Dear Editor – Possible print this short letter in your column?
I read with great interest the meeting of supposedly land owners, chiefs and elders who claimed to have inherent interest in the Suafa Seaport Project (SSP) at the Honiara Hotel.
I believe the Government is pushing to have these projects get off the ground because these are priority areas of the DCCG development policy.
I just wish that all who attended are genuine and wanted real change for Malaita.
People who want to ride above the Malaitan status quo and see a better future for all through these development initiatives.
SSP hasn’t happened so it is wait and see but I am sceptical already on seeing some people in the pictures.
To a fair minded investor, do you think the recent event surrounding the burning of properties in Suafa augers well in his decision to spend money? I will comment however on two other cases.
Manaoba (Binaelu) Airport. A lot has been said, over and done with. Excitement everywhere, T-Shirts about the airport opening. Thousands of North Malaitans looking forward anxiously especially the lagoon dwellers of Lau.
However, 12 months after its opening and commissioning, no plane has landed dispute remains and rumours has it that another hefty claim from disgruntled land owners has gone through the system for another $20million SBD???? Payment. From reliable sources, SBD$60- million from the tax payers of Solomon Islands has already been expended on the airport development. Enough to build a fully-fledged international airport. My What!!!
The former PS for MID made a statement when assessing this particular project and raise a fundamental question.
He said all SIG infrastructure development are carried out by his Ministry MID. Why is the Manaoba case different and project was done entirely by the Civil Aviation Authority under the direction of the former MP of Lau and Mbaelela Hon W Folotalu and his PS Mr F Lomo and their Civil Aviation director all from Lau and Mbaelelea constituency???? Interesting indeed!!
Gwounaru’u Airport remains closed until today. Even the Hon Prime Minister has to pay both disputing parties just to land, give a speech about development for Malaita (Including Auki and Gwounaru’u) on Malaita Day then closed as soon as he leaves. While all parties are locked into their own positions, the local regional and international reputation of Malaita continues to plunder. How iumi no save tingting nao?
In almost all political statements by Malaitans, we call, cry, plead and beg for the National Government to do something for the Island. Which Government will help us? Which Prime Minister will listen to us??
But oketa waita’a ia trym tuia? We accuse Kemakeza, Sikua, Philip, Darcy and now Sogavare for doing nothing for us when records has it otherwise.
Organisations purporting to work for the interest of Malaita must first of all start home and the above two examples are a case in point.
The Government is more than willing to do something. But we must first put our acts together.
Attitude must change for us to see a better Malaita, with or without a State Government.
Em Fatainao
Kukum
