FINANCE Minister Snyder Rini has failed the people of Malaita Province, North Malaita MP Jimmy Lusibaea claimed.
This is because the current budgetary allocations in the 2015 Appropriation Bill 2015 does not specify the two anticipated development sites identified in Malaita Province namely Bina habour and Suafa bay proposed development in the south and north of Malaita Province, he added.
Mr Lusibaea highlighted this when he addressed Parliament during his debate on the 2015 Appropriation Bill 2015.
“The Finance Minister in his budget speech on page 4 the last paragraph stated that this Government is committed to actions rather than just words. But I must say he failed the people of Malaita Province,” Mr Lusibaea told Parliament.
The North Malaita MP said even the proposed Liwe, Faumamanu and Kadabina industrial parks that were initiated by previous governments failed to appear in name for some reason but more disappointingly it is again lumped together with other activities under the same Ministry for a $4.5 million allocation – under the heading ‘Industrial and Commercial Estate Development.’
“I am calling on the Prime Minister and the DCC Government to be truthful to the people of Malaita and whether what the Prime Minister and DCC Government promised to the people of Malaita Province and its MART Provincial Government during its recent policy statement launching was going to be delivered at all this year 2015?” Mr Lusibaea said.
He said this is a serious matter because the people of Malaita are expecting the DCC Government to deliver its promises as well as the 14 Members of Parliament from Malaita in both sides of this house.
“We all expect to see a substantial and clear allocation to be marked under the 2015 development budget to be specifically allocated under the names of Suafa bay and Bina habour in Malaita Province.
“To that we fail to find that in this 2015 budget,” he said.
The North Malaita MP adds that the issues of unemployment facing the people of the province and being considered liabilities in other parts of this country are due to lack of development on Malaita Province.
“Is DCC Government going to play the same music as those of the previous governments?
“Using the name of development in Malaita to lobby Malaita MPs in forming Government?
“Enough of lip service, Malaita now needs to be given true development and not token figures year in year out in national budgets.
“The people of Malaita would like to stay home and be employed.
“I thought that is one of the primary objectives of the current DCC Government and that is to empower our people to engage in productive activities and absorbed in gainful employment and thereby enhance improved livelihood for Solomon Islands,” Mr Lusibaea told Parliament.
