Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and a team recently hosted a six-day outreach exercise to regions Eight and Nine to inform of plans for development and to address concerns pertaining to livelihoods.
The visit aimed at keeping residents abreast of developments in infrastructure, health, education and social services, a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said. Hinds was accompanied by Region Eight Chairman Senor Bell, Engineering Coordinator of Works Services Group, Ministry of Local Government, Leon Goring and other technical officers from the ministry. The team visited Kato, Bamboo Creek, Monkey Mountain, Mahdia, Paramakatoi, Kurukubaru, Tipuru, Rukumoto, Yurong Paru, Tuseneng and Itabac.
Hinds emphasised the need for enhanced community involvement in order to better benefit from government policies and programmes. He noted that although more needs to be done, communities have been developing rapidly compared to what obtained 10 years earlier. He also encouraged villagers to cultivate farms in order to boost their livelihoods since more market opportunities will become available locally and regionally. The team also inspected various primary and secondary schools and health centres to ensure that stationery and medical supplies are up to standard. During the visit to Kato Primary School, the teachers expressed appreciation for the timely delivery of exercise and text books.
As regards agriculture production, residents said they have benefited from the ‘Grow More Food’ campaign, however, they requested assistance with aquaculture and livestock rearing as they take steps to diversify. Officers from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) have since started the groundwork and research in order to re-cultivate potatoes at Kato and Kurukubaru, in Region Eight. Hinds assured the residents that their requests will be forwarded to the relevant authorities.
Requests were also made for a new secondary school to be built at Kato, since the current one is dilapidated. Headmaster of the Kato school Harold Simon also noted that there was a teacher shortage at the school. The prime minister also addressed the need for additional kitchen utensils and staff to man the kitchen that serves 296 school children.
In addition, residents of Bamboo Creek requested a photocopying machine, an IRI radio, furniture, a computer and text books for the primary school and an adult scale for the health centre.
Hinds said focus is being given to prioritising access to hinterland areas, which will drastically reduce the cost of commodities there. He noted that money has been allocated to start the construction of a road network from Karasabai to Monkey Mountain.
