National provident fund pays $3.5M for Auki plaza
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
THE Auki Plaza is now property of the national provident fund (NPF), after it paid the Malaita province $3.5million last Friday.
NPF handed over $3.5million in cheque to Malaita’s premier Peter Ramohia and his executive, who then handed NPF the property rights to the plaza.
NPF’s board chairman, Peter Boyers, received the rights on behalf of NPF.
Handing over the property rights, Premier Ramohia said Malaita province recognises the importance of property, and NPF is a big investor which they are looking forward to working closely with after it has renovated the plaza and operates it.
Ramohia explains that the proceeds from business opportunities in the plaza will be invested back to Malaita province.
“For the purpose of our people might think that this funding province receives, I am assuring people of Malaita that it will be used for good investment.
“If we did not invest now, it will hand over to the new government but people have the rights to make any comments.
“Part of it will be invested in the CITREC programme which the Guadalcanal one provincial already beneficiary including Makira province now joining.”
He said importance about the programme is it will give more opportunities to Malaita province in terms of training and labour mobility.
“I hope following our handover of the payment we will see first block of Malaitan entering the labour mobility in Canada December this year,” Ramohia said.
He said trainings and application forms will be released in weeks ahead so that young people in Malaita can apply for the scholarship and get trained.
Ramohia thanked the Solomon Islands government, saying Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela truly supports labour mobility.
“As a premier for Malaita province, I am excited to realise such opportunity and I appreciated and acknowledged the NPF,” he adds.
Chairman Boyers said NPF is delighted that they have come to an end and beginning of a new journey with the payment of the Auki plaza.
“I think today marks a win-win situation for people of Malaita specifically development aspect of funds and also NPF is joining a new partnership in development of Malaita province.
“We hope to use this as stepping stone and partnership with other provinces interest in such development.”
