PERMANENT Secretary of the Ministry of Environment has stressed the importance of engaging in sustainable developments that transforms lives during the UN-SIDS Tina Hydro side event on Wednesday in Apia, Samoa.
Dr Mataki said the government of Solomon Islands has seen the importance of partnerships in sustainable development and of course ensures these projects transform lives in a holistic way.
“We have to make sure that sustainable development projects undertaken in the region targeted at transforming lives for the better,” Dr Mataki said.
He stressed that renewable energy projects such as the Tina Hydro project is a good example of a sustainable development project that not only aims to achieve sustainable development but also transforms lives for the better.
Dr Mataki said solar projects like what has been issued under the RCDF funding to constituencies in the Solomons cannot be seen as transformational projects to improve lives.
He said the focus of the solar lamp panels are only for lighting and after a few months is becoming a cost and liability to rural people.
“The Tina Hydro project is a new approach that the government takes to ensure that the project will not become a liability to the people and the government.
“And the benefits that results from such project will not only for lighting, it will serve other purposes of ensuring that the services that most needed are achieved.
“All sectors could benefit from the project and will in turn return the benefits,” Dr Mataki said.
He added sustainable development projects have to take a holistic approach to development and not one that only benefits one and disadvantages the other.
By DANIEL NAMOSUAIA
in Apia, Samoa
