THE Government of Japan delivered a garbage truck worth $650,000 to Malaita Province yesterday to boost waste management efforts in Auki Town.
The handing over ceremony of the garbage truck happened a day after Malaita Province premier Daniel Suidani touched down in Auki to a historical welcome ceremony.
Ambassador of Japan to Solomon Islands His Excellency Yasuhiro Morimoto said the Garbage Truck Project was funded by Japan’s Grassroots and Human Security Project Scheme following a signing ceremony between the Embassy of Japan and Malaita Provincial Government in November 2020.
“Japan contributed about SBD$650,000 in total to purchase one garbage truck which is used for waste collection in Auki Town,” Mr. Morimoto said.
The waste management issue in Auki Town is getting serious due to rapid population increase and economic growth.
Therefore, Mr. Morimoto believed that this donation will strongly enhance the capacity of Malaita Provincial Government staff to undertake current and future work operations and keep Auki Town clean in more efficient way.
“I would like to emphasize that you have started to assume huge responsibility to take good care of this funded vehicle from now.
“I hope that it will be maintained well so that this project will benefit many people in Solomon Islands and be remembered as a symbol of the friendship between the two peoples of Japan and Solomon Islands for many years to come,” Mr. Marimoto said.
“Under Japan’s Grassroots and Human Security Projects Scheme, environmental health project is one of the priority areas to address the very basic human needs of the people of Solomon Islands.
“The amount of our assistance may be modest.
“However, it expresses the goodwill of the people of Japan, who always appreciate the long-standing friendship and cordial relations between Japan and Solomon Islands.”
Mr. Morimoto assured the provincial government that Japan is committed to continue its efforts in this field to see more happy faces in many places of Solomon Islands.
Mr. Suidani was also present at the handover ceremony with other provincial administration officers.
By ANDREW FANASIA
Newsroom, Honiara
