FRIDAY 16TH APRIL 2010

Hon. Edward Justus Huniehu

Just twelve days before the current (8th) Parliament dissolves, Parliament lost one of its long serving Member, the Member of Parliament for East Are’Are, Hon. Edward Justus Huniehu. The late Member passed away on Monday 15 April 2010 at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara after a long period of illness.

On Tuesday 16 April, Parliament started its sitting with a tribute to the late Hon. Huniehu. The Speaker officially informed the House of the passing of one of its own and expressed his condolence to the late Member’s family and constituents on behalf of Parliament. The House then observed a minute of silence in memory of the late Member before the Speaker opened the floor for obituary speeches. While this type of speech is permitted under Parliament’s Standing Orders, this was the first time it was used.

Almost all Members present at the sitting made obituary speeches, including the Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Derek Sikua and the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare. Members spoke highly of the late Hon. Huniehu. The Prime Minister described him as loyal member and strong supporter of his government, the CNURA Government since it came into power in December 2008. Hon. Dr Derek Sikua also recalled that the late Hon. Huniehu was instrumental in a number of national projects including those related to hydropower.

Other Members also paid tribute to the late Hon. Huniehu’s notable contributions to hydropower in his constituency and the country and described him as the “Champion of Rural Electrification”.

The late Hon. Huniehu hailed from Manawai village, Are’Are and was born on the 1st January 1956. He was educated at the Su’u National Secondary School in Malaita and later ventured into private business, operating a wholesale and retail shop in Honiara. As a prominent businessman, he was a staunch advocate of the private sector.

From the private sector, the late Hon. Huniehu took up politics. He was first elected into the National Parliament in 1992 as the Member for East Are’Are in a by-election, following the resignation of Sir Peter Kenilorea (the current Speaker) who left politics to take up the position of Director of the Forum Fisheries Agency in Honiara. Since then, the late Hon. Huniehu held that seat for five terms, the last being the current which is just about to end.

As a politician, the late Hon. Huniehu held various ministerial portfolios during his 18 years in politics. In 1993, he was appointed as the Minister of Transport, Works and Utilities in the Billy Hilly Government. After that government lost power in 1994, the late Member remained in the Opposition and was subsequently appointed as its Leader in 1997 during the reign of the Mamaloni administration. After the outbreak of the ethnic tension when the Kemakeza Government took office in December 2001, the late Hon. Huniehu was appointed the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock. He held that portfolio until December 2002.

Following the general elections of 2006, the late Hon. Huniehu was part of the first government under the leadership of Hon. Snyder Rini as the Minister of Education and Human Resource Development. When the GCC Government took power following Hon. Rini’s resignation, the late Member joined the Opposition until the GCC regime fell and was replaced by the CNURA Government in December 2007. During this period, the late Hon. Huniehu was the Chairman of the Bills and Legislation Standing Committee of Parliament. In his time, the committee played an instrumental role in scrutinising bills that came before the House. The late Member was part of the group which came into power as CNURA Government in December 2007. He was initially appointed as the Minister of Energy and Rural Electrification in that government but had to resign from the position in 2009 on medical grounds. He, however, remained a strong backbencher of the CNURA Government until his passing.

During the obituary speeches in Parliament last Tuesday, Members collectively summed up the legacy of the late Hon. Justus Huniehu in Parliament in one acknowledgement – that he was indeed one of the longest serving politicians of Solomon Islands with flying colours.

Late Hon. Huniehu is survived by his wife, Mrs. Helen Osiabu, and five children.