BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
The national government needs to be more serious on the relocation of the provincial township of Choiseul due to sea level rise.
Since the announcement was made more than five years ago, the township is yet to relocate to the mainland.
Choiseul province Premier Watson Qoloni told this to Island Sun yesterday.
Mr Qoloni said the government’s response is too slow as this is another disaster for his province. Taro Islanders have struggled to mitigate the effects of the rising water and adapt to changing environmental conditions.
“But as the population swells and the island cedes ground to the sea, the residents of Taro are firmly committed to relocating their capital to higher, drier ground, believing it is the only way forward.
“We ask the government to quickly relocated or provided a second home for the people of Choiseul,” Qoloni said.
He said the government should focus on identifying priority areas that Taro is not the only island in Solomon Islands compounded with sea level rise.
Qoloni is hoping the government will be identifying priority areas to focus on as Choiseul was the first of the islands announcing relocation from sea level rise.
He said that his government will continue to push on to this issue to quickly relocate the township to the mainland.
“My government will see as this is the key number one priority area for his government to work on it this year 2021.”
Qoloni understands that while the country is facing the covid-19 pandemic is a health issue that also impacts the global economy, but he hopping the government will take note on to since the announcement was made more than five years ago, the township is yet to relocate to the mainland.
