Western Province Premier Billy Veo has called on the National Government and development partners to urgently turn their attention to the deteriorating road network on Gizo Island following the successful completion of the Noro road project.
Speaking during celebrations marking the official opening of the Noro new tar-sealed road held in Noro Town Western Province on Friday, Premier Veo acknowledged the achievement but stressed that similar investment is now critically needed in Gizo, the provincial capital.
He said Gizo township is reaching a saturation point and requires improved infrastructure to accommodate its growing population and development needs.
The premier appealed directly to the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) and the Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP) to prioritise upgrading the Gizo road network.
While the Western Provincial Government has allocated SBD $1.5 million to fix critical sections within Gizo town including part of Gizo Chinatown to be undertaken through the CAUSE II Project, Premier Veo said the scope of work required exceeds the province’s financial capacity.
“The entire road leading to the western end of Gizo Island needs a project just like the Noro road project,” he said.
Veo revealed that the province is preparing to zone the western part of Gizo Island to pave the way for town expansion and other developments.
“With the saturation of Gizo township itself, a good road network infrastructure is very important to support these development plans,” he said.
He further highlighted what he described as a major weakness in infrastructure development across the country — poor maintenance.
According to the Premier, while new projects often appear impressive upon completion, they quickly deteriorate without a proper and sustainable maintenance plan in place.
He advocated for the revival and strengthening of the Public Works Department under the Ministry of Infrastructure Development within the provinces to ensure continuous upkeep of infrastructure assets.
“I believe this is important in terms of the continuous maintenance and upkeep of these infrastructures so that they can last for years to come,” he said.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
