Dear Editor – I write in response to the statement made by the deputy prime minister Manasseh Maelanga on the Malaita Province’s second appointed day at Malu’u during which he told Malaitans to blame themselves for the lack of development in the province.
As a Malaitan resident, I see the statement as factually wrong because the lack of development in Malaita could rightly be blamed on the national government as well as Malaita MPs.
Please deputy prime minister if there is nothing for you to present in your speech then say so and then take back your sit.
Deputy Prime minister looked at the infrastructure in your province. The roads were not good. Some of the roads are still without bridges.
Currently I know only the eastern roads were maintained to a very good condition because we are now going towards the national general election so no worry! Great thanks to you.
Lots of the clinics were out of medicines and without nurses, leaving the empty buildings for the rats and insects to use as their habitat.
People have to go to Kilufi Hospital or Auki clinic in spite of how far they resided or how critical their condition is.
Schools around Malaita Province are running down without the support of members from their constituencies and from the government as a whole.
Mr Maelanga, these are not because of the land dispute as you claim in your well written speech.
Again is it because of land dispute that delays the developments to take place until we have a year or a month before the general election? Before roads were maintained or before funding should be given to schools?
Please government of the day stop blaming us.
Stop blaming landowners and do whatever you can do to support your voters and your pockets for your families.
We are tired of hearing the same thing all the time using land dispute as a shield to defend you from development.
Solar panel and iron roofing without building materials is enough to keep the voters for the next election. Ha-ha.
Malachi Arete’e
Malaita
