BY RODRICK DESURI
Auki

Community leaders and concerned individuals in West Kwaio, Malaita Province are saddened to hear about the vandalism of the Su’u and Bira bridges’ sign posts.
Sign posts on the bridges in Su’u and Bira were vandalised just days after they were opened for public use Friday last week, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) has reported.
The community leaders of West Kwaio say these actions were carried out by some individuals and do not reflect the communities of West Kwaio.
In an interview with Island Sun Auki yesterday, Phlince Mauniala, a community leader from Maoa, said this news victimises the whole of West Kwaio.
“We have fallen victim when people comment and put the blame on us, the West Kwaio people, while only two or three uncivilised individuals are doing this,” Mauniala said.
Mauniala said this ‘gives a bad reputation to the people of West Kwaio, who have struggled to develop their communities’.
He said they will be working together with community and church leaders at Su’u and Bira to bring those responsible before the law.
“We’ll look at it and make sure that those involved in damaging and removing these sign stands are arrested and charged,” he said.
MID posted on its facebook page yesterday the vandalism of sign posts on the two bridges.
“It was deeply disheartening to receive the report that the newly opened Su’u and Bira bridges in West Kwaio, Malaita Province have fallen victim to vandalism,” it said.
“We should have taken pride in our infrastructure and protected these features.”
The bridges are part of the Solomon Islands Road and Aviation Project II, a partnership between the World Bank and the national government.
Communities in both West Kwaio and West Are’are in Malaita should have ownership of them, MID said.