Motion of No Confidence Against Premier Billy Veo Set Down for Wednesday
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
The Western Provincial Assembly (WPA) officially convened its first sitting for 2026 on in Gizo Monday morning marked by high political tension as a formal challenge to the current leadership looms.
The sitting is underway at the Fair Trade Conference Room in Gizo.
While the primary agenda for the five-day sitting is the deliberation and passage of the 2026/2027 Budget Appropriation Ordinance, the political atmosphere in the provincial capital is dominated by a looming Motion of No Confidence (MoNC) against Premier Billy Veo.
Speaker of the Western Provincial Assembly, Hon. Ramuraka Talasasa, confirmed that while the Assembly began its business on Monday, the specific motion filed against the Premier is scheduled to be tabled and debated this coming Wednesday.
Speaker Talasasa previously emphasized that the core purpose of this March session is to ensure the province has a legal financial framework for the upcoming fiscal year.
“The main agenda for this meeting is the appreciation and consideration of the 2026 and 2027 budget,” the Speaker stated.
The budget discussions are expected to cover key provincial priorities, including:
- Infrastructure development and market ordinances.
- Revenue collection strategies to boost the provincial purse.
- Ward development allocations for the 26 wards across the province.
Despite the fiscal focus, the “tug-of-war” between the Executive and the Non-Executive group has reached a boiling point.
A notice of a Motion of No Confidence, moved by the Member for Ward 7 (Vonunu), Hon. Rence Sore, was formally lodged earlier this month.
The motion follows allegations from the Non-Executive bench regarding:
– Misconduct and misuse of authority within the Premier’s office.
– Financial mismanagement and concerns over the transparency of public funds.
– Governance failures, specifically regarding the province’s stance on statehood and federalism.
The Non-Executive group has recently claimed to hold a 14-member majority in the 26-member assembly, following the reported defection of several provincial ministers.
As the Assembly began its morning session day, residents in Gizo and the province have noted an increased presence of security and interest from the public.
The Premier and his Executive are expected to spend the next 48 hours defending their policy record before the motion is put to a vote on Wednesday.
If the motion is successful, it could trigger a change in leadership mid-way through the budget session.
The Assembly sitting is scheduled to run until Friday, March 20.
