BY SAMIE WAIKORI
AUKI
COMMUNITIES at Luaniua and Pelau in the Malaita Outer Islands (MOI) have acknowledged the Provincial government after benefiting from Ward Development Grant projects in their communities.
Senior Administration Officer for MOI under the Malaita Provincial Government, Manford Kelaho relayed the feedback after a week tour to Lord Howe which ended on Monday this week.
He said last week a team from MPG comprising of staffs from Planning, Revenue, Fishery and MOI region divisions went to Luaniua and Pelau.
Kelaho said the tour is to monitor project implementation, provide awareness on the provincial revenue mobilization strategy and to deploy a FAD at Pelau.
He said the team first visited Pelau and held awareness with communities on MPG’s programs including ward grant projects, PCDF and other supports for the two islands.
Kelaho said the team also monitored implementation of projects through the Ward Development Committee (WDC) that is on the ground.
He said after Pelau (ward 32), they departed for Luaniua and held awareness with people as well as monitoring WDC mini projects in the community.
Kelaho said projects received from MPG through WDC in the two wards are mostly energy (solar light) and other sectors.
He said with the introduction of WDC, people are benefiting from services from MPG through their MPA compared to the past.
Kelaho said the projects are benefiting the people and they appreciate and recognize the provincial government for the fair distribution of resources amongst the 33 wards in the province.
On that note, he said communities in Luaniua and Pelau have called for re-strengthening of their WDCs and urged the MPG to increase the scale of WDC projects for rural communities.
He said people also appeal to MPG to consider quarterly visits to MOI for regular update on MPG’s development program for the province.
