I AM obliged to reply Rodney Taraha’s statement in this column regarding the delivery of the Northwest Guadalcanal Constituency women’s project that Mr Taraha also referred to as cheap donation.
Geographically, the Northwest Guadalcanal Constituency (NWGC) is one of the biggest constituencies on Guadalcanal with a total voter registration of almost 6,000(5982) in the last National General Election.
The NWGC Office therefore looks after an area stretching from Burns Creek in the east to Marovovo in the west.
In the last decade, the constituency was regarded as one of the least developed with the lasting effect of the ethnic conflict that destroyed most of its infrastructure and economy still felt today.
The recovery process is far from over and the turnover is relatively slow for a struggling local economy that relied heavily on government handouts for its recovery and growth.
Social services and Infrastructure development are two corresponding government sponsored support that is vital to economic growth in our constituency, yet lacking.
It is therefore a huge undertaking and responsibility to manage development programs that are expected to bring immediate change to the whole constituency in terms of social and economic development.
Despite the scale of the challenges, the people of NWGC are socio-economically empowered, through various assistance schemes streamed through the NWGC Office.
In the past five years, we have assisted the people of NWGC with various projects, improving their livelihood in significant ways.
Because of our assistance programs, it is rewarding to see more and more people becoming involved in contributing to the local economy by actively participating in economic activities.
To give you a wee bit of understanding to our general role as a government agency with a public purpose, the Northwest Guadalcanal Constituency Office, just like any other constituencies, receives funding from the National Government and ROC.
These projects include; The Rural Housing Project (Roofing iron and housing materials), Rural Electrification Project (Solar) Agricultural Project Materials, water and sanitation project and Church projects.
Other projects also made available to the constituents are; Fisheries Projects (Outboard motor and canoes, Forestry downstream project (Chainsaws), women’s funding and support for Education which covers school fees for students attending all schools from primary to tertiary education.
Since 2010, the people of NWGC have benefitted directly and indirectly from the assistance given to them in the form of community projects or individual projects delivered to the doorstep of recipients in a very transparent and accountable manner.
In 2014, the NWGC Office under the guidance of the current MP has established a strategy for income generation and employment promotion through micro and small enterprise development, support of social dialogue and development planning.
At the centre of this approach is the inclusiveness of, representatives of the local communities, groups and individual men, women and youths who in one way or the other contribute to the economic development of the constituency.
This strategized work program sets out a promising direction for Socio-Economic Development throughout the constituency based on the rational use of local capacities and resources.
The NWGC Office also identified common priorities for the development of the constituency taking into account the social and environmental contexts.
With a strong effort to grow the local economy using our prioritized work plan, our development goals for NWGC will be achieved in the near future.
This year, the NWGC Office is continuing with the delivery of its housing project, water and sanitation projects, agricultural project, church assistance projects, and the women’s projects to its constituents and will be carrying out this distribution program up to the month of June of this year.
It is particularly encouraging to see people who have received assistance through these projects and other government funding openly expressed their joy and interest to continue to support the good work of the current MP and the NWGC constituency office.
In line with our development plans, the NWGC Office always considers women as a contributor to all economic activities.
Enhancing women’s participation in development is essential not only for achieving social justice but also reducing poverty in the rural areas.
In many homes today, women are still the least prioritised yet they shoulder more responsibility than their male counterparts.
For these and more reasons, each year, the NWGC Office has allocated funds for specific projects for women.
Besides receiving other projects, more than 1000 women receive kitchenware, market trays, and last year we included a clothing project that is now ready to be distributed.
Similar projects in the past include sewing machines and accessories.
It is our view that by taking care of our women, we recognise their struggles, their stress and their basic needs.
We have to be honest to articulate that 70% of the rural women in NWGC are poor and 30% of these women still live under the poverty line.
By broadening the scope of support to even the poorest of all, we believe the little help we give will make a difference in their lives.
In short, investing in women is central to sustainable development therefore to disregard their basic needs for the sake of some tangible development as implored by Mr Taraha is not only discriminatory and egotistic but also disrespectful to our women to say the least.
Finally, the vision of the current MP for NWGC for a better, brighter future for the people of Northwest Guadalcanal is legitimate and achievable, however achieving our economic development goals depends on our efforts and commitment.
We must to learn to work together and strive for our constituency’s economic prosperity rather than waiting for the handouts that come from the government through the MP or the constituency office.
People must also learn to appreciate what is given and use it for maximum benefit.
I wish to assure you all that the NWGC Office will continue to honour its commitment in delivering in its entirety all available projects to the people of NWGC in the best possible way.
We also understand that there are a few frustrated people, who have been waiting to receive assistance but have been very patient, we have not forgotten you.
We are working tirelessly to give you all the assistance and support you need.
Please do not hesitate to visit our office at Point Cruz on Thursdays and Tuesday should you need to know about our development programs, assistance programs and other information.
Remember, if we want to move our constituency forward, we need to put your differences behind and work together with our current MP because there is no room for rivalry when we all want to see is tangible development in our constituency.
For the records, Mr Taraha is not a registered voter of Northwest Guadalcanal unless if he is hiding under an alias name.
By JOHN SUGA JUNIOR
Constituency Development Officer
Northwest Guadalcanal Constituency
