Premier Stanley Tehiahua brushes aside rumours of his province planning to break away and joining Vanuatu

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Premier of Temotu province, Stanley Tehiahua says any decision for Temotu province to exit Solomon Islands to join Vanuatu will not happen in a vacuum – processes are there to be taken.

Tehiahua, however, declared the position of his government on the matter saying “we have an obligation under the constitution to maintain national unity”.

In an interview yesterday, the premier made the statement clarifying a recent social media post by premier for Choiseul province, Harrison Pitakaka saying Choiseul and Temotu provinces are together on a plan to break-away from the country.

While, acknowledging the statement made by Premier Pitakaka, he said his colleague had expressed the matter the way he thought.

He said the government of Temotu also have similar feelings, and all come down to the notion that national government doesn’t draw much attention to Temotu province.

“Premier of Choiseul province expressed the matter in the way he thought. What I can say is, I also felt it and have a feeling that national government doesn’t draw close attention to Temotu province.

“In a way, the idea is to draw the attention of the national government to the provinces especially, my province,” Tehiahua noted.

However, he said his government has bear the feeling and should there is need for it, it has to be channelled through appropriate authorities.

The premier also shared a scenario in the history of the country that could be a potential basis for the province to break-away from the country.

“The history of Temotu province was sad. The province wasn’t part of Solomon Islands, when the country declared protectorate in 1983.

“It was five years later in 1898, Temotu province was then included in the declaration as part of Solomon Islands.

“This is a snippet of the history of Temotu province, and though it might be sad for us, my government will uphold national unity as mandatory under the national constitution,” he said.

Tehiahua reiterated that his government is feeling the matter, but will always try to maintain national unity and let their views heard to get the courtesy of national government.  

He mentioned that should there be issues as such, his government will approach it in a peaceful and legal processes through appropriate authority.

“I felt what was expressed by colleague premier for Choiseul, but my government treasured the national obligation to uphold national unity in the country,” Tehiahua said.

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