Sir Francis Laid to Rest in Home Village

Former Prime Minister and veteran politician Sir Francis Billy Hilly was laid to rest last Friday in Koriovuku village, Ranongga Island, Western Province. Sir Hilly's remains were accompanied by immediate family and government officials, transported by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force patrol boat "Taro" after a state funeral service held at the Honiara Wesley United Church on Wednesday, March 19.

Upon arrival in Gizo on Thursday, March 20, Sir Hilly's remains were escorted to the Gizo Wesley United Church, where members of the Western Provincial Assembly held a special church service and paid their respects, attended by the Premier, Hon. Billy Veo, the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, Ramlaka Aquila Talasasa, and representatives of the Gizo public.

MPA Lence Sogole, on behalf of the Provincial Assembly, paid tribute to the late Sir Hilly, praising his leadership at both the provincial and national levels as "extraordinary." From Gizo, the remains were transported to his home village of Koriovuku, Ranongga Island. The Minister for Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening and MP for Ranongga/Simbo Constituency, Hon. Wayne Ghiro, and the Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Hon. Jimson Tanangada, on behalf of the state, handed over the remains to the chiefs and people.

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

Prior to entering politics, he served as a District Officer (1974), Provincial Clerk in Makira Province (1975), and then as Manager of the British Solomons Trading Company, Gizo Branch (1976). The late Sir Hilly entered the Legislative Assembly in 1976 as the Member for Ranongga/Simbo constituency. He was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs in the Kenilorea Government in 1976 but resigned in May 1978 in support of the Western Breakaway Movement advocating for independence for the Western region. While retaining his seat in the Legislative Assembly, the late Sir Hilly also contested and won a seat in the South Ranongga Provincial Assembly in 1979, subsequently replacing Jerry Buare as Chairman of the Western Council (1979-1980).

After being re-elected in August 1980, he became the leader of the Independent Group, which held 10 seats in the 38-seat parliament and, together with the Kenilorea United Party's 16 seats, the Independent Group became the junior coalition partner in the government. He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Medical Services. Hilly left parliament from 1984 to 1993 to pursue business interests, but in 1993 he was again elected as the Member for Ranongga/Simbo constituency. He served as Prime Minister from June 1993 to November 1994 and as Leader of the Opposition from 1994-1995 and 2004-2006. Hilly was one of two candidates for Prime Minister in June 2000 but lost to Manasseh Sogavare. In July 2004, he became Leader of the Opposition, a position he held until April 2006. He served as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee from 2004-2005 and Chairman of the Parliamentary House Committee in 2006.

In May 2006, he became Minister for Commerce, Industries and Employment in the second Sogavare government but was dismissed in August of that year due to disagreements over relations with Taiwan. In 2007, he joined the Sikua government as Minister for Commerce, Industries and Employment. In 2012, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming Sir Francis Billy Hilly.