Government's decision to boycott Tonga Forum Leaders Meeting not reached by Cabinet: Insider

The Solomon Star newspaper has reported that the government's decision to boycott the Pacific Forum Leaders meeting in Tonga might backfire on the Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare.

The Solomon Star today quoted a senior cabinet insider as saying that ministers and backbenchers plan to demand a leadership change.

He said the decision to boycott the meetings, now underway in Tonga, was not endorsed by cabinet as claimed earlier.

The cabinet insider said the decision was driven by few individuals including the prime minister.

Deputy Prime Minister Toswell Kaua was quoted as having declined to comment on the issue.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was in Taipei in the past few days, on the invitation of the Taiwanese government.

Government representatives at the Tonga meeting are the Foreign Minister Patteson Oti and National Planning Minister Steve Abana.

But reports from Tonga say the two men did not attend the Forum Plenary session yesterday, and are also boycotting today's leaders' retreat.

Source: SIBC