RENBEL MARKS APPOINTED DAY WITH A CALL FOR GREATER COOPERATION
The
people of Rennell and Bellona Province have celebrated the Province’s 24th
Second Appointed Day with a call for greater cooperation amongst its people to
advance their development aspirations.
Deputy
Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga made the call on Tuesday when he officiated at
this year’s celebrations on Bellona Island.
Renbel
has been going through many challenges in trying to achieve its development
goals since becoming a province in 1993.
The
Deputy Prime Minister said Renbel Province, like any other Provinces has the
challenging responsibility to look after the affairs of its people with its
limited manpower and capital resources.
“However,
as long as we work together, set our strategies and implementation plans in the
right direction, with shared vision and goals, I am sure we can navigate the
development of our province towards the right direction,” he said.
“I
believe that once we work together and support each other on these issues, we
can help drive development for the benefit of our people,” he added.
The
Deputy Prime Minister informed the gathering that the DCC Government believes
in cordial participation and shared decision-making with strong emphasis on
making sure resource owners benefit from their resources and are effective partners
in the utilization of their resources.
“It
is in this regard, that I appeal to your government to encourage the
involvement of our resources owners, community members, and small investors to
partake in decision-making processes to help enhance the provision of services
to our people of Rennel and Bellona,” he said.
On
assistances from the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) which is
administered by the Ministry of Provincial Government, Maelanga congratulated Renbel
for meeting the minimum conditions for this year’s capacity development fund as
a result of the hard work of the Premier and his team for maintaining the
standards emphasized strongly in the PCDF operational rules.
This
year, the DCC Government has injected $60 million for capital projects and $15
million for recurrent support to the PCDF programme despite the change of policy
by donor partners such as the EU and the departure of RAMSI.
Phase
2 of the program runs from 2015 to 2019 which carries on with the programs of
Phase 1, particularly, on public expenditure management and institutional
capacity building. Phase 2 still maintains capital infrastructural development
as incentives, local economic development initiatives, clarification of
functions and social accountability.
“I
encourage your government to continue to maintain its commitment to the
program, so that your people can continue to reap the benefits from this
program,” Maelanga said.
The
benefits from PCDF is enormous as it provides a lot of funding opportunities
for small scale infrastructural development projects, including classrooms and
dormitory, office building, sports facilities, market houses, staff houses,
footpaths and small retail outlets.
“I
therefore appeal for your commitment, to continue to provide support in terms
of planning with sound policy decisions, and to help move the province forward
in terms of project implementation programs which are aimed to benefit our
people,” he added.
Maelanga
also used the occasion to donate SB$5000 each towards the Bellona Clinic and
Community High School before returning to Honiara on Tuesday.
ENDS///
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