Solomon Islands: A commitment to ‘re-direction’ in DCGA plans for the country.
The Prime Minister last week said his DCGA government was committed to work with development partners to upgrade and improve health services provided by the National Referral Hospital (NRH) and rural clinics throughout the country.
I welcome the Prime Minister’s assurances regarding the provisioning for health services, but one must not overlook many of the rural health clinics are derelict or barely functioning to their poor state and a great deal of developing aid will be needed to see to the clinics re-construction or re-building and to provide the health services many rural people and whole communities currently lack.
The biggest strain on the NRH is being caused by non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes, and the SIG must put more emphasis on preventative measures by way of encouraging healthier diets, free from the fat and sugar contained in so much of the imported foods and drink in contrast to the traditional diets followed in the past.
As I have written often, more needs to be done to stop the making and sale of kwaso and try to bring in control measures on alcohol consumption and smoking. Alcohol and smoking contribute substantially to NCDs.
Prime Minister Sogavare also announced last week several key policies and projects which I am sure many Solomon Islanders will welcome, and one hopes that the plans outlined are achievable, given the funds available, are not over-ambitious and become a disappointment.
In the Solomon Star newspaper, the PM outlined what he described as appropriate “re-direction” and added that there would no longer be “business as usual,” and well worth quoting.
Quote.
“He (the PM) mentioned the launching of DBSI to provide financial services and credit facilities to our rural population and SME’s, construction of the Tina Hydro Facility, improvement of telecommunications infrastructure, launching of the Bina Harbour project and restarting economic development in the Russell Islands with the establishment of an engagement framework between local stakeholders, Central Province and the National Government.”
“Sogavare also announced the aim of the government to revive the Commodity Export and Marketing Authority (CEMA) which was deregulated years ago.
“This, according to the prime minister, is an important strategy to support the DCGA’s intention to aggressively address the participation of our rural populace in export oriented economic activities in the agriculture sector and to better coordinate the marketing of our commodities.
“In that regard we will provide direct support to rural farmers and to support the development of the Noni and Kava industries, and other exotic crops for targeted markets; re-establishment of rural fisheries centres and supporting development of aquaculture farms, and progressing the Mamara Development.
“We will take advantage of the close proximity of Temotu Province to Vanuatu to encourage the export of reef fish.”
“Sogavare further highlights his Government’s commitment to host the PG2023 as one that will see a face lift of Honiara city and the construction of modern sporting facilities for our talented youth population.
“Sogavare further said that DCGA’s commitment to take up the daunting challenge of upgrading the existing road systems and construction of new roads on Malaita, Guadalcanal and around Honiara.
“Under a very ambitious 10-year infrastructure development program, it is our intention to connect 70% of the country through a network of roads and sea transport services in the first and second phase of the program,” he said.
“According to the Prime Minister this should enable opening up agriculture potential of the country, which is currently out of reach because of lack of roads and appropriate infrastructures.”
We also learned on Monday that the Solomon Islands government is planning to launch the country's first Independent Commission Against Corruption before the end of the year.
The announcement was by His Excellency the Governor General the Reverend David Vunagi, during his maiden speech at the 11th session of parliament.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
