The first female Premier of Isabel Province, Hon. Rhonda Sikilabu with six of her Executive Ministers pay a historical courtesy visit to Premier Francis Sade and his Executive Government at the GPG Headquarter today afternoon.
Upon the Isabel Executiveโs arrival, Premier Sade takes the time to welcome and acknowledge Premier Rhonda for her historical win as the first women Premier of Isabel Province and the country.
โColleague Premier, I have already congratulated you two weeks ago in one of my public statement. However, it is indeed great to congratulate you in person. As I have stated, your leadership is not only a positive step in the Isabel Provincial Government, but a symbolic gesture for all the young girls and women in the country who want to create and impact positive changes through the provincial political process. Congratulations for your remarkable victory and welcome on boardโ Premier Sade states.
Premier Sade also acknowledges the new Isabel Executive for their visionary approach in electing the first woman premier in the country.
โI also would like to thank your Executive Government for the historic decision to elect you as the Premier of Isabel Provinceโ he states.
In response, Premier Rhonda states that the Executive Government visit’s to GPHQ is a way of respecting the Guadalcanal Provincial Government and its people, especially the women of Guadalcanal.
โThis visit is significant for my Executive Government as a way of respecting and honoring your government and your people, especially all the women and girls of Guadalcanalโ Premier Rhonda says.
She adds โWe hope to learn from your experiences and challenges in terms of provincial governance because our struggles are in fact commonโ.
Premier Rhonda also states โBuilding relationships is not about talking on the phone or sending emails, but through mutual interactionsโ.
She also takes the time to acknowledge her Executive for electing her as the first female premier of Isabel Province and in the country.
She states that leadership is about working together regardless of the gender issues.
“I hope to break the cultural norm in the provincial level and aspire other women and young girls to be part of the political process” Premier Rhonda says.
The two Executive governments then have a short Q&As session where each of the Executive members also share their experiences, challenges, and aspirations.
The main topics are centered around the common issues of the Revenue Sharing Scheme Bill, PCDF, financial audits, local revenues, ordinances, conservation of forests and coral reefs, CITREC, and also extractive industries (mining and logging) in the two provinces.
Interestingly, an Executive Member of the Isabel Provincial Government also uses the opportunity to convey his apologies on behalf of his people of Isabel concerning the November riots last year.
“Hon. Premier and your Executive, I also want to take this time to convey our sincere apologies to the people of Guadalcanal, if any of our people took part in the November riot. We too condone such violence for desecrating the cultural land and space of the Guadalcanal people. Please accept our sincere apology” he says.
He also urges the good people of Isabel Province who are within GPG’s jurisdictions to respect the provincial government, be good citizens, and respect the cultural practices of the Guadalcanal people and their land.
Premier Sade kindly accepts the apology and notes that the two provinces will look on building their relationships further in the future.
He states that proposed GP Township development considers having a building space for Isabel Province and the other seven provinces as part of its plan.
The courtesy visit ends with Premier Sade presenting a traditional shell-money on behalf of the GP Executive and the people of Guadalcanal to Premier Rhonda.
Premier Rhonda states that the traditional gift will be treasured as a reminder of the first courtesy visit.
Also witnessing the historic visit are the GP Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Peter Aoraunisaka, GP Provincial Secretary Mr. Timothy Ngele and GP Deputy Provincial Secretary Mr. Maesac Suia.
-GP Media
