By EDDIE OSIFELO
THE Government’s new policy direction focuses on the reconstruction and revitalization of Honiara businesses infrastructures destroyed during the rioting and looting from 24th – 25th of November 2021.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare made the announcement during his nationwide address on Sunday.
Sogavare said his government had two overarching policies since the beginning of the pandemic.
These were:
- to prevent the entry of covid 19 and to eliminate it at our quarantine stations if it entered.
- To float the economy and to keep our economy engine room functioning
However, Sogavare said with the presence of community transmission, the first policy objective is no longer appropriate.
He said their policy direction must now focus on the new reality of leaving and emerge successfully from the pandemic.
Sogavare said the Government Caucus and National Cabinet will deliberate on the new policy direction this week
“Once approved, the new policy will guide the preparation of the 2022 budget among other things.
“They will also consider the national response plan to covid 19 challenge we now face,” he said.
Sogavare said he will inform the nation of the government policy direction after Cabinet endorses the new policy.
He said the policy will guide government ministries, state owned enterprises and the private sectors on how they plan to move forward to address covid 19 and revitalize their economy simultaneously.
“The policy will also guide the ongoing consultation with our bilateral and development partners as we head towards the preparation of our 2022 budget and the estimate for the outer years,” he added.
