MANASSEH SOGAVARE, PM’s CANDIDATE FOR HONIARA HOTEL CAMP

MP for East Choiseul Manasseh Sogavare. Photo credit: Parliament.

MP for East Choiseul Manasseh Sogavare. Photo credit: Parliament.

Two-time former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has been put forward as the prime ministerial candidate for the Honiara Hotel coalition grouping, which came out publicly with its membership last night.

Recent media reports say 27 of the 50 newly elected MPs claim allegiance to the group, and 26 MP-elects posed for a group photo for the media last night.

The new group, which is yet to be named, is made up of MP-elects from three political parties – the Kadere Party, the United Democratic Party and break away MPs from the People’s Alliance Party.

Meanwhile, spokesperson for the rival Solomon Islands People’s Democratic Coalition and former Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, Douglas Marau says it is too early for anyone to claim they have the numbers to rule.

Meanwhile, a plan by the Honiara Hotel coalition to charter the Solomon Airlines DASH 8 plane to travel out of the country this afternoon, an unprecedented move to keep members away from intense political lobbying, has been called off.

Insiders from the Solomon Airlines say, they were aware of the planned charter flight but were informed it was cancelled, a few hours before it was due to fly.

They also expressed relief at the cancellation, saying the chartered flight had posed disruptions to the Airlines flight schedules.

SIBC News was up at the airport this afternoon to witness the flight but was reliably informed, the flight was cancelled.

It was unclear whether the political coalition was planning a hide away in Vanuatu or in Papua New Guinea ahead of the election of the Prime Minister.

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