RESOURCE OWNERS of the multi-million dollar Fiu hydro power project on Malaita have welcomed Prime Minister, Hon Manasseh Sogavare and his Government’s strong commitment to implement the various development projects on Malaita.
Chairman of the Resource owners task force, Alfred Gegeo, speaking from Auki, said that “it is heartening to hear the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, reassuring the resource owners, the people of Malaita and Solomon Islands, of his Government’s strong commitment to support and implement the projects on Malaita.
“As far as we are concern, the strong support for the Fiu hydro power project from the Prime Minister and his Government is very much welcomed,” Mr Gegeo added.
The Prime Minister was in Auki last Friday to join in the celebrations marking Malaita Province second appointed day.
The chairman added, that for the last thirty seven years, Malaita province and its people face numerous challenges in its quest to achieve economic development and prosperity due to various factors.
However, It is now time that the Government, donor community, the provincial Government and resource owners work together through the spirit of partnership to develop the province.
Gegeo added that strong political will and action is needed to push forward those projects on Malaita.
“What is needed is strong political will, supported by an efficient and strong public service as implementers of the project, and backed up by financial resources,” he stated.
“If not, these projects would not go anywhere,” he added.
He encouraged closer cooperation between the Government, donor partner, the provincial Government and resource owners and other stakeholders to move the projects forward on Malaita and elsewhere in the country.
He also called on public servants and other Government Ministries and Department and other agencies involved in the implementation of the projects to do their work professionally and faithfully so that the country could see the full implementation and results of the projects.
The Fiu hydro power project is one of the major national projects on Malaita under the current DCC Government with a total funding of USD$15 million (SDB$110 million), with USD$12 million coming from ADB and the other USD$3 million from Solomon Islands Government and Solomon Islands Electricity Authority.
Full construction work is expected to start in 2017 after all the survey, design and other related technical work has been completed.
By LESLEY SANGA
