LEADERS of West Are’are Constituency (WAC) unreservedly endorsed the new Constituency Development Funds (CDF) Act 2023 and have reiterated their resolute commitment to implementing development programmes under this new legislation.
The Act, which aims to enhance governance and ensure the effective delivery of CDF development projects, has been welcomed as a significant step forward for the constituency.
This collective commitment was made during a three-day workshop organised by the Constituency Office for its zone leaders at Uhu. Deliberations focused mainly on discoursing development pathways for the region based on the provisions of the new CDF Act 2023.
The event brought together chiefs, community leaders, church leaders, and chairmen from 56 zones within the constituency, fostering a collaborative environment to address the challenges and opportunities ahead.
The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) played a key role in the workshop, having been invited by the Member of Parliament for West Are’Are, John Maneniaru to provide a complete session on the new CDF Act 2023.
MRD Deputy Secretary Technical (Supervising), George Balairamo and Principal Legal Officer Diana Alasia led the sessions, explaining the key changes and legal consequences of the new Act.
The new CDF Act 2023 was passed by Parliament on 22 December 2023 and came into effect on 5 January 2024.
The Act aims to strengthen good governance, improve the delivery mechanisms of CDF and promote equal and inclusive participation of all Solomon Islanders in development initiatives.
It also introduced stricter accountability measures, including penalties for misuse of funds, ensuring that all stakeholders are held accountable for their decisions and actions on how they manage and use CDF towards rural development in the constituencies.
Legal officer Ms Alasia emphasised the legal implications of the new Act, particularly the offenses and penalties outlined in the legislation.
She stressed that the responsibility for the proper use of CDF funds extends beyond Members of Parliament and MRD officials to include all recipients of projects and funding under the programme.
“This new law applies to everyone involved in the CDF programme, from the officials who administer the funds to the communities that benefit from them. It is crucial that we all take responsibility for how these funds are used to ensure transparency and accountability,” Ms Alasia emphasised.
MP Maneniaru underscored the importance of community participation in the implementation of the CDF programme.
He acknowledged that political differences within the constituency have sometimes hindered progress, but expressed optimism that the new Act would provide a framework for more effective collaboration.
“Under my leadership, I will ensure that my constituents implement our development plans in accordance with the new CDF Act. I encourage everyone to actively participate in the development aspirations of West Are’Are.
“This workshop is an opportunity for us to better understand the new law, identify our shortcomings, and work together to address them,” MP Maneniaru said.
Constituency Project Officer Nelson Puiaraha Jr highlighted the significance of the new Act in changing the way CDF funds are managed and utilised in the constituency.
He emphasised the need for accountability and the importance of opening up land for development to facilitate infrastructure projects such as roads and communication networks.
“This new law marks a shift from how CDF was implemented in the past. We must ensure that all development plans align with the provisions of the new Act. We are all accountable for the proper use of these funds. Additionally, we need to open up our land for development. We cannot expect progress in our rural communities if we continue to resist development opportunities,” Mr Puiaraha stressed.
Mr Puiaraha also highlighted the importance of infrastructure development in connecting rural communities to markets and improving the overall quality of life.
He called for a collective effort to ensure that development projects are implemented in accordance with the law, while also addressing the needs of the community.
The workshop, held from February 21 to 23, was attended by leaders from across the constituency who expressed their support for the new CDF Act and its implementation.
Leaders also thanked the MRD and the West Are’Are Constituency Office for their collaborative efforts in raising awareness about this new legislation.
A Zone Coordinator from Wairaha Paunanu’u village, Ralph Suta expressed his full support for the new Act and emphasised the importance of collaboration in achieving meaningful development.
“We cannot achieve meaningful development in our communities if we do not work together. This new CDF Act provides a framework for us to work in partnership for the betterment of West Are’Are. I commend the MRD for their timely intervention and for guiding us in the implementation of the CDF programme,” Mr Suta said.
In addition to the workshop, the MRD awareness team visited 12 communities to observe past projects funded under the CDF programme. These visits provided an opportunity to assess the impact of previous initiatives and gather feedback from community members, which will inform future development plans.
The West Are’Are Constituency is now poised to move forward with the implementation of the CDF programme under the new Act, with a renewed focus on transparency, accountability and community participation.
Leaders of the constituency are committed to working together to ensure that the benefits of the CDF programme are fairly distributed and that development projects are aligned with the needs and aspirations of the people.
CDF is a national programme of the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) administered by MRD. It is implemented through the 50 constituencies in the country purposely to improve the socio-economic livelihoods of Solomon Islanders.
- MRD
