elTHE Minister for Rural Development, Rollen Seleso has emphasised the need for unity, cooperation and responsibility between the national government and the country’s citizens to ensure the accomplishment of the Government for National Unity and Transformation’s (GNUT’s) transformative investment policy intention.
He was speaking in Parliament recently.
Minister Seleso said, the intention of GNUT’s transformative investment policy intention is to bring about progressive economic and social development and ensure positive changes in the country.
“Let me remind this House that the transformative policy cannot transpire into reality if there is absence of unity, cooperation and responsibility between the government and its people.
“Mr Speaker, the government has a lot of responsibilities in making its budget and transformative policies work for our people. I’m sure this government is committed to making this a success for its citizens,” the minister said when contributing to the debate on the Sine Die Motion following the passage of the 2025 Budget.
He said the 2025 Budget is the first budget of GNUT and it is a demonstration of its confidence and commitment to ensure transformative developments are undertaken for Solomon Islanders.
Minister Seleso said GNUT has a lot of responsibilities to make its budget and transformative policies work for Solomon Islands citizens.
“I’m sure this government is committed to making this a success for its citizens. Mr Speaker, let me say this that the impact of the budget on the lives of the people is what matters the most.”
He said given the fact that the majority of Solomon Islanders live and build their livelihoods in the rural areas, it is only fitting that the focus of the government be turned towards the rural sector, which often includes the marginalised and the isolated people.
“In our context, this marginalised population are often those who hold the primary rights over the factors of production and economic development such as land and other natural resources.
“Therefore, Mr Speaker, it is vital that the rural-focussed investments such as economic infrastructures, agrobusiness, including the facilitation of markets both locally and internationally.”
Minister Seleso said one other crucial aspect of GNUT’s transformative agenda for economic development is the government budget, which is the tool to achieve such policy intention.
“I do believe that the government budget for 2025 has this primary intention and is oriented towards achieving it. Mr Speaker, since the gaining of independence some 45 years ago, Solomon Islands has noted that the gap between rural and urban development sector has not improved.
“This is a huge challenge for a small developing country as Solomon Islands. It is only fitting, Mr Speaker that the government allocates its resources to address this development disparity.
“At this point, Mr Speaker, let me thank the government for ensuring our rural population is connected and participates in the development programme of the country through the Constituency Development Programme and the related Constituency Development Fund.
“The government aims to see that our people are participating meaningfully in all sectors of development of this country through the CDF.
“Thus, the budget for the 50 constituencies in 2025 is a significant tool for this relationship between the government and its people.”
Minister Seleso reiterated that this relationship between the government and its people is a two-way responsibility that must be taken seriously.
“This is an area all of us in this house including our good people in our constituencies throughout Solomon Islands need to know. While the government makes the effort to provide resources to its citizens, our communities and citizens, including ourselves, must also be responsible for the success of the government’s development intention for our people.
“We must altogether consider this and put into action our responsibility seriously.”
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
