BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
CONSULTANTS who facilitated the Ward Profile and Ten-Year Strategic Plan validation workshop in Western Province have commended provincial and ward leaders for their commitment and teamwork in successfully completing the draft documents.
Speaking on behalf of the consultant team, Adrian Toni from the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) said the group was deeply impressed by dedication shown throughout the recent one-week workshop.
“I’m overwhelmed with emotions – gratitude, joy, and a sense of accomplishment as we mark another significant milestone in our journey towards developing a brighter future for Western Province.
“One hand cannot clap — our work this week has proven the truth of this proverb: when we work together, we achieve what alone would be impossible,” Toni said.
Toni said the completion of the validation process marks a major step forward, with all 26 ward profiles and the Western Province Ten-Year Strategic Plan (2025–2035) now finalized and refined through valuable feedback from participants.
He explained that the validation was not just about reviewing documents but about “communities telling their stories” — stories of resilience, education, and livelihoods.
“This was more than checking boxes. It was communities telling their stories of families rebuilding after storms, of teachers and students seeking safer classrooms and of women and men working in the gardens that feed our children.
“As Nelson Mandela said, ‘It always seems impossible until it’s done.’ Today we have done important work together,” he said.
Toni emphasized that realistic ward profiles and a clear strategic plan are crucial because they translate community stories into tangible action.
He said accurate data will help ensure that resources are directed to where they are most needed, while the Ten-Year Strategic Plan provides the roadmap for budgeting, policy alignment, and partner engagement.
“These documents will feed directly into the Solomon Islands Government’s National Development Strategy, the MPGIS Corporate Plan, the Western Provincial Government annual budget, PCDF allocations and WDC project planning.
“With credible data and a united plan, we will be better placed to secure support, measure progress, and deliver results for our people,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Provincial Secretary Patrick Toiraena also praised the collaboration shown by all participants, noting the inclusive nature of the workshop.
He acknowledged the consultants — Adrian Toni, Dr. Morgan Wairiu, Allan Agassi, Allan Waitara, and Alfred — for their facilitation and guidance during the week-long session, and thanked provincial leaders, Ward Development Committee chairs, and heads of departments for their active participation.
“This is a good sign. It shows we have a robust and active mix of participants, which is a key ingredient of any effective enterprise.
“It is not often that we get all relevant stakeholders under one roof to delve into important matters concerning our ward development agenda and priorities,” Toiraena said.
Toiraena said the sessions have provided participants with valuable insights into each ward’s priorities, noting that the outputs are “living documents” that must be continuously updated and revalidated.
He reminded all ward and provincial leaders that the responsibility now rests on them to ensure resources are properly prioritized and allocated to address development and service delivery gaps.
“The onus is upon the provincial government, heads of divisions, and ward development committees to ensure that we prioritise and allocate resources where necessary,” Toiraena concluded.
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