Solomon Islands: Minister explains why provinces are priority

Submitted by TemoL on Thu, 02/07/2009 - 10:01am

THE Ministry of Home Affairs says Temotu, Makira, Guadalcanal and Renbel are being prioritised under the provincial disaster housing scheme due to their vulnerability to disasters.

Minister responsible Peter Tom made the clarification in response to questions raised by the deputy Opposition leader Japhet Waipora on why these provinces are being given priority.

Mr Tom said the urgency of the need in Temotu, Makira, Guadalcanal and Renbell provinces are because they are considered priority provinces under this project as they are the most disaster prone.

"For Temotu, the disaster committee coordinator who is already posted to the province is a residence of Lata, hence lives at home, in his own house and commutes to work daily.

"Therefore Makira takes the place of Temotu to have of the first two houses built," he said.

The next two houses will be built for Temotu and Guadalcanal.

Mr Tom blames lack of funding as the biggest contributing factor to the ministry not being able to construct the 10 proposed houses in the provinces.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua said five provincial coordinators have to date been posted to their respective provinces since the beginning of 2008 and five others have yet to be posted.

"These five remaining ones are serving their provinces from Honiara.

"As for other places we don't neglect them, we are working on it to address the situations.

"Although the programme to build the houses is slow, the work performed by the officers are continuing," he said.

The ministry is hoping to find rented accommodation in the respective provinces.

But Mr Top said the economic downturn made it difficult for the Government to do that.

Source: http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9960&Itemid=26