work on feeder roads in North Guadalcanal Constituency
underway (Photo/Supplied)
The North
Guadalcanal Constituency (NGC) has paved the way for rural
development by continuing to invest in initiatives aiming to
boost economic opportunities and constituent’s quality of
life.
To create an enabling environment for
communities, farmers, and constituents to participate
meaningfully in socio-economic activities, the NGC office
under the leadership of the Member of Parliament Honourable
Dr Paul Bosawai, invested SBD$1.5 million towards road
infrastructure development and upgrade in the
constituency.
The funding for the road maintenance was
made possible from the People’s Republic of China (PRC)
with SBD$1 million under the Rural Sustainable Development
Program (RSDP) in 2023, Solomon Islands Government (SIG)
through the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) provided
SBD$300,000.00 under the Constituency Development Funds
(CDF) programme for 2024 and an SBD$200,000.00 from the
Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) under the
National Transport Fund (NTF).
Feeder roads which
recently undergone maintenance include; Taloa, Vutu,
Ngalimbera, Koli, komuporo, Tumurora, Ghorabau, Suagi,
Roroni and Rughavolo.
“These are vital economic
investments for our people,” Hon. Dr Bosawai
said.
“Our communities, farmers, and constituents
are set to benefit significantly from this ongoing road
maintenance efforts that are crucial for both local
livelihoods and the transportation of agricultural produce
to Honiara,” Hon. Dr Bosawai said.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
He added that
this initiative aims to enhance accessibility for farmers
and bolster the region’s economic output, particularly in
the oil palm sector.
“Roads in North Guadalcanal are
not merely conduits for transportation, they are lifelines
for the local economy.
“The constituency
is home to numerous oil palm out-growers, whose
contributions play an essential role in the production
output of the Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited
(GPPOL).“This output is vital not only for local
employment but also for the national economy of Solomon
Islands,” Hon. Dr Bosawai
stressed.
Hon. Dr Bosawai has been a
strong advocate for economic infrastructures such as roads,
emphasizing its importance for his constituents’
livelihoods.
“Maintaining roads within our
constituency is not just about infrastructure, it’s about
ensuring that our people can access markets, transport their
goods, and improve their quality of life,” he
said.
Meanwhile, Hon. Dr. Bosawai expressed sincere
gratitude to the road contractor Sustainable Resource
Management (SRM) for their partnership in these essential
maintenance projects.
“Our collaboration with SRM
has been instrumental in getting these roads back to a
condition that supports our community’s needs.”
Hon.
Dr Bosawai further thanked SRM Management for the
assistance, especially with the affordable cost of covering
more than 70 kilometres of road.
“Without the
support, the cost would be very expensive for the
constituency office to maintain the roads around the
constituency.
“Farmers will find it easier to reach
markets, and consumers in Honiara will benefit from a more
reliable supply of goods,” he stated.
Local
communities, farmers, and constituents have expressed
optimism about the road improvements. Farmers, in
particular, are hopeful that better access will lead to
increased sales and, ultimately, higher
incomes.
“With these roads being fixed, I can
transport my produce more easily and sell it at better
prices,” one local farmer said.
“As the
maintenance work continues, the NGC under my leadership,
remains committed and focused on ensuring that these crucial
infrastructure developments lead to long-term economic
benefits for its people.
“The commitment to
maintaining these roads reflects a broader vision for
sustainable development in the region, fostering resilience
and growth in the agricultural sector,” Hon. Dr Bosawai
underscored.
Hon. Dr Bosawai expressed profound
gratitude to the Chinese Government for funding support
through the Rural Sustainable Development Program (RSDP) in
2023, MRD through the CDF support under the 2024 allocation,
and MID ensuing in the successful implementation of the
project.
