Voters in Guadalcanal have rewarded their last premier and his deputy with honors by elevating them to the national parliament in the April 17 polls. 

Francis Sade unseated North-West Guadalcanal strongman Bodo Dettke, to claim the seat for the first time. He was Guadalcanal premier until his election last week. 

His deputy, Lazarus Rimah, was declared winner yesterday for East Central Guadalcanal Constituency, unseating OUR Party candidate Ishmael Avui. 

While Sade entered the race under the banner of United Party, Rimah was a Solomon Islands Democratic Party candidate. 

During their time at the helm of their province, the duo introduced policies that resulted in reducing the province’s debts and increased revenue collections. 

And as a result of the province’s improved revenue status, it was able to pay off $3 million of outstanding National Provident Fund (NPF) staff contribution. 

“I think this was perhaps one of the major achievements of Sade and Rimah’s leadership,” North West Guadalcanal constituent Jimson Suna said. 

“This was a debt that has been accumulating over many years and previous governments failed to settle,” Suna added. 

“Under Sade and Rimah’s leadership, we have also seen improved service delivery by the province, integrity in leadership and trust by the people.” 

Suna said the two leaders were also able to secure a 20-hectare site for a proposed Guadalcanal Province’s headquarters at Mamara, west of Honiara. 

The site was acquired from Metropolis Pacific PTE Limited, the company currently holding the title of the land.  

Under the land acquisition arrangement, a $40 million Guadalcanal Province supposed to pay for the land will be offset by way of land rates that Metropolis owed the province. 

Sade said the development of the provincial headquarters is a key policy outcome of his government.  

“Having our provincial headquarters outside of Honiara has been an aspiration of Guadalcanal for more than 30 years,” Sade said at that time.  

Suna said Sade and Rimah did extremely well during their time at the helm of leadership of the province. 

“This is why I believe voters in North West Guadalcanal and East Central Guadalcanal decided to elevate them to the national level. 

“I think they deserve their election victories. 

“Guadalcanal is now in a much better position so the new cohort of leaders coming in should take it from there and move the province forward.”