BY MAINE LIVETT
ISLES MEDIA FREELANCE REPORTER IN GIZO
SOLOMON Islands Government will now move ahead with the transition into state government.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told Leaders and people of Western Province in his keynote address, when the Province marked the 38th Second Appointed day Anniversary in Gizo on Tuesday, with the theme, “Empowering People through Self Autonomy.”
“I wish to announce that the Cabinet will be request ed to approve the scheme recommended by the Imminent Persons Group to set things in motion for the adoption of the state government system.”
PM Sogavare said, “It is our hope that the state government system will allow us to have more say over our provinces.
“It is my hope and sincere prayer that we will continue to remain as one country united through our culture and customs, inter-marriages, blood relations, shared history and most importantly our shared Christian values.
“I would like to be optimistic that the new state government system will strengthen our solidarity and unity, and stronger states will translate into a stronger country. Some states are more ready than others to become states but since all provinces are calling for this state system, it is becoming very difficult not to take heed of these calls.
“I pray that as we move forward we do not lose sight of what holds us together as a family of Solomon Islanders. I put my faith and trust in our father in Heaven to be the guiding light of wisdom as we move forward together on this new journey.
“We also need to bear in mind that changing the structure of our government system alone does not guarantee the benefits we are talking about. They are benefits that flow from developments happening in the States. Land must be made available for development. We must not scare away investors by our unfriendly attitudes,” Sogavare stressed.
Speaking in light of the theme “Self-Autonomy” the Prime Minister said he noted the message that the Government of Western Province has imparted in this year’s second appointed day anniversary, which focused on the theme, “Empowering People Through Self-Autonomy.”
“It is your conviction that if you can have more control over the utilization of Provincial resources through a system that guarantees the fair distribution of national wealth created in the province, to improve the provision of essential services in the province, and creation of more employment for your people, you are empowering your people.” He said.
He further added that there is a lot of truth in that proposition, even under the highly centralized system we currently have in place.
“The national government improves the provision of essential services and build more infrastructures and provide better security for our people when we maximise the benefits that accrue to the country in the development of our resources, only that under the system desired more control is vested in the states.
“Self-Autonomy is a theme that people of Western District, as it was then known, which includes Western and Choiseul Islands are familiar with.
“We did not celebrate when our country attained political independence from Great Britain in July 1978 when the other Islands did.
“Why? Because leading to and right from the word go, we asked the right questions. Will the system of Government, we adopt at independence work for us? Will it fairly acknowledge the contribution of different islands groups which eventually become provinces in the distribution of the national wealth of the new independent nation? Will it provide the incentive for people to work hard?
“These are questions that are now haunting us. The simple answer to these questions as far as our people are concerned is that the system of Government we adopt at independence did not answer these questions. I can understand the frustrations of our people.” He said.
PM Sogavare further poses, did the Provincial Government system as a form of government give us the autonomy that is conducive to hard work and entrepreneurship?
“Our people think otherwise and rightly, because there is a perception that there is no guarantee under the centralized budgetary system to reward provincial productivity. I can also understand the frustrations of our people in that regard too.” He said.
Sogavare in his speech, after announcing that the government will move on with the transition into the federal system of government, also calls for continuing national unity, and that the shared responsibility of people in every province to see each other as one nation and one people is maintained.
“The challenge that we are grappling with as a nation is to ensure that whatever we do, we do not undermine our National Unity and that our collective responsibility to look after each other as one nation and one people is maintained,” He said.
“This is a commitment we expressed to the world through our National Anthem. We remind ourselves with these words: “Our Solomon Islands, Our Solomon Islands, Our Nation Solomon Islands Stands Forevermore.”
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the successive leadership of your great Province for putting up with the unfairness that has been going on for years and to ensure that our country remained as one nation.”
