The national government is urged to clean up the Mataniko river as part of efforts to attract tourists into the country.
Barney Paulsen, a member of the Guadalcanal Province Town and Country Planning Board made the call yesterday.
Paulsen said he had realised that only the lower part of the river within the city council jurisdiction was severely polluted while the upper part remain clean.
“As soon as the water entered the Honiara City Council’s jurisdiction the water was polluted,’’ he said.
“Personally I want Mataniko River to be kept clean’’ he added.
Paulsen said the river was polluted both underneath and its surface.
“We talk about tourism, first we must stop polluting the river for the betterment of this country,” he said
Paulsen also urged people living along the river banks to act responsibly and keep the river clean.
He said it is something the DCC government and city council must work together to address for the betterment of the nation.
It’s understood the national government has devised a project that will see a major clean-up of the river this year.
By CROFTON UTUKANA
