The Gao Bugotu Constituency Leaders Forum ended on high note yesterday (Friday) with the adoption of the Gao Bugotu Constituency Development Plan 2015-2018.
Member of Parliament for Gao Bugotu Samuel Manetoali said the adoption of the resolution will pave the way for the implementation of projects and other developments in the constituency within the next four years.
“This forum was aim at providing an opportunity for my constituents to acquire knowledge and learn from various Government and Non-government organisation’s presentations and then be able to make collective decisions and plan on the way forward for Gao Bugotu Constituency,” Mr Manetoali said.
Participant of the forum included chiefs, elders, Constituency Zone representatives, women’s organisation and the Gao Bugotu People with Disability Association.
The intense three-day conference saw presentation from diplomatic houses, Government ministries and business houses and other stakeholders. Notable among them were presentations from the Australian and Papua New Guinea High Commissions.
Mining companies, Axiom Company Limited and Sumitomo Metal Mining (SMM) company have also made presentations at the forum drawing intense interest among the summit participants who for the first time were able to interact with the company executives and officials with the ease after the lifting of the injunctions by the High Court that limit community consultations due to the ongoing legal disputes over certain mining tenements in the constituency.
The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Culture and Tourism were among key government agencies that made presentation during the forum.
Local entrepreneurs Uta Shipping Company and Solomon Butterfly as well as local NGO Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT) also made brief presentations drawing interests from participants and locals alike.
Mr Manetoali said the participation of broad sectorial presentation has made the forum a success giving the forum participants and constituents the chance to gather first-hand information on relevant topics and issues that have direct relevance to the development of the constituency.
The forum was officially opened by the High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Fred Yakasa and Isabel Province Premier James Habu on Wednesday.
Speaking during the occasion to mark the opening of the forum, Mr Habu said the forum is a way the government and the private sector keeps in touch with the constituents, adding that the benefits of the forum will benefit the province.
“Whatever is achieved during this forum will contribute to the development of Isabel Province as a whole”, he said.
The Premier acknowledge the DCC government for increasing the grant allocation for Isabel Provinces on this year’s budget, that will enable the province to implement its earmarked projects, notably the development of Garana Senior Secondary School and the Tataba Economic Growth Centre.
Premier Habu said the Isabel Provincial Government is looking forward to more such forums to be organised in the province and is looking forward for the outcome of the forum, its adoption and its implementation for the development of Gao Bugotu Constituency.
Organisers say despite the absence of other important stakeholders whom invitations were sent to make presentation papers at the forum, the forum was still a success and has achieved its objectives.
BY PMO
