Many households face bleak future due to rising sea-level
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
The Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Ward 16, Hon. Jeffrey Wickham, has strongly criticised the 2025/2026 Provincial Budget, describing it as ‘inadequate’ in addressing the ongoing climate crisis affecting Nusabaruku shoreline on Gizo, Western Province.
Speaking during the Committee of Supply on Tuesday, at the Fair-Trade Conference in Gizo Hon. Wickham questioned why the urgent situation facing the Nusabaruku community was not included under the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF).
Nusabaruku Community has more than 3000 population currently which is dominated by Micronesians- descendants of the Micronesians from the Phoenix group of islands who were resettled in the Western Province by the British during the British Protectorate rule over Solomon Islands.
The Community is currently experiencing severe coastal erosion due to rising sea levels, placing homes and livelihoods at risk.
Hon. Wickham said the government is fully aware of the situation but has failed to prioritise it in the current budget.
“Why was the Nusabaruku climate change issue not included in the PCDF funding? Is there any ongoing effort to seek assistance from the national government?” he asked.
He called on the provincial executive to clarify why such a critical environmental and humanitarian issue was overlooked in the budget planning.
Hon. Wickham stressed that the matter should be treated as a priority, urging the government to immediately include it in its development agenda.
“We must not forget our people. This issue must be treated as a priority and addressed without delay,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ward 16 MPA also raised concerns over a number of ongoing service delivery issues in Gizo.
These include the lack of a proper sewage system in Gizo town an out-of-service X-ray machine at Gizo Hospital, and continuing challenges with water supply and road maintenance.
Debate on the 2025/2026 Budget Appropriation Ordinance has been discussed and on Tuesday the Provincial Assembly passed a total of $40.2 million for the 2025/2026 financial year, marking a strategic upward adjustment aimed at bolstering the province’s fiscal stability and service delivery.
