NEWLY appointed Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands His Excellency (HE) Rod Hilton makes his first official provincial visit since taking up office to the Western Province.
His first was to Gizo on Tuesday morning where he met with the Western Provincial Government (WPG) executive.
In Western Province he will spend the next few days to visit a number of Australian funded projects at Ringi, Noro and Munda.
The newly appointed envoy took over from Dr Lachlan Strahan whose term come to an end last month.
HE Hilton is just three weeks in office and decided to start exploring parts of the country.
Soon after touching down at Nusatupe the delegation which also included the Member of Parliament (MP) for Gizo/Kolombangara Lanelle Tanangada and Stongim Bisnis officials were welcomed by Premier Billy Veo and his delegation at the Gizo Hotel jetty.
Hundreds of Gizo residents and the public came out to witness the delegation’s arrival at Gizo.
Premier Veo then escorted HE Hilton, MP Tanangada and delegation to the Provincial chamber where both of them discussed issues of mutual interest between the province and the Australian Government.
After the brief meeting at the provincial chamber Premier Veo hosted a lunch for the delegation at the Gizo Hotel.
The visiting delegation then travelled on to the Kolombangara Forest Plantation Limited (KFPL) headquarter at Ringi on Kolombangara to witness the first pallet plant in the province and the country.
The delegation will spend Wednesday and Tuesday making a number of visits around Noro and Munda.
Meanwhile, the visit by the Australian envoy was able to facelift the MSG Building area within the provincial capital.
Following orders by the Gizo Town Council (GTC) based on the advise of the Western Provincial Government (WPG) last week, the MSG Complex was finally cleared off early this week both inside and outside of the area.
Most of the illegal street vendors selling cigarettes, betel nuts and food along the fence infront of the MSG Complex were cleared as of Monday.
By Tuesday morning the area was all cleaned up and cleared just before the delegation arrived at Gizo.
Even most of the market vendors and members of the public that normally spend the night at the MSG Complex were also asked to clear the spot.
A Gizo resident Jones Gago who was at the MSG Complex yesterday morning acknowledged the cleanliness of the MSG and the roadside.
“I wish we maintain such cleanliness,” he said.
Upon arrival at the Gizo Hotel front jetty the delegation then walked past the MSG Complex to the provincial head office and returned for a lunch before traveling over to Ringi by boat.
Mr Gago feared illegal street vendors might be back to occupy the MSG building roadside soon.
By MOFFAT MAMU
Solomon Star, Gizo
