BY MAINE LIVETT
ISLES MEDIA FREELANCE REPORTER IN GIZO
SOLOMON Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare has encouraged Western Province Premier, Christian Mesepitu to shoulder leadership responsibilities of the western Solomons with serious commitment.
The PM as the Guest of Honor at the Western Province 2nd Appointed day Celebration in Gizo on Tuesday, in his keynote address has congratulated and acknowledged the new premier and his executive, while he also mentioned the country’s transition into the federal system.
He urged the new Western province government “to exercise respect, integrity, empathy, and humility in discharging duties and responsibilities as leaders.”
“You now have this awesome responsibility to lead our great people of Western province and serve them. It is a calling that must be not taken lightly, it calls for courage, sacrifice commitment, and stewardship,” the PM said.
“And I know you have all that qualities.” He said, “Mr. Premier also allow me to thank your predecessor, former premier Hon. David Gina and his executive for his service to our people of the western province.”
Sogavare also acknowledged, the Chiefs, church leaders, and people of the province, living in the villages and continuing to instill discipline on their people. He said Solomon Islands stands on three pillars.
“It stands on the church, custom, and government,” He said.
“These are people that are not on the headline on newspapers, we don’t see their names on daily papers or on radio broadcast to tell what they’re doing in their villages, but these are the people that make a difference to law and order and stability in our communities, thank you very much.
“We’re standing on these three pillars in 2000, we collapsed standing on those three pillars, something wrong with this nation.” The PM Stated
“I want to acknowledge the roles played by our church leaders, our chiefs, and of cause our governments. Thank you very much for instilling discipline into the mind of our people.” He repeated
Sogavare termed the western province as ‘a true melting pot’ which ‘become home to people from other provinces and he thank the people of western province for accommodating those people.
“We are one people, we are one nation, we call ourselves Solomon Islands.” He said.
“Thank you very much people of western province, we are a peace-loving people. And we shall always stand up for what is right and live together in peace and co-existence with each other, because we are a melting pot, and thank you very much for accommodating people from every province in this province. My good people from Western Province I’m truly honored to know about that.”
“Thank you very much for inviting me to this second appointed day celebrations here in Gizo, under this great theme, ‘empowering the people through self-autonomy I agree Mr. Premier you’re correct, that is the right observation.
“We have lost our way since we gained independence, empowering our people through self-autonomy is an issue that continues to resonate in the hearts of the people of this great province, since we gained our independence from Great Britain.
“It’s a miracle that we continue to remain as one nation given what has happened in the country,” He said.
The Prime Minister also announced, “that cabinet will be requested to approve the scheme recommended by the Imminent Persons’ Group to set things in motion for the adoption of the state government system.”
Furthermore, PM Sogavare in his speech pointed out as, “a very important issue now, is the challenge to ensure that whatever we do, will not undermine our national unity, and our collective responsibility to look after each other as one nation and one people.”
