Dear Editor – I read in the Solomon Star issue 8857 on Tuesday 13th August 2024 that the Guadalcanal Provincial Assembly has set up a ‘State Government office’ within the Guadalcanal Provincial Government office to pursue the adoption of statehood by 2026.
Looking at the statehood, adoption was one of the issues that almost every province in the country is looking forward to. As a Guadalcanal man, I want to share my concerns or comments on the issues that the Honourable Premier of Guadalcanal and his Assembly need to consider or solve before pursuing adopting statehood by 2026.
By 2026, we Guadalcanal will have statehood, I for one; I really support the statehood but am looking on the other side of the mirror which tells me that it is too early for us Guadalcanal to become a state by 2026. There are reasons why I am stating this and wish to share with the Hon Willie Atu Government to consider.
- Can we adopt statehood when three of our airstrips, namely Marau, Babanakira and Avuavu, were closed more than years ago and have done nothing to reopen them and that we celebrated our 41st Second Appointed Day on 1 August 1 and still do not have a Provincial Headquarter?
- Can we adopt statehood when we do not have a hospital, international ports, an international airport and good road infrastructure that we can govern our own affairs?
While, I congratulate the establishment of the State Government Office within the Guadalcanal Provincial Government office, I want the Provincial Assembly to seriously reconsider these important development issues that I have raised before pursuing statehood.
Can we become a state, let alone a successful one, when we are not prepared for it? It seems that you people are trying to push the crown into the narrow gate, which will cause many people of Guadalcanal to lose their life and the fittest will survive.
Can we adopt statehood when the provincial grants and other funds and the salaries of our nurses, teachers, polices and provincial workers depend on the central government? We are now in August 2024 and 2026 is less than two years away. Can we really adopt statehood by 2026? and we
Comparing Guadalcanal Province with Western Province, the latter is well prepared for statehood. Why? Because they already have their own international airport, international port and hospital and that is the sort of preparation we need and that our beloved Guadalcanal Provincial Government leaders should pursue.
My good leaders of Guadalcanal Province don’t copy or compare the system of statehood like Australia with six states has and still remains as one nation, the Federated States of Micronesia with four states has and still remains as one country, the United States of America with 50 states has and remains as one powerful nation. May be, we should find our how they prepared for and are managing the statehood system. Statehood will never run away from us. It is just waiting for us and has been asking for us over the past 40 years the question “Guadalcanal Province are you ready for me?” And just within this year, we answered yes by 2026.
Epalle Kulisuia
Honiara
