Rennell & Bellona’s newly-elected premier Derek Pongi has pledged to instill public confidence in his province’s leadership, while ensuring a transformative and transparent administration.
This new direction, Pongi said, was aimed at revitalizing what he described as his “sinking province”.
Renbel, Solomon Islands’ smallest province with a population of just over 3,000 people, has been in the headlines in recent years due to the controversial mining operation it hosted on its bigger island of Rennell.
Rennell is also host to Lake Tegano, the biggest lake in the insular Pacific.
In his victory speech, Pongi assured his people that his administration would work tirelessly for the good of the province.
“As your premier, I am committed to regaining the trust and confidence of our people in the provincial leadership and administration.
“For too long, our people have lacked confidence in our province’s leadership because successive leaders have prioritized their own interests over those of our people.
“It is time for us to take bold measures to salvage our sinking province and find solutions to address our dire situation.”
To achieve this, Pongi said his leadership would commit to promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance at all levels of his administration.
The first-time provincial politician also vows to work closely with his incoming Provincial executive, administrative staff, and stakeholders to identify the issues that affect them and work towards finding solutions.
“We will continue to prioritize our education, health, and medical services, as well as infrastructure development, to ensure that our people have access to the best possible services in our province.
“We will also focus on promoting sustainable development of our natural resources, including fisheries, forestry, agricultural sectors, and eco-tourism over destructive forms of development,” he added.
Pongi further highlighted that his government is looking forward to working closely with the constituency office and national government and other stakeholders to promote sustainable development and ensure that the province benefits from the opportunities that come with such partnerships.
“As your premier, I will be a strong advocate for our province’s interests.
“I will work closely with our Provincial and national leaders to ensure that our province’s voice is heard and its needs are addressed.”
He also emphasised on a united province, as he extends an invitation to other members of the Assembly to join his government in working together to unite and transform Rennell & Bellona.
The new premier also stated that his government is for the people of Rennell & Bellona, and will be committed to serving the people to the best of their ability.
“I urge you to continue praying for your leaders and supporting us as we strive to build a better future for ourselves and for generations to come,” Pongi stated.
