Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare urge Solomon Islanders to help themselves rather than depending on aid money.

Don't rely on aid donors to develop our country, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said on Friday.He spoke during the ecumenical service at Wesley United Church in Honiara to launch the Government’s Bottom Up Approach (BUA) Development Strategy.

Mr Sogavare said it is time Solomon Islanders develop themselves self-reliantly.
Solomon Islands is amongst the least developed countries in the world and people must cooperate to develop it, said the Prime Minister.

He said the country has a lot of resources. If these are utilised properly then we should not be having problems, he said. Mr Sogavare stressed that it is time development goes back to the rural areas where most people live.

The launching began with a public march from the Point Cruz Hot Bread Kitchen area to the Wesley United Church.

A graduation ceremony was also incorporated into the launching ceremony. Participants graduated from a local programme run by the Entrepreneurial Development Training Centre, a Papua New Guinea-based institute.

The Entrepreneuril Development Training focuses on educating people on self reliance. The Graduates from the training included parliamentarians Isaac Inoke and Siriako Usa, the Prime Minister’s Office’s Chief of Staff Judson Leafasia, and Government officials.

Source: Solomon star.