AIMP believe they are capable of running the New Government

The Association of Independent Members of Parliament (AIMP) is optimistic of forming the next Government. And it may do so without its former political ally, People’s Alliance Party (PAP), if it has the number to form the Government.
Snyder Rini and AIMP president Sir Thomas Chan walking into Flamingo for the party’s meeting yesterday.

Lobbying is already underway and AIM has set up its camp in Honiara Hotel, own by its president Sir Thomas Chan. The group yesterday claimed it now has 24 MPs, including those who contested and won as independent members in last week’s election. "We are gaining numbers. If we get the required numbers we could form the next government without our PAP. "But if we happen to merge again with PAP, then the post of Prime Minister will certainly be held by our leader," one senior official involved in lobbying told the Solomon Star outside Honiara Hotel yesterday.

The Solomon Star has learnt that AIM’s lobbying strategy was planned from inside the hotel by Sir Chan himself. The leadership of AIMP could fall on the shoulders of former deputy Prime Minister Snyder Rini or one of the group’s founders Edward Huniehu. Mr Huniehu yesterday confirmed his group is "highly optimistic" of forming the government. "I think we have the numbers. "Most of the candidates that contested as independent MPs are now coming to us. "We’ll see how things will unfold in the coming days," he told the Solomon Star as he emerged from Honiara Hotel yesterday afternoon.

AIM has claimed that they already had the three newly elected MPs from Isabel in their camp. The Solomon Star was however, only able to spot Varian Lonamei, the new MP for Maringe/Kokota at the hotel yesterday. Other new MPs sited at the hotel yesterday are Peter Shanel (Central Guadalcanal) and Seth Gukuna (Renbel). The Solomon Star was unable to locate other political party camps in Honiara yesterday.

Source: Solomon Star News