THE Solomon Islands Government and Taiwan’s Embassy officially handed over Fakaloloma Sanitation Project to seven tribes of Niuleni and Funafou, the occasion marked with traditional dancing and feasting on Tuesday December 27.

The launching of the Sanitation project touches many people’s lives from seven tribes especially women as it puts to a stop the old practice of travelling 3.6km to fetch clean water and washing on the mainland, a routine which has tasked the people for many years.

The project sees the community with an improved standard of living, serviced by sanitation and water facilities built in highly recommended healthy standards.

The Fakaloloma sanitation project has set an example, and this model will be replicated in other artificial islands across the country, with talks suggesting that most likely Sulufou Island of Baegu/Asifola is next.

In an inaugural address, the Chairman for FSP, Mr Toata Molea thanked Solomon Islands Government (SIG) and Republic of China (ROC) Taiwan for sanctioning the Fakaloloma Sanitation Project which now will transform the lives of the people of Funafou and Niuleni.

Mr Molea said for many years sanitation involving clean water and proper waste disposal was a major issue for them, with negative activities posed by people impacting marine life.

He also highlighted the fact that they rely heavily on marine resources.

“This problem was prevalent over many years and there was very little any of us can do anything about it including our educated elite that had formal education,” Mr Molea said.

“We collect drinking water, cooking and washing water from mainland, we put our waste matter straight into the sea polluting them which we later depend on for fish and other marine products.”

“Today FSP changes their approach to deal with its environment properly and sanitation issue a now subject of the past, their waste matter will now go into proper treatment sock holes.”

Speaking for the seven tribes, Chief Philip Kamai thanked SIG and Taiwan for the great assistance to his people.

“You come from your level to poor village people like us and change our life, we never live like this for the past generation in fact we live in this place for more than 500 years, and for you to come and assist us is a great transformation,” Chief Kamai said.

Chief Kamai said they want to continue their partnership with Taiwan and SIG from now and onwards.

Meanwhile, the programme ended with cultural dancing, feasting and PM Sogavare and Taiwan Ambassador Victor Yu visited MP David Tome’s constituency.