PREMIER Elijah Asilaua spent his first day in office on Wednesday this week, attending to what you might call first things first as he scans the horizon for future opportunities.
Before his 17-member Ministerial line up was sworn in on Wednesday morning this week, Japan became the first donor partner to knock on his door – indication donors are responding to the new Premier’s call for joint collaboration in tackling Malaita’s development bottleneck.
The Premier and I were on the phone – I was soliciting an interview and an opportunity to take a formal photograph of the team that would navigate Malaita development pathway over the next four years.
“Sorry, I will call you back later. The Japanese people are here, waiting to see me. I will call you back,” he said.
He did.
An hour later we were in the basement of the Green House where the 17 Ministers were getting ready for their swearing-in ceremony. Their appointments were made overnight.
But who is this lad who will lead Solomon Islands’ most populous Province over the next four years?
Apart from his own community in Ward 11, little is known about him. Those outside the Ward only came to know him when he won the Ward 11 seat at the last Provincial Assembly Administration which lapsed last December for the joint national, provincial government and Honiara City Council elections in April this year.
In terms of academic standing, Premier Asilaua attended Waimapuru National Secondary School in Makira/Ulawa Province. He left after completing Third form.
Back home, he was more into church and community work, serving in various levels of the local South Evangelical Church (SSEC), including taking up pastoral work.
Premier Asilaua attributed his rise into politics from the respect he gained from his pastoral work.
“Yes, I am happy that I have now risen to the Premier’s level, which shows I am slowly but surely gaining respect both in my community as well as within the Malaita Provincial Assembly whose members have shown me the respect by nominating and voting me in as their leader.
“I am grateful to my Provincial MPAs who have supported me all through the process,” he said.
“I believe I have a great team which will help me serve the people of Malaita over the next four years,” he said as I bolted the door to catch my boat back to Honiara that afternoon.
No doubt all eyes would be closely watching the Asilaua Team’s performance.
By Alfred Sasako
