POVERTY REPORT SHOWED FAILURE OF PAST GOVERNMENTS: KENGAVA

The recent report on the high level of poverty found on Malaita, Guadalcanal, and Makira Provinces reflects the failure of successive National Governments from 2006 and NOT the Provinces concerned.

This is the view of the former Choiseul Premier and MP, Clement Kengava.

Mr. Kengava says, since 2006, when the country was recovering from the ethnic tensions, successive National Governments of Manase Sogavare, Derick Sikua, Danny Philip and Gordon Darcy Lilo have all failed to recognize and work in partnership with the nine provincial governments to bring about socio- economic developments as expected under the Provincial Government Act.

He says, instead, the national leaders were busy securing their political positions and made a big mistake by emphasizing developments and finance through the constituencies.

Mr. Kengava believes, this emphasis by the past national Governments towards the Constituencies, especially during the Gordon Darcy Lilo Government from 2010, had sidelined the Provinces.

He explains Provincial Governments are mandated as the second level of government under the Constitution and the National Government must not bypass it adding, using Constituencies as the second level of government could be unconstitutional.

The former MP says the report should be taken seriously by the National Government especially the Peoples Alliance Party (PAP) faction in the DCCG coalition to redirect and deal more with the
Provinces rather than the Constituencies.

Mr. Kengava adds, reviving the once-strong partnership between the National Governing and Provinces will reduce the poverty level throughout the country as mentioned in the Poverty report.