Country’s largest province celebrates 40th anniversary of its 2nd Appointed Day, Premier Fini says its an opportunity to share about Malaita
MALAITA PROVINCE – the nation’s most populous – celebrated 40th Anniversary of its 2nd Appointed day today.
But unlike past anniversary celebrations, this year’s was celebrated at ward levels. Whether or not there were sufficient funds to go around the 33 Wards is unknown. As of yesterday Auki reportedly had only had $200, 000 for the occasion.
Someone had to be sent to Honiara as a last-minute attempt at resolving the funding shortage.
Speaking in Auki, Premier Martin Fini told the gathering that the occasion provided an opportunity to share about the people and Malaita Provincial Government affairs.
“This is an opportunity again for us to share and share more about the people of Malaita and Malaita Provincial Government affairs.
“As agent of the National Government, today 15th Day of August 2023 marks our 40 years as a Province. This is a moment to acknowledge our successes, strategise on the challenges, and planning our way through intervention, re-direction and engagement at village, ward, province, national and international levels,” he said.
“I cherish our history that shows Malaita People have the ability to build any economy. During the colonial era, the Malaita People have been targeted for labor recruitment to work in plantations in country and abroad for instance our ancestors have built monuments of economic successes in the region including Fiji and Australia.”
He also thanked the people “for respecting law and order and your continuing commitment and support towards our Government,” adding Malaitans are hardworking people.
” In today’s modern Solomon Islands, Malaitans are found in all forms of social and economic strata of our society contributing to the well-being and growth of our nation.
“Therefore, it begs the issue what really is the missing link here for Malaita? Simply, it means the basic micro and macro-economic policies for production, labour, trade and markets are missing for the people, villages, families, tribes, wards and the province as a whole.”
Premier Fini also spoke on the theme for this year’s 2nd Appointed Day Anniversary.
“The theme for this Malaita 40th Anniversary of the 2nd Appointed Day is “Empowerment through: PEACE, TRUST and UNITY”. This theme is founded on the following fundamental principles of our society,” he said.
These principles are the People, the Resources, the System and the Law.
“The theme sets the note for a re-direction of our great province Malaita. A re-direction means a new road we have not travelled on since Solomon Islands gained independence 45 years ago, 40 years which we have existed as Malaita Province.
“The legal system or “the law” is the fundamental principle that sets the boundaries within which we, as a Province, act. Due to the inadequacy of our current laws, our interventions shall be negotiated within the provisions of the law. By law, Malaita province is an agent of the national government and as an agent, Malaita Province can only act within the provisions of Sections 29 and 30 of the Provincial Government Act (1997).
“It is important to understand the legal relationship between the Provincial and the National Governments. Any discharging of functions is limited to negotiation of commercial arrangements under Section 29 and power to make Ordinances on areas of competence is vested under the Section 30 of the PGA. Based on commercial development arrangements, the Intervention of Trust Law permitted to manage the doable products and transitional development matters,” Premier Fini said.
Premier Fini also explained the proposed MOU, which his government plans to enter into with the Chinese City of Jiangsu Province, in China.
“I wish to clearly explain to our people and the general public the level and status of the MOU. The MOU is a proposed arrangement and space for negotiation with Jiangsu Province of China and also open for other foreign development partners. It is a fundamental intervention arrangement that aims to address the missing link, which are the basic micro and macro-economic policies.
“Since the current national laws are inadequate, the proposed MOU is limited to areas of commercial doable products that fall under the agency law.
“These doable products include beche-de-mer, fish, coconut, cocoa and pineapple juice. These products become the commodities for sale, giving back the commodities economy to the people, villages, families, tribes, wards and the province as a whole. This is the missing link since protectorate, independence and post-independence.
“Given the current inadequate laws, these commodities cannot be converted into tradeable products or goods. Therefore, it needs fundamental intervention of Commercial and Trust Law.
“This is where Trust Ordinances will be developed for our doable commodities beche-de-mer, fish, coconut, cocoa and pineapple juice. The Trust Ordinances will set the rule of engagement between the people of Malaita and the National Government and the Commercial Licence for exporting of products (commodities) to Jiangsu Province of China. It sets boundaries, security and protection of engagement. It also leverages us to the level of international engagement where our laws are either absent or inadequate.”
By Alfred Sasako
