Annual Premiers Conference Begins Next Week In Gizo

Annual Premiers Conference Begins Next Week In Gizo

The Annual Provincial Premiers’ Conference will begin in Gizo, Western Province Monday next week with an official opening by Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo.

All Provincial Premiers including the Mayor of Honiara City will travel to Gizo on Sunday 16th June before the start of the one-week conference on the theme “Resourcing Provinces to Develop Vibrant Local Economies”.

The Western Provincial Government developed the theme earlier this year with the aim to engage line ministries from the National Government in a lively debate on the need for resources to build local economies.

“Highlighting the need for resources at the provincial level to promote development of local economies will get our message across to the National Government and the wider public,” said Western Premier, George Solingi Lilo.

Mr Lilo added that this year's conference theme is also designed to call on service providers to see the need for services in communities and at the same time highlight the need for the Provincial Governments to be at the centre of that service delivery process.

He further stressed that resource allocations for the development of vibrant local economies can also be taken further to incorporate discussions on inter-governmental financial relations.

The conference theme, which was discussed and agreed to during the Pre-Premiers Conference in April this year, is also an attempt to kick start discussions on how Provincial Governments could be supported to localize the National Development Strategy objectives and the MDGs.

At the end of the conference, it is hoped that delegates will develop ''turnaround strategies'' that will lead to wider discussions and identification of key areas for eventual resourcing of provincial governments.

The conference, funded by the National Government through the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening gathers the Premiers and the Lord Mayor of Honiara City Council with the following objectives:

1. To create a forum for inter-governmental policy dialogue where the political leaders of the Provincial Governments meet annually to discuss and raise issues that specific or unique on matters that are directly related to Provincial Governments and the Honiara City Council.

2. Strengthen cooperation and coordination amongst Provincial leaders and also with the Honiara City Council which may enable them to speak with one voice on issues of national importance.

3. Create greater understanding amongst the Provincial Premiers of various provinces of issues of common interest that may be affecting effective service delivery.

4. Suggest policies and brainstorm ideas that may help improve service delivery through direct interactions with the line ministries thus creating opportunities for the Provincial Authorities to voice out some of the challenges they face.

5. Create an opportunity for an open dialogue with the line ministries on issues affecting effective service delivery in the communities, Provincial Governments and Honiara City Council. This is hoped to promote transparency and improve communication amongst the Solomon Islanders.

6. Conceptualize policies and strategies for discussions by Provincial Premiers that may later be formulated into resolutions contained in communiqués for consideration by the National Cabinet.

At the end of the Conference, the Provincial Leaders will adopt resolutions based on issues discussed during the week.

The resolutions will be tabled in Cabinet for discussions by the Minister for Provincial Governments and later to the National Parliament for further discussions and approval before implementation is carried out by relevant ministries.

ENDS

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