Today, March 18, 2025, our national government recognised and showed its appreciation is celebrating with the Solomon Islands nation and people, the contributions and achievements of the late Sir Francis Billy Hilly GCMC, with a State Funeral. Indeed, he is worthy of such recognition for what he had un-selfishly used his God given talents during his long life of service for his people in Ranogga and Simbo, Western Region, Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific Region. For he has fought the fight and finished the race and now is at a place that his Lord had prepared for him.
I first came to know Billy, in 1971 at USP Laucala Bay Campus, Fiji. He was at his final years of his Degree studies while I was a first year student doing my one-year Preliminary Science. At USP, we were billeted to the Third Hall where Billy was our Senior Student, trying to keep us in some sort of order. As one of our senior students and a representative on the USP Student Council, all of us from Solomon Islands looked up to him for guidance, leadership and support. He played his role well in our challenges with such multi-national and cultural regional institution.
After that year, we parted company. He continued his studies and graduate with his BA (Administration) in 1973. I left to pursue my interest in Agriculture studies in Papua New Guinea. It was many years later in 1983 to 1986 that we met again, initially in Gizo when I was posted as the Acting Principal Field Officer (PFO) for the then Western Province which included Choiseul. Later, in 1985 I left the Ministry of Agriculture Extension Division to Join the them Solomon Islands Copra Board as its Branch Manager at Noro, where I stayed until I was moved to Honiara as the CEMA’s Commodities Development and Extension Manager.
It was during my period working at Gizo and Noro that I started to know Billy at his best and for me, my best time of learning about government procedures and processes as well as the Provincial Government policies, roles and functions under the mentoring and monitoring of my friend, the Hon. Francis Billy Hilly, who was by then, the Premier of Western Province. He was an excellent teacher and motivator. In fact, his advice to me on Public Services policies and procedures is in the General Orders (GO). Treat it as your bible. It should be always at a corner of your desk. Later, this practical advice proved beneficial for me when I was successful when making a claim to the office of the Ombudsman (Sir Peter Kenilorea, at the time) for my being a Level 6 officer acting for a Level 8 Position for 2 years.
At that time the Provincial Agriculture Extension Division was devolved to the provinces, meaning that the Division was directly answerable to the province through the Provincial Clerk (later Provincial Secretary) for its operational functions. Linkage to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands was mainly on technical and personnel matters only.
But Hon Francis Billy Hilly, as the Premier has far more important matters to deal with for his Province and the nation than a new public servant bewildered by his new job.
As the Premier of Western Province, Francis was more concerned about the sustainability of the province financially to supplement the grants from the national government To this end he made use of his business acumen and experiences to address it. With his forward looking business related insight, he identified certain resources that were available and accessible to the province that had the potential to be developed to achieve more self-financially. Together with other leaders in his government and resource persons such as Job Dudley Tausinga, in the Province he provided leadership to establish the following initiatives for the province.
- Establishment of the Western Province Investment Secretariat (Economic Arm). Under this body several economic activities undertaken included;
- The Western Development Corporation Ltd (WDCL) – the first Retail Store was established at Noro and managed by Mr. Takayama, a Japanese friend who was a former manager of the British Solomon Islands Trading Company at Gizo. The Store thrived and convenient for the early residents of Noro.
- Taking over the Rendova Harbour Plantation – a productive plantation previously owned by an expatriate. It had coconut, Cocoa, coffee and some cattle.
- Property Real-estate at Noro- where Western Province build housing accommodations for the Solomon Taiyo company to rent for its employees. There were nearly 50 residential houses.
- Rental of the Bulk Fuel Tank at Noro. This need to be verified.
- Other Development initiatives
One of the developments that was supported by the Provincial government during the time was
the establishment Agricultural Settlement Schemes. These schemes involved sub-dividing
alienated lands (FTE) and newly registered Customary Land into Land Develop Cooperatives (LDC)
for the purpose of relocation, especially for Simbo Island people who are living on a live volcanic
island. and agricultural development. The schemes are managed by the appropriate Area
Councils. Applicants send their applications to the respective Area Councils for approval. On
approval, they were given Temporary Occupation Licenses (TOL). After they develop
it they are then given Fixed Term Estate (FTE) title over their developed land. Such schemes exist
now in Baeroko, Kolombangara, Vella la Vella, Shortlands, Gizo, Munda, Bunikalo in Marovo and
even on Choiseul at Kolombangara River, South Choiseul.
This initiative enabled the successful applicants to secure land and carried out agricultural
developments.
Much had Sir Francis done during his life time for his people of Ranongga and Simbo Islands, Western region as well as our Nation. The late Sir Francis had contributed much more at the national level when he became an MP for Ranogga and Simbo Island which others had covered well when he was Minister for various Ministries and finally the Prime Minister position. He represented Solomon Islands well and well respected at the regional level for his roles in the cessation of the Bougainville crisis and other duties as team leader for other Pacific countries during their elections and so on.
I continued to relate to him in my work in CEMA, especially, when he was the Minister of Commerce and Industries as CEMA was under his portfolio and his very close relationship with the CEMA Board and Management.
During his retiring period before his illness, he continued his interest in developing his plantation at Koriovuku, where established a Virgin Coconut Oil unit in association with the Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands (KPSI).
It is most fitting that he is taken back to his home to rest and be close to his family, people and his land.
Good bye my friend. You have done more than enough for us. We will remember you always as our gentle but a political giant from Koriovuku, Ranongga Island, Western Province.
By Moses Pelomo
