THE MEMBER of Parliament (MP) for Temotu Vatud has come out boldly to clarify the proposed development at Vanikoro Island recently, which however went out of hand and resulted in an immense dispute.
This came after this paper published an article earlier, stating that machines have been loaded on to a barge bound for the island to develop the proposed growth centre there.
Freda Tuki Soriacomua told the Solomon Star in an interview yesterday that, the development that is being eyed for the island was to set up a Constituency Development Centre, and not a growth centre.
“It’s a constituency development centre, not a growth centre.
“I clearly told your reporter that the new development at Vanikoro will be a constituency development centre, under my responsibility as an MP for Vatud Constituency,” Ms Tuki said.
The MP moved on to explain that, she wanted to establish the centre at a settlement at Vanikoro that was occupied by Tikopians. This is to try and see if there is no dispute happening there.
But all this turned out ugly, after a dispute intensified into something sad.
“These people do not respect me as their MP.
“Let me go on to develop and help the people of Vanikoro with the proposed Constituency Development Centre.
“They should give me time to prove their criticisms wrong,” she added.
MP Tuki explained that, the proposal for the constituency centre was clearly stipulated by the Ministry of Rural Development. And, it is the responsibility of any parliamentarian to establish a constituency development centre in his or her constituency.
This is to help curb urban drifting by the people within the rural settings of the country.
She added, it is sad to see that the only MP that has developed such centre in his constituency was the current Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, MP for East Choiseul.
By RONALD TOITO’ONA
