Honiara : 24 September 2016
Letter to the Editor, Island Sun Newspaper.
The Premier of Guadalcanal Province, the Hon. Anthony Veke, announced last Wednesday that his administration is working on plans to start the development of a Transular road, he labelled, a ‘Peace Highway.’ across Guadalcanal Province.
In collaboration with the Universal Peace Federation (UFP), Premier Veke said the provincial executive is ready to start discussing with landowners the actual access of the proposed Highway road.
He also explained the executive government is putting together plans and concepts documents to discuss with the Solomon Islands government, donor partners and the universal peace federation movement.
The Premier envisaged that the Guadalcanal peace highway road would be a dynamic development in the province and Solomon Islands and is fully supported by his government.
He forecast the Peace highway road would turn out to be the economic base for development in the province and nation, linking and fully encouraging Guadalcanal people to fully participate in economic activities and sustainable peaceful living. The road would also improve social services delivery in the province for its people, the Premier believed.
Premier Veke went on to stress during his announcement of the proposed project, “The road will also encourage our people to utilise their potential skills in fishing, farming, creative arts and enjoy their environment, land, sea and water, but also help us to learn to value our heritage and appreciate who we are and where we are across the Islands.”
“This will help Guadalcanal people develop the sense of oneness and learn to realise that we are one people of Guadalcanal province, Solomon Islands and are part of the global concern family because we are all connected to that (proposed) road, the Guadalcanal Peace Highway."
“I believe it’s only then that my people will fully realise that we are not alone, but part of a nation and global family as one people.”
Premier Veke appealed to the people of Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands Government, the UPF and members of the global family to support the provincial government and the people in the development of the Highway road.
I wish the Honourable Premier, his administration and the people of Guadalcanal much success in developing the ‘Peace Highway” project and look forward to the day when the concept becomes a reality.
“To become a true global citizen, one must abandon all notions of ‘otherness’ and instead embrace ‘togetherness.”
Suzy Kassem.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
www.solomonislandsinfocus.com
