COUNTRY NEEDS LONG-TERM PLAN: OPPOSITION LEADER MANELE

This country needs a long-term strategic development plan, Leader of Opposition Honourable Jeremiah Manele told Parliament today.

Contributing to the motion of the ‘Speech from the Throne’ delivered by His Excellency, the Governor General this week, Mr Manele said Solomon Islands needs a 35-year plan, supported by medium-term strategies.

He said the country needs a long-term strategic development plan to succeed the National Development Strategy, NDS, to advance Solomon Islands from a low-income country to a middle to high-income nation by 2050.

The Leader of Opposition told Parliament, ‘Solomon Islands Vision 2050’ should cover three key areas – Social Capital or Education and Health of our people; Infrastructure; and economic development.

He adds the vision 2050 should be developed on the basis of nation-wide consultations, beginning with the review of the NDS, and based on the outcomes of the 2010 Census, see a real and objective picture of the population.

He adds it would be vital for the Government to establish a National Spatial Planning Framework.

Meanwhile, Mr Manele is calling for collective responsibility to ensure women, youth and children are given the attention they need.

Speaking in Parliament this morning, Mr Manele says, the essence of our Women, Youth and Children cannot be understated.

He says the gender issue has received some attention, but a lot more challenge remains to be addressed.

Mr Manele adds youths and children face similar challenges.

He says it is everybody’s collective responsibility to ensure that the status of our women, youth and children continue to be given the attention they deserve.