By Loretta B Manele

Today we celebrate more work for Solomon Islands companies, more infrastructure for Solomon Islands communities and more development for Solomon Islands.

Rod Hilton, Australia’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands expressed this when he spoke at the launching program of Community Access and Urban Services Enhancement 2 (CAUSE 2) project last week.

He said CAUSE 2 project will bring in more funding, more partnerships, bigger projects, more infrastructure and more jobs for Solomon Islanders.

“Most importantly these benefits will all go to Solomon Islanders. The work of course starts and ends here in local communities in the Solomon Islands”.

He expressed that the project will deliver big changes led by the community and will create skills in communities thus, creating jobs for locals and has even kick-started businesses to go on to grow and prosper.

Hilton said he is pleased to say that under the first phase of the CAUSE project, 8,360 Solomon Islanders were employed.

He referred to this as a “massive achievement” and the definition of economic empowerment and community development.

Hilton said all of this partnership is about skill making, business creating and community building and the projects under CAUSE are really making a difference.

Speaking of difference, he shared a story of the construction of a jetty at Western province.

Hilton said he had the opportunity and privilege to see the great work of CAUSE firsthand and that was the airport jetty at Gizo.

He stated that the jetty was built with the support of CAUSE via the community under the leadership of Western provincial government and had employed 30 Solomon Islanders.

“That jetty now provides a safe, stable platform for the elderly, for the sick or travellers with large luggage to safely move from boat to airport and enjoy the wonderful place that is Western Province”.

He said this is just one of the many stories from around the nation about infrastructures that were built, waste that was collected and roads maintained from CAUSE to date.

Hilton stated that today we come together to create many more stories under the CAUSE 2 project.

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