Rural communities remain the country’s backbone yet often the least supported: MP Rina
BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Rural communities, which make up the majority of Solomon Islands’ population, remain the backbone of the country, yet are often the least supported.
Member of parliament for East Central Guadalcanal Lazarus Alfred raised this concern in parliament in his speech for the Sine Die motion yesterday.
Mr Rina said that the nation continues to face major national challenges with low service delivery and development pressures on urban centres and persistent inequalities between urban and rural communities.
He said that strengthening rural economies, expanding access to ancestral services, addressing rural-urban imbalance, promoting inclusive development, and ensuring accountability in government programmes are vital.
“These national issues affect every sector, health, education, infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries and local entrepreneurship. Honourable Speaker, our rural communities sustain our nation. They drive agriculture, support fisheries, protect our cultural heritage and represent the majority of our population,” Rina said.
He said that national progress will only happen when the daily realities of farmers, market vendors, fishermen, youth, women and village-based entrepreneurs are improved.
“Some key areas requiring continued focus include improved roads, bridges, works and inter-island connectivity, reliable electricity, water supply and communication systems, stronger market and support for small businesses, access to digital technology for information, banking, education and innovation, support for value-added industries to boost local incomes,” he said.
Rina said that these are essential foundations for empowering communities and driving long-term development.
He stressed that to ensure meaningful progress, government support must continue and be strengthened in the polling areas, infrastructure development in the provinces.
“This is all inclusion for rural and remote communities, support systems for farmers, fishermen, women and youth, strengthening cooperative structures and market access, transparent implementation of community development programmes, strong monitoring, coordination and accountability across ministries,” he said.
He said that implementation, monitoring and accountability remain essential if national initiatives are to deliver real improvements on the ground.
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