President of People’s Alliance Party Sir Nathaniel Waena could be the next Speaker of Parliament.
He was tipped for the job after he led his party to sign a coalition agreement with three other parties on Friday night, to form the next government.
Waena and his PAP colleagues have been in talks with United Democratic Party (UDP) and others at the Honiara Hotel camp immediately after the November 19 elections.
But sources told the Sunday Star he pulled out on Friday to join the Mendana Hotel camp after he was offered the Speaker’s job.
The move reportedly upset PAP members, who disagreed with the decision to join the Mendana Hotel camp.
However, a PAP insider on Saturday told the Sunday Star the disagreement had been sorted and the four winning PAP MPs are now with their leader.
The insider added it’s incorrect to say Waena is looking for a job.
“Waena is a former governor general and is receiving a pension, so he is not looking for a job,” the insider said.
“Actually, the PAP executive had agreed as a party to join the camp at Mendana because they are looking good to form the next government,” he said.
The insider said the issue with PAP’s members is an internal matter that the executive has already sorted out.
The PAP’s elected members are Willie Marau (Ulawa Ugi), wing leader Milner Tozaka (North Vella La Vella), Freda Tuki Comua (Temotu Vatud) and Duddley Kopu (Temotu Pele).
Although they are now part of the new coalition, they are still staying at Honiara Hotel where they’ve been booked.
Waena signed the coalition agreement with leaders of Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (SIPRA), Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) and Solomon Islands People First Party (SIPFP) at Mendana Hotel on Friday night.
After signing the agreement, he said his party had always wanted to be in the government.
“We had been in the Opposition in the past four years and we had expressed our desire to be in the next government to manage the affairs of our nation,” he said.
Waena is a former public servant, politician, and governor general.
BY EDDIE OSIFELO
