Guadalcanal Premier Atu brings hot issue to the fore, saying other provinces want it too
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The quest of Guadalcanal province for state government is a long overdue issue and like Guadalcanal provinces, other provinces are also interested in establishing a state government.
Premier of Guadalcanal Province, William Atu said in spite of sensitivity around the issue, it always becomes a key political subject for both past and current governments of Guadalcanal province.
Speaking at the recent celebration of the 19th anniversary to honour the legacy of the founder of Gwaena’alu Association, formerly known as Moro Movement, late Chief Pelise Moro, at Turarana village in Central Guadalcanal, Premier Atu highlighted that state government or federalism is one of the key policies of his government.
The idea of state government came decades ago. On September 27th 1978, the Guadalcanal provincial assembly submitted a nine-point plan to them Prime Minister, Sir Peter Kenilorea.
In 1988, the similar nine-point plan was resubmitted to Prime Minister Ezekiel Alebua.
Years later, in 1999, when Alebua was Premier of Guadalcanal province during the ethnic tension, he submitted a similar plan to Batholomew Ulufa’alu, who was the Prime Minister then.
Among the nine-point plan are; state government, alienated land and other arrangements in the interest of both Guadalcanal province and the country.
This is the pursuit of Guadalcanal province for state government and when you look at the Truth and Reconciliation Report, according to Premier Atu, it clearly shows the incapacity to find solution to the Bonafide demand, which at the bottom of the conflict is the issue of the ethnic tension.
He said the conflict erupted in Guadalcanal in 1998, and still bears potentials for further conflict.
Atu expressed that as leaders they shouldn’t allow a similar conflict to happen again and state government is the way forward.
Just last year, he said the nine premiers signed a communique at the Premier’s Conference in Gizo, Western province stating that all provinces in Solomon Island must become state governments by 2026. The communique provided no room for negotiation on the matter.
This has confirmed that the pursuit for state government is not only in the likes of Guadalcanal, but of all provinces in Solomon Islands.
He said the matter of establishing a state government was discussed through a Constitutional Amendment Constituent Assembly Act 2023, but sadly the bill was defeated in parliament.
Atu said despite then, the Prime Minister assured to return it to the parliament in 2026, with possible changes to clauses in the current bill. The reason is the bill is in the best interest of the people of this country.
“And as a leader of Guadalcanal province, I want to say it loud and clear that we want state government,” he said.
The premier, however, clarified the misconception lots of people have on the state government.
“Many think state government is about regionalism or people from other provinces to go back to their provinces.
“It isn’t, and I want to make this clear. We need each other to build Solomon Islands.
“We need each other and it must not be an exclusion. Together, we can build the progress of Solomon Islands,” Atu stated.
He said the state government system is a devolution of power in which power will go down to the people.
Atu stressed that this however needs preparation and all provinces including Guadalcanal must prepare for the system.
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