Former Prime Minister and Senior Statesman Sir Francis Billy Hilly was laid to rest at his home village of Koriovuku on Ranongga Island, Western Province, last Friday.

The body of the late Sir Francis accompanied by his immediate family and government officials was transported onboard RSIPF Patrol Boat Taro following the State Funeral Service in Honiara at the Wesley United Church on Wednesday, March 19.

Upon arrival in Gizo on Thursday, March 20, the body of the late Sir Francis was processioned to the Gizo Wesley United Church for a special church service and paying of tributes by members of the Western Provincial Assembly led by the Premier Hon. Billy Veo and Provincial Speaker Ramrakha Aquila Talasasa together with members of the Gizo public.

Speaking on behalf of the Provincial Assembly, MPA Hon, Rence Sore paid tribute to the late Sir Francis, describing his leadership both at the provincial and national level as “remarkable”.

From Gizo, the body was transported to his home village of Koriovuku on Ranongga Island where the body was handed over to Chiefs and his people on behalf of the State by the Minister of Provincial Governments and Institutional Strengthening and MP for Ranongga Simbo Constituency, Hon. Wayne Ghemu accompanied by the Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Hon. Jimson Tanagada.

The late Sir Francis was born on 20 July 1948 at Emu Harbour on Ranongga Island, Western Province. He was educated at the Government Primary School in Honiara (1958-1962), King George VI School (1963-1966), and the University of the South Pacific (1968-1973), where he was a representative on the Students’ Council and the first student to graduate with a B.A. (Administration).

Before entering politics, he worked as a District Officer (1974), as a Clerk to Makira Province (1975), and then as Manager of the British Solomons Trading Company in Gizo (1976).

The late Sir Francis entered the Legislative Assembly as the member for Ranongga/Simbo in 1976. He was appointed Minister for Home Affairs in the 1976 Kenilorea government but resigned in May 1978 in support of the Western Breakaway Movement which was lobbying for independence for the Western District.

Although the late Sir Francis retained his seat in the Legislative Assembly, he also contested and won the Provincial Assembly seat of South Ranongga in 1979, and subsequently replaced Jerry Buare to become President of the Western Council (1979-1980).

After re-election in August of 1980, he became leader of the Independent Group, which held ten of the thirty-eight seats in Parliament and, alongside Kenilorea’s United Party’s sixteen seats, The Independent Group became the junior coalition partner in government. He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Medical Services.

Hilly left Parliament from 1984 to 1993 to pursue his business interests, but in 1993 he was re-elected to the Ranongga/Simbo seat. He was Prime Minister from June 1993 to November 1994 and Leader of the Opposition in 1994-1995 and 2004-2006.

Hilly was one of the two candidates for Prime Minister in June 2000 but lost out to Manasseh Sogavare. In July 2004 he became Leader of the Opposition until April 2006. He was Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in 2004-2005 and Chairman of the Parliamentary House Committee in 2006.

In May 2006 he became Minister of Commerce, Industries, and Employment in the second Sogavare Government, but was dismissed from the position that August over a disagreement on the relationship with Taiwan.

In 2007 he joined the Sikua Government as Minister for Commerce, Industry, and Employment. He was knighted in 2012 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as Sir Francis Billy Hilly. 

 

 

Source: Press Release, Government Communications Unit