NEWLY elected Premier of Western Province Christian Burley Mesepitu will be pushing the national government to offer them the statehood status.
Premier Mesepitu made this statement in his inaugural and victory speech on Thursday in Gizo.
During the speech he appeals to the National Government to quickly pass federalism for Western Province.
“On a more serious note, my government is calling on the National Government to immediately address the issue of federalism as Western Province is more serious than ever regarding the transition towards statehood,” Premier Mesepitu said.
He reiterated the province has all the basic infrastructures, the man-power and the resources to demand such.
“I call on the national government to immediately address this matter as it has been a long standing issue for the last forty years for Western Province.
“Having to wait for half a century for such change to happen should for a desperate measures. Make it happen, is my call,’’ he added.
While he calls on the National Government to seriously consider the need for statehood, he added; “I also want to make it clear that our time in the past have been wasted negotiated, let it be actioned now.
“I know that our fathers have laid the foundation for this statehood and so I will continue to pursue their wishes to become reality,” he added.
Mesepitu further added the recent rioting in Honiara city is showing to everyone, clearly that the county Solomon Islands cannot continue with investment of all the resources are in one basket.
He said Honiara city since independence has been the focus of our national development and investment plans.
He said the county needs to open up provincial developments and decentralize investments in provincial centers
“The recent looting and burning of houses in Honiara City showcases the fact that the constitutional monarchy system of Government that we inherited from our colonial masters has not worked for us.
“It is irrelevant for our growing population. The country needs to empower resource owners with meaningful decentralized powers.
“Under my leadership I will lead our people in the Western Province to be more vocal and create shockwaves to the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) for the common goods and interest of all resource owners in the country.
“I call on all good people of Western Province, let us stand together,” he added.
By ULUTAH GINA
Gizo NEWS BUREAU
