WESTERN Province is ready to become a state and run its own affairs because its contribution to the country’s overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) continues to remain high and moreover, it already has the resources and infrastructures in place.
This was expressed by the Western Provincial Assembly Member for Ward 6 -Vonunu-Vella, Rence Sore, in his contribution to the assembly’s Sine Die motion debate more than a week ago.
Mr Sore said the province and successive governments have talked about statehood for a too long.
And it is important to pursue this idea, he said, adding that, “20 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes from Western Province.”
The former Special Secretary (SSPM) to Prime Minister (SSPM), Permanent Secretary and Honiara City Council (HCC) Clerk said the country’s annual GDP is about USD1-billion
“And 20 percent of it comes from Western Province.
“So how much is that?” he asked. Answering his own question, he said that figure is worth about ‘$320million USD.’
He told the full assembly meeting that given the province’s massive contribution to the national economy, it is ready for statehood.
“With that figure we are ready to become a state and can run our own affairs.”
Mr Sore highlighted that there are other regional countries whose GDP are much less than this figure.
“We have the resources and infrastructure to do it. Statehood is not far,” he added.
MPA Sore told the executive led by Premier Billy Veo that the other side of the house is ready to work with them to achieve the wish of the people of Western Province for the adoption of statehood.
“We are ready to work the executive to achieve this goal and became a state. And we can achieve this by working together.”
Mr Sore also used his Sine Die Motion debate speech to congratulate the newly appointed Western Provincial Government under the leadership of Mr Veo.
Other MPAs also used their Sine Die motion debate speeches to expressed their desire for the province to quickly adopt the federal state system as they deem the current centralised governing system is unfair in terms of the distribution of resources and services.
By MOFFAT MAMU
Gizo News Bureau
