Zone Committee

The SMC Office advises that Zone committees will be due for election in September 2012. All incumbents are eligible for re-election. Communities will have the opportunity to select their representatives in their respective Zones. The qualifications for membership will be published in our next issue.

Development Committee (DC) Meeting

At the DC meeting in March, a number of resolutions were passed including the 2011 annual report, the 2012 Budget of $2.8 Million, new guidelines for assistance, revised guidelines for school fees assistance, and the publication of the Quarterly Newsletter.

Staff & Office Administration

Mr. Joe Sanau joined the SMC Office staff late in March following his successful interview for the position of Youth Volunteers Coordinator. Mr G Awa, CDO spend part of the quarter in Honiara on seminars and constituency business.

During the quarter, Hon R N Hou had meetings with the Malaita Provincial Premier and the provincial Secretary on separate occasions to discuss progress on the Afio EGC, the Liwe Industrial Park, as well as other development projects in the southern region.   

Honiara Residents

The SMC Office is inundated with queries from our Honiara residents about applications for Honiara-based projects. We would like to advice again that in line with our development policy guidelines, and as directed by the DC, the SMC Office does not consider project applications for Honiara-based projects. Each Constituency is allocated the same amount of funding which are meant for the development and use in each respective constituency. Funds for Small Malaita therefore cannot be used in other constituencies.   

Liwe Industrial Park

This project has made further progress with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Malaita Chazon Authority (MCA), Malaita Provincial Assembly and the Liwe Land Trustees early this year. The next milestone that we now look forward to is the ground breaking – when the actual civil engineering work should kick start.  All parties to the MOU are committed to this project.  

Afio Economic Growth Centre

Given the importance the national government attaches to this project, the Ministry of Rural Development is going to take the lead role in developing the Afio Economic Growth Center. As a sign of its commitment late last year, the central government transferred a total of $3 million to the Malaita

Parasi airfield

Two important components of this project are due to be completed in 2012. These are the security fence and the terminal building. While the airfield is already in use, flights have yet to be included in the airline’s normal schedule because an agent has yet to be appointed and confirmed by the airline.

Nu’usi Wharf

Hon R N Hou announced that work on the Nuusi wharf will begin later this year. He said this project is important not only to his constituents but also parts of East Are Are constituency. He assured his people of Zones 1 and 2 that he will continue to pursue this project until completion to a permanent wharf this year. He is pleased that this long-awaited wharf is now going to be realized.    

Afio/Olusu’u Coastal Road

At long last, the old coastal road from Afio to Olusuu is now going to be rehabilitated. This was announced by Hon R N Hou during the Development Committee in March this year. This road – including all bridges – was left unattended to for more than twenty-five years. Sadly, successive governments have ignored this important physical infrastructure. Consequently, over the period, economic activities in the region declined including other services.  Late last year, the contract was awarded and work will start this year.     

Small Malaita Hydro Scheme

An important component of our long term development plan is to secure reliable power and energy from eco-friendly sustainable sources.  Early this year, preliminary work to locate a potential source for power has started. In consultation with the SMC Office, scouting teams were deployed from Auki to

Bank Agency

In 2011 BSP bank took a policy decision to close its nation-wide agency network. This follows a number of theft cases in other locations resulting in significant amounts of lost cash. In the case of Afio, following interventions by Hon R N Hou, the Bank agreed to our providing security deposit for the agency, which Hon John Mane MP of West Are Are constituency also contributed considering the important service that the agency provides to our people in the region. Malaita Province has also been requested to assist in this endeavour.    

Solar Lighting Project

In line with our policy objective to light up our communities, and as endorsed by the DC, this project is to continue this year. The Office is compiling distribution lists submitted through the Zone Committees. Orders have been placed.          

2012 Budget Implementation Update

In line with the DC directions, the SMC Office is providing update summary of our budget implementation progress. Due to limitation of space, this is done in a graphical form. As can be seen implementation in some expenditure heads remain under-spent while for some, actual expenditure has already overtaken their allocations. Heads affected include School Fees Assistance, Medical Assistance, MP’s Discretion support and Consultation meetings.