Western province PCDF project distribution questioned

Hon John Wale Vavu, MPA Gizo ward 11.

DISTRIBUTION of the PCDF projects in Western province is being questioned.

Provincial member (MPA) for Gizo, ward 11, John Wale, reveals that his ward has not received any project under the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF).

He reiterates that the budget should be for the whole province, questioning why his submissions have not been considered for the PCDF projects.

“What is holding back other wards from receiving the same project allocation when Rural Development Programme (RDP) had outlined it clearly the equal distribution of project and money is the formular they use.

“My ward has never received any PCDF project and we all know that election is coming up and some MPAs want to have more projects than others which the priority listing of the PCDF projects for 2017/2018 is reflected in the three years development plan.

“I’m totally disappointed in the manner in which the priority are place but accepted it as policy of the government.

“Looking after more than 7,000 people in ward 11 is not an easy task.

“The Assembly office and the government of the day has not taken issues seriously as often raised in honourable chamber and act accordingly,” said Hon Wale.

Wale explained that he proposed in his previous sine die motion speech to consider ward 11 be split into two wards, Gizo Urban and West Gizo wards.

“I must admit that Assembly administration did not take serious note on this issue and raised it to another level which Electoral and boundary commission to consider ward 11 split into two wards.

“It is not fair in terms of WAF allocation that some ward only have 500 people, others have 1,000 plus and the biggest is about 5 to 10 thousand, yet we all received the same WAF allocation.

“Why not increasing WAF for ward 11 to cater for the 7,000 people and the rest must be below what ward 11 gets?”

Wale hopes that the Assembly will address this issue before the honourable house is dissolved by June.