Solomon Islands’ Opposition leader Matthew Wale has criticized the Prime Minister’s recent overseas engagements, describing them as a “diplomatic hopscotch” lacking clear priorities.

“The Prime Minister missed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), citing urgent domestic duties,” Wale said.

“Yet, just days later, he flew to the United Arab Emirates (UAE),” he pointed out.

“He also announced that he would be unable to attend the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, also citing pressing domestic obligations. 

“Yet, he is currently in Indonesia attending a presidential inauguration. 

“Where are the Prime Minister’s priorities?

“He avoids the UNGA but makes time for the UAE. 

“He skips CHOGM, yet makes time for Jakarta. It appears that ceremonial events take precedence over global forums.”

The Opposition Leader said that the absence of the Prime Minister from key international forums like the UNGA and CHOGM raises concerns, particularly for the Solomon Islands as a Pacific Island nation grappling with pressing issues such as climate change, economic development, and regional security.

“Commitment to such national and regional concerns should not be sacrificed for diplomatic convenience,” he said.

Wale emphasized the ongoing human rights crisis in West Papua as a pressing regional issue that still remains. 

“If Prime Minister Manele’s visit to Jakarta is to have any merit, it should include a forthright discussion with Indonesia about the systemic repression of West Papuan lives and voices,” Wale said. 

The Opposition Leader adds the Prime Minister’s approach of “consultation rather than confrontation” must not come at the expense of advocating for human rights of Melanesian brothers and sisters. 

Wale concluded that Prime Minister Manele’s absence from key international forums signals misplaced national priorities. 

He added that the lack of dialogue on ongoing human rights violations with Indonesia would suggest that our priorities are negotiable, or even expendable, for financial gain.

Elected to the top political job for the first time after the April national elections this year, Manele decided to skip what would have been his first appearance at the UNGA as Prime Minister of Solomon Islands.

He instead sent a delegation of his ministers led by Foreign Affairs minister Peter Shanel Agovaka to the annual UN summit. 

Manele told journalists at that time that he opted not to attend UNGA because he has a lot of domestic issues to attend to.

But a few days later, he left for the UAE.

Asked by a journalist whether his decision not to attend UNGA was influenced by outsiders,  Manele dismissed that assertion.