North Mala Wants Fair Development Assistance

This has been an issue that TARD has voiced its concern on in the media last year, where we urged the government to balance its development strategies throughout other province. Fair development assistance is vital in order to reverse the current migration pattern which contributed to the formation of the recent ethnic tension.

By MOFFAT MAMU (Solomon Star Online News)

North Malaita leaders have called on the government and RAMSI for fair development.
The local chiefs raised their concern during a visit by a RAMSI delegation led by the Special Coordinator James Batley to Malu’u last Friday.

Speaking at the occasion one of the chiefs said people from the northern region have tried over the months to submit proposals for projects to a number of organisations for assistance but most of these applications were not successful.
The chief added that most of the people have felt the impact of the social unrest and since evacuated back to their home provinces they are still struggling to make a living.

He therefore called on the government and NGOs to assist them in whatever ways.
RAMSI Development Coordinator Blair Exell told the local leaders that there have been a lot of applications received through the Community Sector Programme but not all of them will be approved.

However, he assured the local leaders that like CSP, there are other donors willing to assist those affected and in need of assistance as part of the rehabilitation programme in the country. A number of donors have been assisting the country through development projects such as Australia AusAID programme, New Zealand, European Union, Japan grassroot scheme, and Taiwan.