Premier Matin Fini is in the capital to hold dialogues with the national government and donors on policy redirection
MALAITA Premier, Martin Fini, has arrived in the capital for top level discussions with stakeholders in line with interventions outlined in the Malaita New Government Fundamental Redirection (MNGFR) Policy.
The 46-year-old MPA arrived yesterday.
His government’s intervention policy is underpinned by a One Hour, One Policy, One Direction approach.
An advanced Provincial Assembly Team, led by Deputy Premier Joe Heroa’u arrived on Tuesday. The first dialogue partner it met in Honiara was the Embassy of Japan.
Japanese officials were the first to visit Auki about a week ago following the change of provincial government on 10th February.
It is understood exchanges on the way forward took place in the meeting with Premier Fini.
In Honiara, the Premier and his delegation are due to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Friday followed by another engagement with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China later in the day.
Friday’s meeting with Prime Minister Sogavare is intended to convey to the Prime Minister that Malaita is ready to engage through dialogue.
In his initial announcement earlier this month, Premier Fini said Malaita was ready to engage.
“I am pleased to announce that Malaita, under the Malaita New Government Fundamental Redirection [MNGFR] Policy, is ready to engage in a meaningful way,” he told Solomon Star on 14th March this year.
“We are ready to engage with everyone … the National Government, donors, government ministries, the people of Malaita, women, Churches and resource-owners of Malaita.
“I am pleased to say that the feedback we have received since taking office a month ago, has been very encouraging,” Premier Fini, said.
“One of the pleasing outcomes from my government’s initial engagement with the national government is the creation of the Malaita Economic Development Initiative, MEDI, for short, which has been blessed by Cabinet.
“MEDI is a vehicle to help facilitate the new engagement I am talking about. It will help negotiate, settle and discharge its functions and responsibilities using Sections 29 and 30 of the Ministry of Provincial Government Act 1997.
“This will be done on a case-by-case basis based on Court of Appeal decided cases. This will ensure every action taken is based on the law,” the Premier said.
He said MEDI would be instrumental in dialogue in pursuit of what is mutually beneficial for both Malaita and its stakeholders.
“Unity is what my government is all about. In fact, this is what any government should be doing, working to unite people at all levels,” he said.
“Development in any form is about working together, not about the pursuit of divisive actions.
“The Malaita New Government Fundamental Redirection (MNGFD) policy is about intervention. It underlines three factors – One Hour, One Policy, One Direction,” Premier Fini said.
By Alfred Sasako
