BY LORETTA B MANELE
More communities in Savo-Russell Constituency (SRC) have recently received a boost in marine transportation, by acquiring fiberglass boats and Outboard Motors (OBMs) through the CDF marine transportation project.
Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) in a statement said the project was funded under the constituency’s CDF budget allocation for 2025.
The project aims to ease transportation difficulties among communities and support livelihoods in the constituency and consists of 11 fiberglass boats and 11 units of 40 and 15 horsepower Yamaha Outboard Motors costing over SBD800,000.00.
“Of the 11 boats and engines, 6 were handed over to the first six recipient communities last weekend, while the remaining 5 boats and units of 15 OBMs for the other five communities will be delivered in due course once they are available from the supplier, Y.Sato Marine.
“The first six communities which received their equipment were Mane, Marulaon, Kiolene, and Yandina from Russell Islands, and Reko and Balola from Savo Island,” said MRD.
The statement said SRC’s Constituency Development Officer (CDO) George Hassar referred to the support as part of the office’s ongoing commitment under the leadership of their Member of Parliament, Oliver Salopuka towards improving socio-economic livelihoods in the constituency.
“This project support was envisioned to ease transportation difficulties for community members and individuals among the island communities as well as to and from Honiara.
“With no road access on the islands, the only means of transport for our people is by sea using Outboard Motor Engines (OBM). So, this will definitely help our people travel to other places in the constituency and to Honiara to access markets, education, work, and health services,” he said.
Hassar said the constituency office will continue to implement other projects including housing projects, which are currently ongoing on both Savo and Russell Islands.
He said household projects including support to small store operators in various communities was undertaken in 2025.
And under the social sector, musical equipment and building materials including water tanks were delivered to churches and individuals in the constituency.
He said financial support to copra buyers and fishers were also prominently supported under the productive sector.
Hassar said these initiatives are ongoing and it is the commitment of the constituency office under the leadership of Salopuka to facilitate government-supported initiatives and services for the benefit of their people.
He said the constituency office is also helping the education sector by supporting students in both secondary and tertiary levels through 50 percent payments of their tuition fees under the CDF program.
“The SRC office also secured six scholarships for our students. This year, the office continues to secure scholarships for students under the constituency-based scholarship grants provided by the Ministry of Education,” he said.
MRD said the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) is a national program of the Solomon Islands Government (SIG).
“It is administered by the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) and implemented across the 50 constituencies to improve the social and economic livelihoods of all Solomon Islanders, in line with the ministry’s vision: “To empower all Solomon Islanders for self-sufficiency, improved livelihoods, and sustainable development,” said the statement.
Photo credit: MRD Media
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