MALAITA province has celebrated its 34th provincial second appointed day in Auki, Tuesday.
The celebration was attended by Acting Prime Minster Manasseh Maelanga, supervising minister for Ministry of Provincial government and Institutional Strengthening Samson Maneka and his team.
Speaking at the celebration Malaita provincial premier Peter Ramohia said Malaita second 2nd appointed day is not for celebration, but to remind Malaitans that province is still have more work to do to make Malaita province a better place to live and enjoy.
He said there’s a need for Malaitans to get out of dependency or handout mentality through a develop desire to work together at all level of leadership for the best interest and development of the province.
He reminded all Malaitans that the development of Malaita province and its people is a collective responsibility.
The premier said the Malaita government has worked harder in both improving the image of province and to ensure roles and responsibilities are delivered.
The Malaita province is proud to have made lot of progress compared to early stage of Malaita Alliance for Reform and Transformation (MART) government in 2015.
Ramohia stated that Malaita province has regained its respect and confident not only from national government but from international agencies, donors and private sectors.
He admitted that MART government may not have achieved as much as expected by fellow Malaitans with regard to policies.
“I am satisfied that we have made significant progress during the past year in improving the performance of the province especially in setting the huge debt (illegal borrowing fund ) of province and ensuring the province continue to qualify for more PCDF for implementation of more infrastructure felt needs project in our wards.
“We have also been working hard on improving our local revenue, human resources capacity and living within our own mean,” Mr Ramohia said.
He acknowledged Mr Maelanga and his delegation for respect and commitment in attending Malaita province second appointed day celebration.
Mr Maelanga in response said Democratic Coalition for Change Government (DCCG) is currently in process of implementing land reform policy and to allow for active participation of landowning individual and entities in both community and commercial development initiative.
He added the land reform program encompasses the concept of traditional and community governance to support legal recognition of customary land, assist national government to address demand by traditional landowners for return of alienated lands and provide a basis for introduction of land restitution policy that will cater for traditionally owned land to be recognised in perpetuity.
By SOLOMON LOFANA
In Auki
