SIPFP strongly rebuts “Third Wave Remains Alive” article

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SIPFP DUBBED ALFRED SASAKO ‘THE CLOWN GOSSIPER’

Honiara, Solomon Islands, 22^nd July 2025: The Solomon Islands People First Party (SIPFP) strongly rebuts an article that was published by Alfred Sasako on Wednesday, 16 July, entitled “Third Wave Remains Alive”. The article alleged that SIPFP is masterminding a third wave (implying a third vote of no confidence to oust the PM) through a series of meetings it held recently to discuss its strategy and PM candidacy in preparation for the third motion.

As the most stable political party within the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) with good public standing, SIPFP acknowledges that one of the critical roles of media in a democratic society is to inform and shape public opinion on key political discourses based on factual information.

In the case of Alfred Sasako, now dubbed ‘the Clown Gossiper’, the integrity of any articles authored by him should always be questioned and viewed as an attempt to influence public opinion and cause political disunity within GNUT negatively. On several occasions, he has been accused of inaccurate and irresponsible reporting.

A once respected journalist, he has now fully developed a reputation for himself as ‘the Clown Gossiper’.

On this note, SIPFP wishes to make the following statements in response to Mr. Sasako’s inaccurate and misleading article.

• We reaffirm our full commitment to the Prime Minister, the Honourable Jeremiah Manela, and the Government of National Unity and Transformation (GNUT), of which SIPFP is a Coalition Partner.

• During the formation of the GNUT Coalition, SIPFP was a key political party that endorsed Honourable Manele’s candidacy for PM, who subsequently became the Prime Minister.

• Our commitment to the People of Solomon Islands through GNUT is evident in our unwavering support for the Prime Minister Manele. It will continue until parliament dissolves naturally and transitions into a caretaker mode.

• We have stood by and fully supported (and will continue to do so) Prime Minister Manele and GNUT on two (2) previous motions of no confidence that were instigated by others.

• We are the most stable political party within the current coalition, with 11 MPs, 10 of whom are GNUT Ministers. As a testimony to our party’s solidarity, in the two (2) recent motions, none of our MPs and government ministers have formally left the party. Instead, we have three (3) new MPs, who are now government ministers, who have officially joined SIPFP of their own accord.

• We are conscious of our good public reputation, and it is in the party’s interest to maintain our image and integrity. As such, we are not interested in any proposed motion (or so-called third wave) that would only cause political instability and public uproar, thereby damaging SIPFP’s reputation.

• We fully respect the Coalition Executive, which comprises the OUR Party Executive, SIPFP Executive, and Kandere Party Executive, that meets monthly to discuss key political, policy, and developmental issues.

• Given the minimal time before the next National General Election in 2028, our priority is therefore to support Prime Minister Manele and GNUT in the implementation and delivery of our policy objectives and priorities.

• We recognise political stability as a prerequisite for driving the Solomon Islands’ economic development/growth and are therefore committed to it within GNUT.

• We are therefore unaware of Mr. Sasako’s assertions as alluded to in his article.

The Party, therefore, disassociates itself from any connections with politicians and individuals who are interested in causing political instability in the country.

The Party, simultaneously, urges ‘the Clown Gossiper’ and the Solomon Star Daily to stop misleading the public on the Third Wave.

-press release