Interim President, Fred Fono revealed this to the 5th Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI’s) public forum on Sunday.
Mr Fono, who is also the caretaker Minister for Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs, said traditionally Solomon Islands is an export orientated economy – exporting copra, cocoa, fish, logs and sawn timber.
“If we can double the export of cocoa, copra, fish and sawn timber, I believe the revenue the nation will be creating will certainly have an impact on the economic development of our nation.”
He said at the same time, Government should be spending within its budget and no excess spending as always been the case of successive governments.
But the caretaker Deputy Prime Minister said this can happen if bigger donors like European Union spend their money on big infrastructures like roads and not micro-projects in rural areas.
He said infrastructure is important so that our people can participate in the socio-economic activities to help improve their living standards.
“The party treats infrastructures as its priority. If we look at some of our islands after 32 years of independence, there have not being much infrastructures to link villages to main market except Malaita and Guadalcanal.
“The other larger islands like Isabel and Choiseul, there have not seen much infrastructures,” he said.
As such, Mr Fono said the Party believes it is high time: “we re-arrange our aid programmes.”
“We have seen that major donors have involved in micro projects that do not have impacts on our economy.
“They (big donors) should be told to involve in big projects like infrastructures so that it can stimulate economic growth where our people can participate in economic activities,” he said.
Mr Fono said: “We have known that islands that have good links through road infrastructures have reflected in their standard of living. There is improvement in their standard of living.”
He is seeking re-election in Central Kwara’ae in Malaita Province.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
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