16 Jan 2018

Reports of plot to overthrow new Solomons PM

3:01 pm on 16 January 2018

There are unconfirmed reports from Solomon Islands of an internal plot to overthrow the two month old government of prime minister Rick Hou.

Solomons PM, Rick Hou

Solomons PM, Rick Hou Photo: Solomon Star

The Island Sun newspaper reports government insiders saying a senior minister is linked to the plot which officials discovered two weeks ago.

It said the disgruntled minister hatched the plot after Rick Hou halted a controversial land purchase worth almost US$500,000 dollars or 50 million Solomon Dollars.

Meanwhile the Solomon Business Magazine reported the leader of the opposition Manasseh Maelanga in a statement this afternoon declared the opposition is not part of any move to overthrow the prime minister.

Mr Maelanga said involving the opposition would be unwise given Rick Hou has only been in office for two months and elections are due later this year or early next year.

He urged the government coalition to set aside narrow political interests and focus on delivering national priorities in the limited time remaining in their tenure.

A statement in response to the article is also expected from the prime minister's office later today.

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