The Guadalcanal Provincial Government expresses disappointment in the Prime Minister Hon. Matthew Wale’s decision not to attend the Province’s 42nd Second Appointed Day celebrations.
Guadalcanal Province Premier Hon. Willie Atu acknowledges Prime Minister Wale’s reasons for not attending. However, he said it would have been a great honour to the province and its people if Hon. Wale had attended.
He thanked the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Public Service, and Member of Parliament for North West Guadalcanal, Hon. Francis Sade, for representing the Prime Minister, but said the province was looking forward to hosting the Prime Minister himself.
“The Deputy Prime Minister is a former Premier of Guadalcanal Province who, during his tenure, advocated for issues of concern to the province, including our demand for a federal system of government. Therefore, we did not expect him to address these issues in the same manner as Prime Minister Wale, the leader of the GREAT Coalition.”
“Many Guadalcanal people travelled a long way from their villages and some swam across flooded rivers to come to Honiara to listen to their Prime Minister, showcase their cultures, and share food with other Solomon Islanders. They were disappointed the Prime Minister did not attend,” Premier Atu said.
He said Guadalcanal Province deserves better as the island that hosts the national capital and the headquarters of the national government. The reason why the celebrations were held in Honiara was because the Guadalcanal Provincial Government wanted the prime minister to attend.
“The National Stadium was not far from his office. Our people came to his front door out of respect, but Prime Minister Wale did not have the time to spend at least an hour with us,” Premier Atu said.
Industries in Guadalcanal contribute approximately 30 percent of Solomon Islands’ total domestic revenue. “That is a contribution that comes from our land and resources, and therefore deserves recognition and respect from the leader of our country,” he said.
Premier Atu said several of the GREAT Coalition’s policies have implications for Guadalcanal Province and its relationship with the National Government.
An example is the GREAT Coalition’s intention to table the Mineral Resources Bill 2025 and introduce mining sector reforms aimed at “increasing national ownership, fairer landowner compensation, and establishing a state-owned mining and mineral holding enterprise.” This includes plans to partner with the Central Bank of Solomon Islands to build a gold buying trading framework.
Premier Atu notes this is a promising policy, but the GREAT Coalition must work closely with the Guadalcanal Province, which hosts the largest mine in the country and is the biggest contributor to incomes from the mining industry.
He said the Guadalcanal Province acknowledges the GREAT Coalition’s intention to establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) and believes this could contribute to a sustainable future for Solomon Islands.
However, he notes this will likely be financed largely by taxes from extractive industries. Given the decline in revenues from the logging industry, fisheries and mining are likely to become the major industries funding the SWF.
According to the Central Bank of Solomon Islands, gold exports in 2025 were valued at approximately SBD 3.025 billion (US$378 million).
From this amount, the Solomon Islands Government received approximately SBD 952 million in revenue, comprising SBD 45.375 million in royalties (1.5%) and approximately SBD 907 million in taxes (30%). It is likely that the Government will allocate part of the tax revenue to fund the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).
Furthermore, in 2025, Guadalcanal Province accounted for 26.5% of the country’s total log production, ranking second after Western Province (48.9%).
In the agricultural sector, palm oil exports were valued at US$27 million in the same year. Additionally, Guadalcanal Province contributed 74% of the country’s total cocoa production in 2025.
Premier Atu said given Guadalcanal Province’s significant contributions to Solomon Islands’ economy, the least Prime Minister Wale could have done was honour the province with his presence. That would have been a demonstration of respect.
The Guadalcanal Province’s decision to hold the event in Honiara was also to remind the national government of the province’s longstanding demand for a federal system of government.
Premier Atu said, “It would have meant a lot for the Prime Minister to attend, listen to our call for federalism, our preparations for it, and respond to it in person.”
He said while Hon. Sade’s statement on behalf of the GREAT Coalition was valued, it would have meant more to hear from the prime minister.
Despite Prime Minister Wale’s absence, the Guadalcanal Province’s Second Appointed Day celebrations were a great success.
Premier Atu thanks national government representatives, members of parliament, the premiers, ministers and officials from other provinces, church leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, and the public who honoured Guadalcanal Province with their presence.
He thanks Solomon Islanders who came out to share cultures, food, stories, and demonstrate our country’s unity in diversity.
“Guadalcanal is proud to use this occasion to unite Solomon Islanders,” he said.
Premier Atu also thanked the Guadalcanal people for their overwhelming support to the Provincial Government and administration.
“It was an illustration of the spirit of unity amongst our people and the dedication of our Provincial Government, Provincial Assembly Members, and the province’s administrative staff.”
“This gives hope to the future of Guadalcanal and Solomon Islands. May God bless Guadalcanal Province and Solomon Islands from shore to shore,” Premier Atu said.
Guadalcanal Provincial Government Press Release
