New Minister for Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs vows to achieve goals

by Deli Oso, Press Secretary to the PM

The new Minister for Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs, Clement Kengava has vowed to achieve the goals of the newly created ministry.

The parliamentary wing leader of the People’s Alliance Party was speaking yesterday afternoon after being sworn into office by the Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena at the Government House.

Mr Kengava said having taken charge of a newly created ministry the task ahead would be challenging especially when the people have a lot of expectation on the government’s Bottom-up Approach Development Policy.

“I myself know there is a big expectation on the new ministry to tackle this very important task and I will try my best to achieve my ministerial goals.”

He said he had decided to join the Sogavare-led Grand Coalition for Change Government because he believed in its rural development policy and decided to offer his service to the government for a worthy cause.

The Minister said development of the rural sector was one of the areas he was concerned about and his acceptance of the Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs ministerial portfolio was a proof.

Mr Kengava said he believed that the key to strengthening the future of Solomon Islands lied in the strengthening of the rural sector.

He said one of the other important areas his new ministry would also look into was the active involvement of indigenous people in commercial development.

The Minister said sometimes local people tend to be left out in commercial development activities and this matter must be seriously looked into.