SOLOMON Islands has lost one its greatest leaders, the Late Rt. Hon. Ezekiel Alebua who passed away on Sunday night, 7th August 2022 at 10:26pm at Haimatua, his home village on the Weather Coast of Guadalcanal.
It’s a sad day for the country knowing, we have lost a hardworking and committed leader.
He was a towering figure in our political history. His legacy as one of our statesmen will be remembered for a very long time to come.
As the nation share the sympathies with all the families, children, grandchildren and relatives of Rt. Hon. Ezekiel Alebua, his journey to being one of the top political figures in this country will remain in our history.
As the country’s third Prime Minister since Independence, he had a wealth of experience in the leadership role to lead this nation from December 1986 to March 1989.
He succeeded Late Sir Peter Kenilorea who resigned as prime minister in December 1986.
According to his historical record, he was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for East Guadalcanal constituency in 1980.
Alebua became Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Solomon Mamaloni-led government which came into power in 1980.
Alebua became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and then again as Minister for Foreign Affairs when Kenilorea took over as prime minister in 1984.
He was ousted as MP for East Guadalcanal constituency in 1997 when Johnson Koli was elected.
Alebua was born in 1947 and was educated at the local primary school and then at St. Joseph’s Catholic School at Tenaru.
From there he entered the British Colonial administration civil service.
He later attended short-term administrative and management courses at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji.
Over the years he worked his way up the civil service ranks, becoming clerk to various districts (that became provinces after independence), including Makira, Isabel and the last was Guadalcanal Province.
It was in 1998 that Late Alebua was elected as Provincial Member and was elected Premier, a position he held until 2003.
The civil unrests occurred during his term as premier and this had given him so much challenge and pressure. As a result on 1 June 2001 he was wounded in an assassination attempt.
He was jailed in 2007 for three-and-a-half years for embezzlement while serving as the premier.
After his release he lived a quiet life alternating between his homes at Kakabona, West of Honiara, and Haimatua in Tasimauri.
Alebua was survived by eight children and over twenty grandchildren.
His body will be laid to rest at his home village in Tasimauri.
On Monday Members of Parliament (MP) stood in parliament and pause for a moment of silence to honour this leader.
Both the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Opposition Leader Matthew Wale have also paid their tribute to the Late great leader.
Thank you Late Alebua for your contribution to Guadalanal and this nation
