Gordon Darcy Lilo presents new group as poised to save country from current ‘economic and social’ problems

BY IRWIN ANGIKI

The new coalition set to bring down the GNUT government is doing so for the interest of the country.

Gordon Darcy Lilo, the man behind the motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele set for Tuesday next week, says this as he fronted media yesterday [Thursday, May 1].

Mr Lilo, MP for Central Honiara, says the country is facing problems from all corners, drawing attention to the dire state of the economy, crippled social sector, higher cost of living, presence of a lot of ‘empty companies’ which are looking for fast profits off the country’s resources – and the culminating loss of confidence in the government leadership.

He said because of this, the new coalition formed between the Opposition group and the 10 defectors from the GNUT government are determined to create a new government and save Solomon Islands.

“Our interest is the country. We are not interested in our own personal issues.

“We are interested in putting forward the national interest of our country, that this country must move forward, that this country must have a better policy to be able to develop all other economic and social facets of our country. That is our interest. That is the interest of this group.

“We have remained quiet and then remained focused on the putting up the best alternative policy that we can put forward to be able to show that there is an alternative policy that can take this country going forward. We all know the situation that we are facing, the cost-of-living situation, inflation, lack of real investment in our country.

“So these are the real issues that we are determined to tackle right now. And I want to say to you that I’m really impressed with the makeup that is forming this group. It is a makeup that is comprised of seasoned leaders, well-experienced, qualified people and also leaders that have great interest for our country.

“And I can say to you that we can present an alternative government that is more positive in its outlook and also looking at the critical areas that we need to consider to be able to ensure that the development pathway and trajectory of our country moving forward is well-guaranteed.”

Will there be power struggle?

The new coalition contains three former prime ministers, two former deputy prime ministers and a veteran opposition leader who has been reportedly eyeing the PM post.

When posed the question how this cocktail of ambitious high-flyers will be kept under a stable coalition, Mr Lilo said the MPs in his group are held together by the interest of the country despite their individual interests.

“In terms of political theory that is what people will say. I am telling you that these are leaders, and I can assure you that the leadership spirit that is now oozed out of these leaders is one of national interest.

“So, there won’t be any power struggle.

“I’m not talking about the political side of it. I’m putting forward to you that this grouping has shown a very, very strong, decisive, and determined leadership spirit to put the interest of our country, our people, and also the condition of our own country, the economy, the social sector, and all of the infrastructure, real investment has dropped. And you’ll be quite surprised, you know, to see that that’s the kind of addition that we will present.

“So there won’t be any power struggle.”

Confidence of the new coalition to win the motion of no-confidence

Lilo is confident that the new coalition will hold together come Tuesday next week and successful vote PM Manele out.

“The way that I see the situation right now, I can just say to you that these leaders are determined to really disprove all the kind of assessment that has been made.

“And the numbers that we have, as you can see, on the floor on Tuesday [April 29], I can only make reference to that particular situation. There were 25 of us. One is overseas, so that’s 26 like that.

“But for anyone to suggest that the 26 will move, I can confidently say that we are determined to deliver, that there is no confidence on Prime Minister on Tuesday.”

New coalition yet to decide on line-up

Lilo rubbished lists published on media which purport that the new coalition has assigned their members to the various government portfolios for when they come to power.

He said the new coalition is for now focusing on voting out PM Manele on Tuesday next week, and have not deliberated on who will be given which portfolios.

“The only media release from the grouping is what I am doing now. There won’t be any other media release apart from the fact that if we are going to raise some issues to the media, then we will put i out in the media.

“So, those assessments that came out from that particular media release that you are talking about, we are not aware of that. I don’t know where that came out from. So, don’t feed yourself from those kind of outlet.

“Fake news are always around here. So, please stop it now. It could be a propaganda tool.”

Lilo submitted a notice for a motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele on Monday this week.

This followed the resignation of 10 MPs from the government, led by finance minister Manasseh Sogavare earlier that day.

Since the GNUT government was formed after the national general elections last year, this is the second motion of no-confidence against PM Manele, both being moved by Lilo.

The first one, put on notice on December 5 last year, was withdrawn on the floor of parliament by Lilo on December 13 after government MPs who had initially supported it reneged in the 11th hour.

Meanwhile, Wednesday this week, April 30, marks the first anniversary of the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) government.

As of last night, GNUT government reportedly has 23 MPs, while Lilo’s group has 26 MPs.

Lilo is a former prime minister (2011-2014).

The other former prime ministers in the Opposition group are: Mr Sogavare, MP for East Choiseul, who has served four terms (2000-2001, 2006-2007, 2014-2017, and 2019-2024). Rick Hoenipuela, MP for Small Malaita (2017-2019).

The former deputy prime ministers are: Manasseh Maelanga, MP for East Malaita, who held the post three times (2010-2011, 2011-2014, 2019-2024), John Maneniaru, MP of West Are’are who held the DPM post for six months when DCGA formed in April 2019, but was sacked by then-PM Sogavare for abstaining from voting to switch diplomatic ties to China from Taiwan.

BY INDY MAEALASIA
THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) teamed up with schools and stakeholders yesterday to celebrate the 2025 Immunisation Week, doubling down on its commitment to make vaccines available nationwide, particularly among children.
This year’s event was held under the theme “Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible” at the HCC Youth Hub Chinatown.
“The ministry continues its commitment to the task of reaching high vaccine coverage for all antigens and ensuring the safety, and the protection of the population against life-threatening, infectious diseases,” MHMS Minister Paul Popora Bosawai said in his keynote speech.
The minister said that given the ongoing measles outbreaks around the world and region, Solomon Islands is at risk.
“These increase the risks of the importation of measles viruses, furthermore, polio continues, to be an ongoing risk due to previous outbreaks and the recent report of polio detection, in our neighbouring country, Papua New Guinea. This makes it even more vital, that we achieve high vaccine coverage, for the protection, of our most vulnerable,” Bosawai warned.
Sharing the same sentiments, WHO Representative in Solomon Islands Dr Howard Sobel shared with the audience the primary importance of vaccines.
“Vaccine gives a little lesson to your body. It teaches your body how to fight off a disease before the real sickness comes.
“They (Vaccine) give your body a preview of a disease so when it actually hits you, your body is able to recognize the disease and successfully get rid of it. Your body is smart. Once it learns to fight disease, it remembers how,” he said.
Sobel urged the audience particularly children to be curious and brave to be informed about vaccination
“Encourage all your family members to get vaccinated, all your community members to get vaccinated. You have a lot of power within you. It’s my message to you that you have the opportunity to really help Solomon Islands become a safe place,” he said.
Sobel urged the audience to be ambitious, making preventable diseases a thing of the past with the use of vaccine.
The event brought together teachers and students from schools in Honiara and Guadalcanal Province, who took part in drawing and speech competitions.
Stakeholders also showcased their work and contributions to immunization efforts across the country

BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The group of MPs who deserted GNUT government early this week have called for calm amid the political instability.
This follows a no confidence motion filed against PM Jeremiah Manele, after a mass walkout of 10 MPs from his government, who now join the Opposition Group.
While time still allow for lobbying ahead of tabling the motion on Tuesday next week, citizens of this country, especially those in Honiara were asked for peace and calm.
A senior MP within the group, MP for East Malaita, Manasseh Maelanga made the appeal at a press conference held with local media yesterday.
“I want to call on the people of this nation for calm and see how things will work-out.
“This is our leaders and they will be looking at how to solve things for our country,” he said.
This week, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and Opposition Leader Matthew Wale also called for calm and allow leaders to deal with the current political situation.
Similar appealed also echoed by RSIPF, Honiara City Council and other important stakeholders in Honiara.
As of Wednesday night, the Opposition Group is reported with 26 MPs and the government side with 23 MPs.
Lobbying is underway.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Former Minister for Infrastructure Development and MP for East Malaita Manasseh Maelanga who joined nine others and deserted GNUT government says they are not grasshoppers, but leaders, who made the decision for the interest of the country.
The MP made the statement in response to allegations raised by some MPs on the government bench that their decision to defect from GNUT was ‘nothing else but grasshopping’.
[Grasshopping is a term used to describe members of parliament who jump from one side of the floor of parliament to the other].
“I want to iron out allegation made by some of our former cabinet colleagues, alleging our move was grasshopper, is childish in politics.
“This is not grasshopper. If you look at history, we are not people like that. We moved because of something, and it’s because leadership,” Maelanga said.
Maelanga added if a leader does not know how to handle a group, this is what is expected, as they are mandated by people to serve the country with integrity.
He said there are allegations on certain issues they were not happy about, because of leadership. And with a weak leadership, the country cannot achieve anything, nor progress.
Adding only through strong leadership, the government can implement its policies.
In the meantime, Maelanga said the mass walkout from GNUT was also due to personal conviction, based on what they ‘felt inside’.
“We cannot just sit-down when things are not going well. We have our own thoughts and for me, I just cannot sit down and watch,” he said.
Maelanga also called on MPs to understand and acknowledge that in parliament, the opposition group is an alternative government.
They can form the government if they have the majority number.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Former Minister for Infrastructure Development, MP for East Malaita Manasseh Maelanga has called on MPs in GNUT government to make up their mind and leave.
This is the right decision, and only through that they can resolve issues they continue to feel discontent about under the current leadership, he said.
In light of that, the 10 MPs had made up the decision to resign from their ministerial portfolios and left government, a hard decision to make, Maelanga said.
But they did so, according to Maelanga, for the good of the country.
He said there were reasons to desert GNUT government and above all, their loss of confidence on the current regime.
Maelanga told media yesterday that sometimes in the recent past, a petition was submitted by the government group to the Prime Minister.
He added within the petition requests were made for PM Jeremiah Manele to dialogue with some of the government ministers on concerning issues, but nothing happened.
“This shows weak leadership,” Maelanga said.
He furthered that some colleagues on the government side were also not happy about it, “but they still sit down there”.
“They don’t have the guts to move,” Maelanga said while acknowledged them as leaders, but for 10 of them, they had made their decision to leave GNUT government.
“I call on them to make up their mind,” he said.

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Minister Fredrick Kologeto has described Deputy Prime Minister Bradley Tovosia’s resignation as a mature decision in his leadership.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Mines Tovosia tendered his resignation from both positions on Monday this week.
“I think he showed mature leadership in his part. Sometimes when you come to that level, I think it’s very hard for you to go down. But he humbled himself to come down and resign, listen to us,” said Kologeto, minister for communications and aviation.
“So, he humbled himself to take the stand and be brave, and I think that’s where the leadership comes in. Putting people first, country,” Kologeto said.
Kologeto said Tovosia was still an OUR Party candidate and has joined the GNUT government backbenchers.
“So, I think he humbled himself to make the decision. But it’s good for the party, I mean, for the government and the nation,’’ said the People’s First Party wing leader.
“And for us, the People’s First Party, that is it. Put people first. That’s our core, our mission,” Kologeto said.
“Tovosia will join the backbencher and promise to offer his support to the Government,” he said.
He said that the Government backbench plays a very important role.
“They (Backbenchers) are a kind of opposition group inside the caucus. It’s the cabinet, the ministers, the caucus, the whole government formation. They keep an eye on the ministers as well. Anything the ministers are not doing right? The caucus is always there,’’ he said.
Tovosia is the Member of Parliament for East Guadalcanal.