PM Sogavare has praised the 2023 Pacific Games as an economic recovery epicentre for Solomon Islands
THE 2023 Pacific Games will become an epicentre for economic recovery, injecting millions of dollars-worth of investment into the country within a short span of time, Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare said.
He echoed this sentiment in his pre-recorded message to mark the ‘1 YEAR TO GO’ before the country hosts the Pacific Games (PG) from 19 November to 23 December 2023.
The Prime Minister added that the PG will also become a catalyst for other major projects such as the International Airport Upgrade, the Kukum Highway Phase II Project that will begin at the Honiara City Council to White River and from Henderson East Road to Mberande.
It will also be a catalyst for Tina Hydro Project, he further added.
Prime Minister Sogavare said without the 2023 Pacific Games, national economic recovery will be extremely difficult.
He said the journey the country has taken so far has reached a point of no return.
“There is no turning back from this point, only focus,” the Prime Minister said.
He said the government, since being given the right to host the 2023 Pacific Games in 2016, has accomplished several important milestones.
This includes the passing of the Pacific Games 2023 Act in 2017. The Act provides the legal framework for the hosting of the regional games. The government also established the Pacific Games Taskforce to undertake the planning process and in December 2018, the Hosting Authority was established.
In terms of funding, the government in 2019 committed a total budget of $550 million over a five-year period to deliver the pacific games.
In early 2020, the National Hosting Authority secured the most funding of facilities needed for the games and in August it further secured the funds needed for the remaining games facilities.
He said with 365 days to go, Solomon Islands is on track to host the pacific games.
“We are on track to successfully host the 2023 Pacific Games. We are ready,” he said.
Prime Minister Sogavare said there has been rapid progress in the construction of games infrastructures.
He said the new national stadium is expecting to be handed over to the NHA around July, 2023.
The Prime Minister said all the other venues, including the aquatic centre, tennis court, the second multipurpose hall, the SIFF Academy, the hockey pitch and the marine and water support centre will be completed progressively and handed over before June, 2023.
All the accommodations and villages will be ready by October.
Prime Minister Sogavare said from the progress of preparation work, the country will have adequate time to conduct quality checks for all facilities before the opening ceremony to ensure there is no hidden defects that could undermine the cost of the games.
BY CHARLES KADAMANA
Solomon Star, Newsroom
