BY JOSES SAREN
Rennell and Bellona Province celebrated its 33rd anniversary and Second Appointed Day yesterday at the Town Ground Rugby Stadium in Honiara, under the theme “Embracing Reform, Unity and Progress for Rennell Bellona”.
The low-key celebration, moved to Honiara after the province’s major planned event at Tigoa was cancelled following the sinking of MV Anjeanette.
The ceremony opened with the arrival of the public and officials, receiving and garlanding of invited guests, and the escort of the Guest of Honor by the Papa traditional group.
The RSIPF and Police Band Platoon led the parade before the raising of provincial and national flags and singing of anthems.
Premier Erick Saueha welcomed the gathering on behalf of the Provincial Government and the people of Rennell and Bellona, paying tribute to the province’s founding leaders and describing the day as both a celebration and a moment of reflection on the challenges still facing the province.
He listed a string of achievements under his “Reform and Transformation Government,” including the province’s successful PCDF assessment for FY2024/25, ward grants deposited into WDC accounts, and funding secured through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, UNDP, IEDCR and UNCDF-LoCAL for education, health, fisheries and food security projects.
He also announced that Rennell Bellona Province will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hainan Province in China this year, covering scholarships, agriculture, fisheries and tourism cooperation and a gift was presented to the Chinese Embassy representative during the ceremony to mark the occasion.
Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services (MPNSCS), John Junior Tuhaika spoke on the province’s long-running shipping problem and said the government will get them a ship.
He said the challenges facing the province, both good and bad, rested in the hands of its own people rather than any single leader, and urged the Premier, the provincial executive and the community to work together under the GREAT Coalition government’s development agenda.
Guest of Honor and Minister for Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS), Alfred Lazarus Rina congratulated the province on the milestone and announced that Rennell and Bellona will receive SBD 3.6 million this year from the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF), on top of more than SBD 12.9 million transferred to the province since the fund began.
He acknowledged the challenges raised by the Premier, including roads, airports, wharves, shipping and sports infrastructure, and called on the province to continue meeting its financial accountability requirements to retain access to the fund.
The ceremony closed with entertainment from Tamure and Papa cultural groups, a closing song performed by Avaiki Students, and a closing prayer.
From midday, the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly delivered a word of thanks and the Deputy Premier presented sports prizes, before the event wrapped up with refreshments at 1pm.
The relief vessel MV Ocean Joy was due to depart Honiara for Rennell and Bellona yesterday evening as well, carrying supplies for communities still recovering from the loss of goods and supplies from MV Anjeanette.
Island Sun reported separately on the shipment and the province’s response to the disaster.
Photo credit: Island Sun
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