By RODRICK DESURI
Auki
Negotiations and communication are ongoing among the landowners of Auki and the provincial government to solve the rubbish issue in Auki town, Malaita Province.
It has been three months since rubbish became an issue in Auki town, which has attracted a lot of negative comments from public.
A youth coordinator of Malaita Province, Frank Samo Sari, stepped up to explain that negotiations and communications are still ongoing with the Auki landowners for any possible way to resolve the issue.
He said the provincial government is not relaxing, but is struggling to find possible ways to resolve the issue, contrary to a few comments that claimed it is showing poor leadership.
He said the rubbish issue is everyone’s responsibility and it should not be blamed on the provincial government alone.
“Yes, negotiations for any free land for a dump site have been ongoing for a long period since last year. Also, many attempts have been made without any positive response, but that doesn’t mean that it will stop there; it will continue,” he said.
“The provincial government is also trying its best to find possible ways to solve the issue.”
In a recent interview with the Auki Town Council, Hazel Bumasi Fanai said that the delay in the work on the Gwaigeo landfill is caused by the community members at Gwaigeo not working together with the province and not wanting to allow the area to be developed.
She said that although they do not want that site to be cleared for a landfill, they should know that it is land owned by the province, over which no one should have right.
Sari also said that the issue can be solved once landowners work together with the provincial government.
“Very soon, this issue will be solved. I just call on the people to work together with our provincial government to make our province beautiful,” he said.