PM single out China on independence day; a slap on the face of our friends: Opposition

OPPOSITION Leader Hon Matthew Wale has described the Prime Minister’s independence speech to single out China as a ‘worthy partner’ as a slap on the face of our other development partners.

In a statement today, Hon Wale said the Prime Minister’s statement is insensitive of the partnerships between Solomon Islands and other development partners over the past years, some dating as far back since independence.

The Prime Minister in his Independence Speech recently singled out Beijing as a partner that had already demonstrated a “genuine intention” to be a “worthy partner” in the country’s development.

“It is a slap on the face of our other friends that have stood with us all these years and to single out a partner of less than 3 years old compared to some of our bilateral friends that stood by our country over the years until today is very insensitive of a national leader especially a Prime Minister,” Hon Wale said.

The Opposition Leader said development partners such as Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, PNG, US and all our other development partners are also ‘worthy partners’ with genuine intentions and not China alone.

The Opposition Leader said the Prime Minister’s independence speech this year is one of the worst independence message by far.

“It lacks a unifying spirit but full of political declarations,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said the Prime Minister’s speech is the result of immature arrogance that is unbecoming of the Prime Minister of a developing country that needs all the goodwill and support of all partners.

“All our friends deserve equal recognition and praise for their contributions to our beloved country since independence and not China alone,” he said.

ENDS//

Opposition Press