Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare officially opened the Premiers' Conference on Rennell Island today.
Mr. Sogavare and his Minister for Provincial Government, Japhet Waipora, flew to the island yesterday morning to open the meeting.The week-long summit is being attended by all nine provincial premiers and the Mayor of Honiara City.
Proud host, the Rennell-Bellona Provincial government, said they are happy to have been given the confidence and honour to host such a meeting after it had gone through some tough times.
Premier of Rennell-Bellona Province, Solly Tengemoana, in praising Mr. Sogavare for his being able to officiate the opening of this year's Premiers' Conference on Rennell, said it is a privilege for the province to have the Prime Minister visiting them after seven years.
While in Rennell, the Prime Minister officially launched the island's first ever mini trade show yesterday morning, hosted by people of Niupani on East Rennell.
The mini trade show gives villagers around Lake Tegano the opportunity to showcase items and resources available on the island, including coconut crabs, local food stalls, the endemic snake, said to be only found in the lake, and other rare plants and orchids found only on the island.
The trade show closes this Friday, the same day the Premiers' conference ends.