The Solomon Islands Minister for Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, Hon. Duddley Kopu has encouraged the Isabel Provincial Government to forge partnerships with resource owners to help drive socio-economic developments in the Province.
In his key note address to mark Isabel Province’s 31st Second Appointed Day in Buala yesterday, Minister Kopu said socio-economic development can be successful if the Provincial Government and resource owners establish strong partnerships to share resources.
The Minister referred to the Democratic Coalition for Change (DCC) Government’s believe in participation and shared decision making in resources utilization that benefits resource owners and who are partners in prudent decision making in development programs that touches their resources.
“It is in this regard, that I appeal to your government to encourage the involvement of our resources owners, rural-community members, and small investors to partake in decision making that are beneficial to our economic development and help enhance service delivery to our people of Isabel,” Mr Kopu said.
Minister Kopu also highlighted the DCC Governments support in allocating SB$40 Million through the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) to support development programs in the nine provinces of Solomon Islands.
This fund is intended for small infrastructure projects such as classrooms, fisheries centres, office and staff buildings, small bridges and pathways, women development centres and for other local economic developments such as cocoa/copra storage facilities and market store facilities.
The minister also announced the assessment of 2013/14 PCDF Projects in the nine provinces that will determine the allocation for the 2015 development (PCDF) Budget. The PCDF assessment was already started this week and will end in mid July.
The second appointed day celebration has been followed by a 3 days induction workshop for Members of the Isabel Provincial Assembly to be conducted by officials from the Ministry of Provincial Governments.
It covers topics in legal drafting, public expenditure management, public service procedures, Acts and Regulations, leadership and community participation.
The Minister is expected to attend other Provincial Second Appointed Days during the month of June. He was accompanied to Buala this week by his Permanent Secretary and staff from the Ministry.
Source: Press Release, Govenrment Communications Unit