By Charlie Piringi

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has called on Western nations, especially the United States, not to use LGBTIQA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more) as a weapon for smaller island states to access funding. 

Sogavare, who is currently in China, was speaking last Friday at the nation’s 45th independence anniversary event held in Honiara.

“My concern though is how the LGBTIQA+ will shape the US foreign policy and how that will affect us,” Sogavare stated.

“I don’t want the issue of LGBTIQA+ to be weaponized against us and used as a condition for accessing aid,” he added.

Sogavare warned SIBC TV, operated by the national broadcaster, that his office will be strictly filtering content that is of LGBTIQA+ related.

“We have our own values and will not allow others to impose their values on us.” 

He added his Government has just ratified the Convention of People with Disability. 

“This is in keeping with our obligation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of not living peoples with Disability behind under any circumstances whatsoever.”