PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has urged Solomon Islanders to work together with his government address development challenges facing the nation, head-on.
In his 2015 New Year’s message to the nation, Mr Sogavare said the task before him and his government is tough but clear and it is to immediately address the challenges that hindered the country from ensuring better life for its citizens.
“This will be no easy task. My government will require your collective support and continued assistance from our development partners for its successful completion,” he said.
Mr Sogavare said his DCC Government believes the country’s development and economic challenges boil down to the existing centralised national development strategy and its Comprehensive Development Policy being finalised sets out remedial measures to deliver the county from this bottleneck.
He also echoed the importance of Solomon Islanders freeing up their land for national development projects, stressing that his DCC Government’s development intentions will not be accomplished without them availing their land.
“My fellow citizens, availing of our land resources to the state for national development projects is important for the achievement of our national development aspirations and I therefore call on you all my fellow citizens to free up your land.
“The development intentions of my DCC government for our nation will only be translated into action through your positive response to this plea.”
The Prime Minister also beckoned all Solomon Islands citizens to embrace national unity and abide by the laws of the country to ensure the success of Solomon Islands as nation.
“Fellow Solomon Islanders, as we proceed into this New Year, let us continue to embrace our national unity.
“Let us be reminded that social harmony is crucial for national peace, stability and economic development. We have suffered the consequences of ethnic disharmony, so let us avoid sliding down that dark path again.
“Let us continue to abide by our national constitution and fulfil our obligations as enshrined therein.
“Let us respect the rights of every individual person in our nation. The success of our nation in all aspects hinges on our compliance with the laws of our nation and respect for rights of all persons to life and dignity.”
Prime Minister Sogavare alluded to corruption as another obstacle to Solomon Islands forward movement and declared that his DCC Government is determined to address this endemic problem head-on.
He said his government will establish an independent commission against corruption for the investigation of corruption allegations against politicians and government officials, introduce anti-corruption legislations and subsidiary regulations and review existing legislations that give discretionary powers to Government Ministers and Officials with the intention of transferring such statutory powers to a body or board to ensure important decisions are collectively made.
