BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
PREMIER of Western Province has challenged government ministries to decentralise their services in the provinces.
Billy Veo made the statement during the opening of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury office in Noro last week.
“I would like to challenge other ministries and government agencies to also follow suit and start investing your infrastructures and related facility to support yourselves in delivering your mandate in the provinces.
“I would also like to inform the government that in order for equitable economic and infrastructure development to take place, we need to start investing in our provinces,” he said.
Veo said there are serious gaps that need to be addressed in order to achieve meaningful development and service delivery across the country.
“It is disheartening when citizens, even visitors, often have to go to Honiara to access services, make it costly, time consuming and insufficient to say the least,” he said.
Veo said the new MoFT office at Noro is the best example of resource distribution, decentralization, expansions of service.
He highly recommends the government to start investing in economical development at the provincial and rural levels.
In the meantime, Veo acknowledges the government and donor partners for the continual support toward development at Noro.
He said Noro town itself hosts number of key investments, the National fishery, the international Seaport and the International Airport which requires regulatory mandates available to improve operations.
“There’s a significant need for support services like customs and exercise, biosecurity, bio securities and immigrations.
“We need a lot more investment in terms of value added and dancing processing initiative, as well as in the service sector.
“I hope with this new facility; the Ministry of Finance team can have safe and comfortable environment where they can be able to do their work effectively and efficiently,” he said.
Veo congratulates the Ministry of Finance and Treasury for prioritising and successfully completed the stunning office to support its services.
