The Guadalcanal Province (GP) through the Provincial Assembly has officially established a ‘State Government Office’ as part of its plan to transition into a state government by 2026.
This significant move was announced by Guadalcanal Premier Willie Atu during the celebration of Guadalcanal Province’s 40th Second Appointed Day at DC Park in Central Guadalcanal Constituency on Thursday 1st August.
“I am pleased to confirm that this 10th Assembly has set up a State Government Office within the provincial office to collaborate with the national government,” Premier Atu said.
“Our goal is to ensure that by 2026, Guadalcanal Province and its people will become a state—a goal that is non-negotiable.”
Premier Atu urged the people of Guadalcanal and other stakeholders not to misunderstand the concepts of statehood and national unity.
“This is not about division or differences,” he clarified. “It is about better managing our resources to meet the needs of our growing population.”
He cited examples from other nations to illustrate the concept, noting that Australia has six states, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has four states, and the United States has 50 states, yet all remain unified countries.
“In the same way, we can learn from these countries, adapt their systems, and contextualize them to fit our diverse nation,” Premier Atu added.
The pursuit of statehood is a key policy of Premier Atu’s administration.
“In this context, we strongly support the Gizo Premier Communiqué, which advocates for all provinces in the Solomon Islands to become states by 2026,” he stated.
He also emphasized that the implementation of the Constitution (Amendment) (Constituent) Act 2023 is aligned with the National Unity Transformation Government’s policy.
He reiterated Guadalcanal Province’s commitment to the Gizo Communiqué, which was endorsed by all provincial premiers in the Solomon Islands.
The communiqué, which calls for all provinces to attain statehood by 2026, is a firm and collective decision among the premiers.
Western Province is also actively pursuing statehood by 2026.
By Lachlan Shyves Eddie
Solomon Star, Honiara
