Dear Editor – The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is but the national government’s development strategy executed under the umbrella of the Rural Development Scheme, to make it look rural and voter oriented so that the rural voter thinks he is being compensated for his part in the government system.
There is nothing purely in it for the rural guy or nothing special for the voter other than the national government programs and projects that are channeled under the individual voters’ name so that we think it is a special or separate kind of money that is given to help them.
In reality, it is the government implementing its usual national plans, aims and objectives, things which should and are normally carried out by normal government. programs of activities. In a way there is neither added nor real value in it for the voter.
This is seen in how it is disbursed; a tricky thing that only makes us feels high about it but at the end of the tunnel, it is the same end to which govt. ministries and agencies work. In other words, the govt. only makes its own clients work for themselves instead of the govt. and its workers working for the people; but through the backyard.
This is found when under the schemes so called applied-for projects, if they are in line with the government’s priority areas such as rural housing or agricultural and education etc, these are funded, while the rest which are outside of government’s priorities, like private businesses and small grass-root businesses are ignored; damped in the office rubbish bins or dropped somewhere.
This is seen here however, as the very best approach the government should implement its programs of action and plans; aims and objectives very well.
Because these priority areas; agriculture, housing, lighting, education and others are the priority needs of the rural people. So this is thus the best way RCDF should be schemed.
The tricky part of it, according to this view is that it is played in a political play that the rural novice, instead of appreciating the prospects of the government, foolishly and unknowingly thinks he is unfairly marginalized and/or sidelined.
In that he often have the mentality that the $2 million yearly for every constituency, is hard cash, hidden somewhere in the CBSI or NBSI or DBSI or Westpac or the ANZ, in Honiara.
In reality the $2m is but ghost money painted on paper; only figures making us think that we have money.
It is just like the government budget, it is something that is drawn up on a chart that has to be found or begged for from somewhere; no coins but picture money.
In that in reality, when lucky, like when the ROC (Republic of China) funds come some of the projects get some sourcing, otherwise we wait and see.
Simply, we do not have the money in pocket but dream about it every night that makes more HBP and stress.
To make the trick trickier, we the rural grass-roots do not know how to tap the right roots under-ground so when we try to make an attempt; we uproot the whole bottom of the Abalolo tree, and who on earth does that?
In the evening we settle back on our ‘akwa’ stamp chairs and yawned the evening away, helpless and hopeless as ever. But when the next election comes, (in 2018), we pull the same vine again.
The thing here again is, please government or MPs don’t fool us around.
Tell us plainly somehow, someway, that the $2m is but vague thins, you don’t have money, and tell us plainly how to draw up our project proposals in a way that are genuine and fit to be made and find source somewhere.
Don’t just say; ‘Make / draw up your projects and send them into the office” and throw them away the next day.
We too but also want to take part in the rural development of this country.
Show us what are the right projects and the right ways to apply for them so that we will all help together to develop this country.
And also, be fair, share the money equally, not just hand out to those you know only.
Finally, please RCDF of Malaita province must not forget the gateway to Malaita, see the sanitation and sea-front development of Auki.
While DALGRO undertakes the upgrading of roads in Auki can the government also look urgently at a sanitation project which would include public toilets, water taps and waste management to the Auki wharf and whole sea-front, from Lilisiana all round to Ambu, and make it look like Singapore.
Everybody would love to come to Malaita, or how Malaita Forum?
Cheers for Malaita RCDF, 2016.
James Tiru
Auki
