Hou confirms nomination for PM

BY BEN BILUA

MEMBER of Parliament for Small Malaita, Honourable Rick Hou, has confirmed his nomination to become the new Prime Minister of Solomon Islands.

In an interview with this paper, Hou said his nominators include; Caretaker Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare, Hon Peter Shanel, Hon Stanley Sofu and Hon Freda Tuki along with the former DCCG government.

“I’m yet to be elected as Prime Minister as the election is seven days away.

“For the moment, I can confirm that those who are left with DCCG have endorsed my candidacy,” he said.

Hou explained that the new government is a coalition of five parties; Kandere Party, United Democratic Party, People Allies Party, Democratic Allies Party and SI People’s First Party.

He told this paper that the government camp is yet to discuss other portfolios like the deputy Prime Minister and ministerial portfolios.

Hou said coalition leaders have decided that distribution of portfolios will be made when the right time calls.

Meanwhile, he condemned Alfred Sasako’s article which imparted wrong information regarding the government portfolio distribution, saying the article needs to be corrected.

When asked about the priorities of the new government, Hou said party members are now working on the priorities that the new government will prioritise in the next 10 months.

“I’m confident to say that one of the top priority of the new government is to stabilise the current fiscal situation the country is facing at the moment by consolidating the budget and inject confidence into the economy,” he said.

Hou stressed that the outline of the new government’s priorities will be made after the new Prime Minister is elected and officially enthroned.

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