Gizo: The Western Province Non-Executive Committee has called on Premier Hon. Billy Veo, MPA, to uphold governance protocols and diplomatic procedures in advancing the province’s federalism and statehood agenda.
While reaffirming that “Federalism and Statehood is Not Negotiable” and that Western Province will “not back down,” the Committee expressed concern over the confrontational approach taken by Premier Veo in response to Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele’s recent remarks that “gradually federalism is fading.”
BACKGROUND
In response to Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele’s recent observation that “gradually federalism is fading,”
Western Province Premier Hon. Billy Veo, MPA, strongly disagreed, asserting that Western Province was not part of such a decision.
Premier Veo further urged the Prime Minister to name the provinces that supported the notion of federalism fading.
This disagreement has been widely publicized across social media and mainstream outlets, including the Solomon Star and Island Sun newspapers on Thursday – 5 February 2026).
NON-EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE POSITION
The Non-Executive Committee of Western Province affirms its support for Premier Veo’s stance that “Federalism and Statehood is Not Negotiable” and that Western Province will “not back down.”
However, the Committee strongly criticizes the process by which Premier Veo pursued this agenda.
The Committee condemns that direct confrontation with the Prime Minister through media channels is deemed procedurally, diplomatically, and protocol-wise wrong. The Committee warns that such actions risk:
- Strengthening GNUT’s (Government of National Unity and Transformation) policy focus on the Provincial Government Act 1997 Review.
- Neglecting critical frameworks such as the Draft Federal Constitution 2018 and the Constitution (Amendment) (Constituent Assembly) Act 2023.
CALL TO ACTION
The Non-Executive Committee, therefore, urges Premier Veo to:
- Immediately Apologize to Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele.
- Pursue federalism and statehood through procedural, diplomatic, and protocol-adhering channels.
- Uphold principles of good governance in advancing Western Province’s statehood agenda.
“Without immediate action, the Committee warns, the Western Province’s statehood plan (2026–2035) risks becoming futile.”
– Non-Executive (Western Province) Press Office
