Sogavare says his government is proud of its BUA development policy

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says government is proud of its bottom-up development policy which signifies the first time in the country's history that government takes a bold position to direct development in the country.

Contributing to the debate on the 2007 supplementary budget in parliament, Mr Sogavare said government is not ashamed to publicly announce the development approach it is taking.

He was responding to comments made by the Rennell-Bellona MP Seth Gukuna during the debate that the policy has not achieved much and people in the rural areas are still faced with poverty.

The Prime Minister said the bottom-up development program is progressing well because it ensures each of the 50 constituencies in the country is allocated one million dollars a year.

He said as it stays longer in power, government will improve on the bottom-up approach.

"The leader of opposition and others are always saying, this is not new. of course we too are saying it is not a new approach. The only difference is we are grabbing the bull by the horn and say, lets do it. We are not just talking about it. We are doing it."

Source: SIBC