PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has stressed the significance of addressing domestic priorities in the Solomon Islands and has chosen to delegate his attendance at the Pacific Leaders Summit with United States President Joe Biden.
“I understand the concerns regarding my absence from Washington. However, pressing domestic issues require my immediate attention. It’s important to note that we are still well-represented in Washington at the meeting with President Biden, thanks to our Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade,” said Sogavare.
During a press conference upon his arrival at the International Airport yesterday afternoon, he clarified that the Solomon Islands Parliament has a mere 10 weeks left before dissolution, necessitating his focus on critical legislation.
“As the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, my primary duty is to prioritize our country’s urgent domestic matters rather than attending meetings of this nature,” highlighted Sogavare.
Sogavare further expressed his frustration with past experiences at similar gatherings. “I attended a comparable summit last year, and regrettably, it yielded no tangible results. I won’t participate in an event where I’m a mere passive observer,” he declared.
He called for a change in approach from the United States, urging them to show more respect for Pacific leaders. Sogavare voiced his dissatisfaction with the format of these meetings, where leaders are granted only three minutes to speak while the majority of the time is dedicated to lectures.
“Last year, they pledged $800 billion in aid, yet to date, we’ve seen no concrete action on that commitment,” Sogavare pointed out.
In drawing a contrast, Sogavare highlighted how other countries treat leaders with greater respect. He shared his experiences with countries like Australia, Korea, and China, where he was granted an hour for bilateral talks, emphasizing that they regarded him as a peer.
“We are leaders, and we shouldn’t be subjected to lectures as if we were in a classroom,” emphasized PM Sogavare.
In response to Sogavare’s decision, the United States expressed disappointment at his absence from the special PIF Summit.
