Solomon Islands Premier of Choiseul Province Harrison Pitakaka has made his feelings known—sounding the alarm of his province’s intention to join the Autonomous Region of Bougainville by 2027.
Choiseul is in the western part of the country, close to the Bougainville southern border with the Solomon Islands.
His pro Bougainville switch comments was made when he commented on a news thread on the Opposition MPs’ visit to the Western Province on Tuesday.
The Opposition Leader Matthew Wale and his team is in Gizo where he said the Group’s visit was purposely to dialogue with key stakeholders including provincial governments, civil societies, identified communities and some of the provinces major national project sites.
“We took the responsibility to be here to hear first hand the challenges faced by Western province and how we can better advocate for the province at the national level,” he said.
But Premier Pitakaka clearly showed his disappointment describing it as “unfair”.
It was not clear what triggered his comments but he claimed it was unfair that some provinces are contributing to the national basket which benefit others and not those that contributed.
In his comment on SBMOnline, Pitakaka scribed that Temotu & Choiseul provinces will fast track a unified quest for national cessation and seek a possible annexation with Vanuatu & ARB.
He added that he had already started few consultations with Temotu Provincial Premier last year.
When asked by SBMOnline on whether he was thinking about the cessation issue for some time, he replied: “We are working on that line. Much has been felt about it with my people. It takes the right time to pull the trigger,” he emphasised.
He further stated that the State Govt/review of the current Provincial Government Assembly could be very unsuitable on political alternatives.
“We need to explore something else,” he said.
The premier’s comment comes amidst strong push from Bougainville for independence in the next few years following latest opposition from the PNG government towards the Autonomous Region desire for self-governance.
Meanwhile, Solomon Islands Parliamentary Opposition Group has held a fruitful dialogue with the Premier of Western Province Billy Veo in Gizo.
The Parliamentary Opposition Group arrived in Gizo Wednesday led by the Opposition Leader Matthew Wale.
The Opposition Leader said the Group’s visit is purposely to dialogue with key stakeholders including provincial governments, civil societies, identified communities and some of the provinces major national project sites.
“We took the responsibility to be here to hear first hand the challenges faced by Western province and how we can better advocate for the province at the national level,” he said.
Premier Veo in response has acknowledged the initiative taken by the Parliamentary Opposition to visit the Western province.
Veo also shared with the Group the challenges faced by the province.
The Premier also emphasised his administrations position on the federal government system.
Veo highlighted the need for the Government and the Opposition to address issues surrounding his administration’s position on this matter.
“My administration will always advocate for a system that safeguards our resources and provides service delivery to our people,” he said.
The Opposition Leader in response has acknowledged the issues raised by the premier some of which Wale said he would raise with the Government on the Premier’s behalf.
