Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has issued an urgent directive to the nation’s utility providers to resolve a coordination “bottleneck” that threatens the timeline of a critical infrastructure project in Malaita Province.
The intervention followed a high-level meeting in the capital today between the Prime Minister and Malaita’s Premier, Elijah Asilaua, who raised concerns that the China-funded flagship Auki tar-seal road project is being stalled by the slow relocation of utility infrastructure.
Auki, the provincial capital of Malaita, is currently undergoing a major road upgrade.
However, the project has hit a classic urban development snag. State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) including Solomon Power, Solomon Water, and Solomon Telekom must move power poles, water pipes, and telecommunication cables before the paving can continue.
Premier Asilaua briefed the Prime Minister on the risk these delays pose to the project’s completion date.
In response, PM Manele ordered an immediate summit between the relevant agencies.
“The Auki Road is a priority infrastructure investment for Malaita Province and the country. It is important that all stakeholders work in a coordinated and timely manner to support its completion,” said Prime Minister Manele
The road project is seen as a vital economic lifeline for Malaita, the Solomon Islands’ most populous province. Beyond daily transport, the infrastructure is a point of pride as the country prepares for its 50th Independence anniversary commemorations.
The Prime Minister’s directive signals a push for greater accountability within the public sector, emphasizing that “effective coordination” and “adherence to established processes” are non-negotiable for national development priorities.
Discussions also touched on broader provincial matters, including ongoing planning by the Malaita Provincial Government towards its 50th Independence anniversary commemorations.
Prime Minister Manele thanked Premier Asilaua for the visit and reaffirmed the National Government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with provincial governments to advance development priorities across the country.
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