Work on deteriorating roads and bridges across the country will commence once the current rainy season ends, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says.
PM Manele told media during his first press conference in Honiara yesterday that the Minister for Infrastructure Development (MID) had informed him that major repair works would begin after the wet season.
“Of course, we hear the views, comments and complaints from our people. They want permanent solutions, not temporary fillings,” the Prime Minister said.
“Again, it comes back to the issue of resourcing. But the government, through the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, is committed to ensuring that road networks are fixed as soon as the rainy season is over.”
He said it is part of MID’s plan to address roads and bridges affected by the current rain and wet season.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Matthew Wale has called on the government to urgently address the worsening state of roads and transport infrastructure, warning that ongoing damage poses serious risks to public safety.
Hon Wale said reports of damage to critical infrastructure in Malaita and Guadalcanal provinces due to persistent bad weather were alarming.
He highlighted damage to the Tabalia Bridge, describing it as a lifeline for people in North West, West and South Guadalcanal, and said repairs should not wait until the rain subsides.
“In and around Honiara, the bad weather has again caused damage to roads and feeder roads,” Hon Wale said.
While acknowledging ongoing road upgrades in the capital, the Opposition Leader said there should be no excuse for failing to carry out immediate maintenance.
He said the situation reflected years of neglect and failure to prioritise infrastructure maintenance, and stressed the need for transparency and accountability in infrastructure spending to ensure roads and bridges are built to withstand extreme weather.
The Opposition has called on the government to conduct urgent safety assessments of affected bridges, carry out emergency repairs and provide temporary crossings where necessary, and commit funding for long-term, climate-resilient infrastructure.
Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr Melchior Mataki, said relevant ministries and committees were consolidating reports on weather-related infrastructure damage as the country remains in the cyclone season.
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