While appreciating accessing of the $3.0 million from the National Government for a proposed shipping service for North West Choiseul Constituency by the out-going MP for the constituency, the public meeting for NWC constituents in Honiara held on Sunday 26th October, the meeting recommended that more consultations with the people in the constituencies be conducted before any set up is finalised.
Such consultations must include proper awareness and feed-back on the desirability to establish such a shipping service, different types of company options that will ensure ownership of such company by the people of the constituency.
Furthermore, other investment and development opportunities for the constituency should also be discussed with the people and get their support before seeking funds and implementing. It was felt that having the support from the people themselves will strengthen their ownership of the project and ensure sustainability.
The meeting also appointed additional members for the Task Force to fairly represent the seven Wards in the constituency.
The Task Force is now stronger, numerically to fifteen (15) including two ladies and also in terms of capacity with the inclusion of others with their different strengths that will help the project.
Other resourceful persons in the constituency are also requested to co-opt to provide advice as and when the need.
In the meantime, the Task Force is tasked to investigate other queries raised at the meeting and also continue to prepare other matters that will affect the establishment of the company and incorporate the feed-back from constituents when received. The consultations are expected to start after the election.
The Task Force is happy with the outturn for the four hours meeting and is grateful for the constructive discussions that prevailed throughout the meeting and agreed to have more such meetings in the future.
About fifty (50) people attended the public meeting.
