The Grand Coalition Group has picked United Party (UP) Leader Peter Kenilorea (Jr) as its candidate for the position of Prime Minister.

The date for the election of Prime Minister is set for the 24th of April 2019, with the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) and the Grand Coalition Group (DCG) vying to form Government.

A statement from DCG members says that they “fully backed the new MP for East Are’are to contest the Prime Minister’s position the same day the Governor General Sir Frank Kabui announced the date for the Prime Minister’s Election.”

In welcoming the decision, Kenilorea has reached out to all leaders to join the Grand Coalition to move the country forward to regain the confidence from the people towards the government.

He appeals to the public to remain calm as national leaders go through the process of electing the country’s next Prime Minister.

According to Kenilorea, he and his new colleagues have been given the opportunity to take the lead with the blessing of their senior, wise and veteran politicians in the Grand Coalition camp.

The DCGA is yet to declare its candidate but insiders indicate it may well be Manasseh Sogavare.

Prior to his success at the recent national general elections, Peter was the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Affairs, a position he gave up to contest the elections.

Prior to his appointment as Permanent Secretary he was employed as an International Civil Servant with the United Nations Secretariat in New York.

From 2000-2017 he has held positions in the UN Office of Legal Affairs, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the UN Department of General Assembly and Conference Management, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the UN Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States.

From 1996-2000, he was employed by the Solomon Islands Government, serving in the Attorney General’s Chambers and from 1994-1995 he was employed by Jennifer Corrin Barrister & Solicitor.

Peter obtained an LLB from the University of Waikato in New Zealand which he attended from 1991-1994. He also obtained an LLM in International Law from the University of Nottingham in the UK which he attended from 1997-1998.

Most of his secondary schooling was done at Wesley College, New Zealand which he attended from 1986-1990. He is married with two children.