THE Government has congratulated the Member of Parliament (MP) for Gao Bugotu Constituency Samuel Manetoali for his effort to engage all stakeholders to interact directly with his constituents during a constituency summit.
The three-day Gao Bugotu Constituency Leaders Forum at Lepi Village, Isabel last week saw presentations from a many sectors including diplomatic missions, government ministries, business houses, NGO’s and women’s groups.
Policy Secretary Resources Sector from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Dr Christopher Vehe said the inclusion of speakers from such a wide sector has enabled relevant information to be disseminated directly to the constituents to aid them in their vision to develop their constituency.
Notable among them was the representatives from the Australian and Papua New Guinea High Commissions and mining companies, Axiom Company Limited and Sumitomo Metal Mining (SMM) Company and Uta Shipping Company.
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 presentations during the forum.
Dr Vehe said one good example of this during the forum was the presentations made by the Axiom Company Limited and the Sumitomo Metal Mining Company, both of whom have mining interests in the Gao Bugotu constituency.
“There is benefit for the constituents in enabling them to interact directly with company executives and officials,” he said.
Sumitomo Company has also set up a demonstration booth at the summit venue for the distribution of brochures as well as demonstration on supsup garden and composting.
He said the government intends to foster an economic environment that enables a broad economic base to support local enterprises and therefore information is crucial for people to be able to make sound economic decisions especially at the rural level where the majority of the population are based.
During the forum, Dr Vehe was joined by other government officials who took the opportunity to visit mining camps at Cockatoo Island (SMM) and the Axiom camp and exploration mining site.
Dr Vehe said the trips to the two mining camps, just close to the summit village of Lepi, offered many of the summit participants the chance to get first-hand information about the activities of the two companies.
He said the Gao Bugotu Leaders Summit should be a model for other Members of Parliament (MPs) who intend to bring home information to their people to enable them to participate fully in the development of their constituency.
