18 Jan 2010

New political party launched in Solomon Islands

6:40 am on 18 January 2010

Another political party has been launched in the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara, to contest the June general election.

The founders of the new Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party are the eight current members of the Opposition and Independent group in Parliament.

The Interim President of the Our Party, Opposition Leader, Manasseh Sogavare said during the party's launch that the Government as an institution of democracy has slowly but systematically drifted away from placing the real needs and aspirations of citizens as its priority, into serving the narrow interests of politics, regionalism, and worst of all foreign interests.

Mr Sogavare said that what is becoming a serious matter of concern is the fact that the divide created is showing no sign of narrowing, creating the fear that the nation may lose total control and ownership of the Government.

Yesterday's launch was for Honiara and similar launching by OUR Party will also be held in all the provincial centres starting with Auki in Malaita Province on the 29th of this month.