BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has acknowledged the public’s concerns about the pace of development in the country.
While the government is doing its best to advance the nation, he reminds citizens that tangible progress takes time and cannot happen overnight.
Manele made the remarks in response to media queries about growing public dissatisfaction with the government’s performance.
During a press conference earlier this week, the Prime Minister addressed these concerns, explaining that the government understands the public’s desire for visible results.
However, he pointed out that development is often a complex, process-driven endeavour and involves lot of factors to consider.
For example, Manele said legislation is process-related. Passing a law in parliament may seem like the easy part.
“The real challenge lies in implementing it, issues such as capacity, compliance, and enforcement are far more difficult to manage,” he said.
On infrastructure development, Manele noted that the government faces challenges not only due to the country’s geography but also limited financial resources.
“We’ve been fortunate that many of our infrastructure projects have been funded by our international partners over the years.
“However, it’s not always easy for us. We have competing priorities. Of course, we’d like to build more roads, bridges, wharves, and airstrips, but these things cannot be completed in just one or two years—or even five years. It all depends on available resources,” he said.
The Prime minister emphasised that the geographical spread of the country, with its nine provinces, presents an inherent challenge to infrastructure development.
“The government is committed to progress, but again, resources are a key factor in achieving this,” Manele added.
While acknowledging that the government hasn’t made significant strides in building new infrastructure recently, apart from probably one or two, Manele explained that much of the focus has been on repairing and maintaining existing infrastructure.
“When considering new infrastructure projects, we also need to assess the strategic importance and potential benefits of the location.
“We must ask ourselves: Will this project create opportunities for jobs and income?” he said.
In terms of job creation, Manele highlighted the government’s focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to equip young Solomon Islanders with valuable skills.
He also recognized the importance of the labor mobility programme, which provides temporary employment opportunities abroad, but stressed that it is not a permanent solution.
“Looking ahead, the government understands that we need to invest in our productive sectors.
“That’s why we’ve been focusing on agriculture, tourism, fisheries, and of course, the mining sector, to create more jobs locally,” Manele said.
However, Manele cautions that these efforts won’t yield immediate results.
“Building these industries will take time and it won’t happen overnight.”
For feedback, contact: [email protected]
Editor: [email protected]
