GUADALCANAL premier Anthony Veke pledges his Government’s support to the implementation of the Democratic Coalition for Change Government (DCCG) policy intentions, saying Guadalcanal province will take active participation in this process.
The premier made the assurance during his Executive’s first brief courtesy call on the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare since the new provincial executive assumed office earlier this year.
Mr Veke said his Government is already appreciative of the outcomes of the Government’s policies, an example which was the amendment to the Lands and Titles Act, which he said will go a long way to benefit, the national and the Guadalcanal provincial Government as well.
“My Government would like to congratulate the national government into amending the Land and Titles Act that will ensure the betterment of both the national and the Guadalcanal provincial government in administering land in Guadalcanal,” he said.
“This is indeed a great achievement for your Government and we commend you for these worthwhile policies,” Mr Veke told the Prime Minister.
Mr Veke also conveyed to the Prime Minister areas of financial hiccup faced by the province due to bureaucratic red tape with potential to affect the delivery of services by the province to the people of Guadalcanal.
In response, Prime Minister Sogavare conveyed to the Premier that the provincial government is the agent of the national government in delivering services to its citizens, therefore, any issues that may hamper delivery of service by the province, on behalf of the national government, must be marginalized so that services to the rural communities continue as usual.
Mr Sogavare urged the Premier to utilise the warm and cordial relationship enjoyed by the two governments, through recongnised channels, to mitigate the provinces precarious financial postion, and thanked the Premier for bringing to the provinces position to the attention of the national government.
Mr Sogavare has impressed on the Premier that he had recently visited the interior of Guadalcanal and had witnessed first hand the how rudimentary social services are delivered within the Guadalcanal hinterlands that demands for intervention by the national government to elevate the livelihood of the interior settlers.
During the brief courtesy meeting, the Premier was accompanied by his provincial Minister of Finance, the Minister of Lands and the Provincial Secretary.
