Non-Executive Members of the Western Provincial Assembly have strongly rejected recent comments attributed to Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele suggesting that the push for a federal system of government in Solomon Islands is losing momentum.
In a press statement released this week, the Non-Executive Committee said it was “deeply concerned” by a Solomon Star report quoting the Prime Minister as saying that the move by some provincial governments to quickly adopt federalism was “gradually fading.”
Speaking on behalf of the Non-Executive Members, Chairman Hon. Rence Sore, MPA, said the statement did not reflect the will of the people.
“Federalism is not a political convenience. It is the people’s mandate.
“Any suggestion that this aspiration is fading is completely misleading and contradicts what our people have consistently demanded,” said the statement issued by the Non-Executive (Western Province) Press Office and signed by Hon. Rence Sore, MPA, in his capacity as chairman.
The report also stated that provincial premiers and representatives from nine provinces had agreed to instead pursue a review of the Provincial Government Act 1997.
Hon. Sore described this development as unacceptable, saying the federal reform process had already been legitimised through extensive public consultation and constitutional amendments.
“The Draft Federal Constitution 2018 was produced after consultations across the entire country,” he said.
“That mandate was further strengthened when Parliament amended Section 61 of the Constitution through the Constitution (Amendment) (Constituent Assembly) Act 2023. There is already a clear legal pathway to federalism.”
He added that Western Province’s commitment to greater autonomy was firmly established and could not be ignored.
“For Western Province, statehood is not negotiable,” Sore said. “Our 10-Year Strategic Plan clearly sets 7 July 2028 as the date for declaring Western Solomons statehood, in line with the nation’s 50th Independence Anniversary.”
Hon. Sore also pointed out that the Western Provincial Assembly has passed several resolutions affirming this direction and recalled public statements by Premier Billy Veo and Deputy Premier Brian Lotikena supporting statehood.
However, he expressed disappointment over their silence following the Solomon Star article.
“The silence of the Premier and his Deputy in this matter is deeply disappointing,” Sore said.
“It diminishes the long-standing aspirations of our people and misrepresents the true position of Western Province.” he added.
He further criticised the ACAREA Provincial Government for failing to properly convey the people’s mandate to the national leadership.
“The people of Western Province entrusted their leaders to carry this mandate forward,” he said. “In our view, that responsibility has not been fulfilled.”
Hon. Sore said the Non-Executive Members have formally called on Premier Veo and Deputy Premier Lotikena to resign for failing to present the statehood mandate to Prime Minister Manele.
“If they do not step aside, the Non-Executive Members will move a Motion of No Confidence against the Premier at the Provincial Assembly meeting scheduled for 16 March 2026,” he said.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
Photo caption: WP Premier Billy Veo receives the Report on the reviewed Provincial Government Acts 1997 from MPA Jeffrey Wickham and MPA Rence Sore and former Deputy Premier Calrick Runimetu at the Premier’s Office about a year ago.
