirmed this to this paper and added that one camp is located in the Naqua Rest House, whilst the other is based in the Gizo Hotel.
“The Gizo Hotel group is headed by Rence Sore, who is one of the candidates pushing for the premier’s post. The other is Billy Veo, whose group is camping in the Naqua Rest House.
Both camps claim to have 13 MPAs each and are working very hard to lure members from the rival camp.”
The source added at the Gizo Hotel camp has claimed that it will be joined by another three MPAs from the other camp and that the three were yet to arrive at the hotel.
“This means the camp at the Gizo hotel has the majority of MPAs and it is highly likely that it will form the next government,” the source said.
“But we must also bear in mind that this is Solomon Islands politics where numbers will remain fluid until the last minute and hence the intensified lobbying that we continue to witness between the two camps,” the source further added.
Meanwhile, the election of the Western Provincial Assembly speaker will be held tomorrow.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
