Earthquake/Tsunami Areas Receive Further $15M

By Chris Leua

Earthquake/Tsunami Constituencies Receive Further $15 Million

The government has again allocated a further $15 million disaster relief fund that will be injected directly to the eleven affected constituencies of the April earthquake and tsunami.

This was announced by the Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, Hon Japhet Waipora during the celebration to mark the 24th Second Appointed Day of the Western Province Yesterday.

Mr Waipora said the funding allocation was provided for in the effort to ensure the speedy implementation of the rehabilitation and the reconstruction program of the April 2 double disaster which left 52 people death and thousands homeless.

Mr Waipora acknowledged that there has been serious delays in the implementation of the reconstruction and rehabilitation works but, however has said that the government is taking a fresh approach to ensure that the program will be executed without further delay.

He said the government has dealt with the matter through the responsible Minister but unfortunately things did not happen as expected.

In fact, the rehabilitation and reconstruction work in Western and Choiseul provinces has been one of the major issues that sparked the recent political crisis because the funds for the work were processed and made in a questionable manner.

However, Mr Waipora has assured people from the two provinces that the newly appointed Minister of Finance, Hon Peter Boyers, will attend to the issue as a matter of priority and vowed to dig into the shady deals of former ministers that hindered the prompt implementation of the rehabilitation and reconstruction works.

From the allocation, $2,729,000 is allocated for each of Ranonga/Simbo and Gizo/Kolobangara, $1,360,000 each for North Vella La Vella, South Choiseul, North West Choiseul, Rendova, South New Georgia and the Shortland Islands.

South Vella La Vella, North New Georgia and West New Georgia/Vonavona constituencies will each receive $750,000 towards reconstruction while Marovo was given $510,000 for the purpose.

The Minister said he is satisfied with the arrangement and urged those responsible for the funds to ensure their effective administration so that the victims of the earthquake and tsunami could once again return to their normal lives.

ENDS

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