BY IRWIN ANGIKI
The new government of Rennell and Bellona under Premier Eric Sau’eha has pulled off a historic ward tour of the province.
The ward visitation was the first of its kind in more than three decades.
Premier Sau’eha led his executive and admin officers to visit each ward and meet with the people and communities to hear their concerns and views on issues affecting them, and discuss ways forward.
Highlight of the concerns raised include the failed education system on both islands, the poor health and medical services, and the almost dead law and order in the province.
The ward tour ran from February 4-10. It started on February 4 with two meetings on Bellona across the four wards on the island.
On Feb 5 the executive went over to Rennell and met with ward 6 community. Following day, they met with wards 4 and 3. Feb 8 they met with ward 2, Feb 9 with ward 1. And on Feb 10 the executive met with ward 5 community.
Speaking with Island Sun, Deputy Premier Collin Tesuatai said ‘ward tour’ was one of the first things Premier Sau’eha’s new government identified as a priority – to begin their rule by first revisiting the people and hearing it straight from them what their challenges are and discuss how to address them.
“For a long time, no Renbel provincial government had carried out an executive ward visit,” Mr Tesuatai said.
“Each meeting was well attended by people from the communities in the wards who were eager to meet their new government and also since this is the first time and their chance to meet face-to-face with their government and openly share their challenges and concerns with us.”
“The purpose of the ward tour was “meet with the people in the communities in each ward. Discuss with people the new government’s plans for the province. Collect views of the people in the communities. Discuss outstanding issues of the province with each ward. Share our first 100-day policy to the people. Get people’s views which we will insert into the new provincial government’s plans and policies and discuss the issue of an additional ward”.
Education concerns dominate Bellona meetings
On Bellona, the dominating issue of concern raised by the people were – the failed education, the failed health and medical system.
“A lot of issues raised by the people relating to education on Bellona, which is a longstanding issue on the island. The issue of health and medical services follows with calls for province to address this. Law and order issue on Bellona was next – lack of presence of police.
“Recommendations were raised by the people and the provincial government took note of them,” Tesu’atai said.
Logging, mining and education concerns highlighted in Rennell
“Issues of mining and logging were at the forefront of concerns raised in the meetings on Rennell,” Tesu’atai said.
“West Rennell wards also emphasised the issue of education on Rennell. Education on Rennell they said was dead.
“Dissatisfaction was expressed with the province’s education officer in handling with teachers’ matters.
“The communities told us that most teachers who had left Rennell was because of their grievances against the education officer,” Tesu’atai said.
Sister relations with China’s Hainan province
In both islands, the issue of Rennell and Bellona province’s sister relations with Hainan province of China was raised. People want to know the new executive’s stand on the matter.
“We told them that the new government sees the sister relations with China’s Hainan province as an important venture for Renbel, and that we will revisit the matter and revive relations with Hainan,” Tesuatai said.
The Chinese embassy in Honiara was one of the offices visited by Premier Sau’eha and his executive during their courtesy visit programme in March, 2026.
Feedback – immediate implementation
Following the ward tour Premier Sau’eha and his executive held meetings at the provincial chambers in Tigoa, Rennell, to officially record the concerns raised in each ward and align them with the provincial government’s plans and policies.
“We had found out that a lot of the problems facing the communities are a result of lack of communication, which could have been addressed had leaders and people communicated openly and transparently, and work together to address those issues,” Tesuatai said.
“We are committed to most areas we had assured the people we would work on. For example, law and order. We have in our budget allocations for two police constables, one for Bellona and one for Rennell based in East Rennell.
“Education issue, agriculture, fisheries, health and medical, land transport for province are the things we had assured we would work on,” Tesu’atai said.
Premier Sau’eha and his new government were sworn-in on January 2, 2026 following a successful motion of no-confidence against former premier Derek Pongi on December 29, 2025.
Sau’eha’s government passed a budget of $11 million on March 27 which focused on existing projects in the province and support for sectors including education, medical and health, law and order, agriculture and fisheries.
A courtesy visit on the national government and Renbel’s partners was held in the second week of March, 2026, but was however forced to cancel due to the political impasse that national government was under.
The courtesy visit will resume when government settles down, Deputy Premier Tesu’atai said.
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