THE PEOPLE’S Alliance Party (PAP) will launch its platform document on Tuesday 27th April 2010 at the Honiara Hotel starting at 1.30pm.
PAP is the oldest and longest surviving political party in Solomon Islands.
PAP Campaign Manager Sir Allan Kemakeza said the launching follows the approval of its 2010 national election platform policy at its convention in Honiara on Thursday 22nd April 2010
“The new policy platform reflects the PAP new shift in policy directions to suit changes in Solomon Islands over the last 31 years since its formation in September 1979,” he said.
Sir Allan said the policies shift is in line with the party’s desire to develop and accommodate the new Solomon Islands society in the 21st Century.
“In its new election platform for the coming national elections, PAP will push to transfer developmental activities to rural areas.
“The change will ensure that provinces and rural communities become the centre of gravity for economic activities over the next decade.”
Sir Allan said a major policy re-direction will be to downsize the national government bureaucracy by reducing the number of ministries and departments.
“Under the new arrangement, provincial budgets will be the key drivers of economic development which will dictate the level of national government financial allocations to provinces.”
He said provinces will have development councils which will consist of provincial executive members as well as national MPs, selected youth, women leaders and community leaders.
“The Council will be responsible for prioritization and allocation of development finance within provinces.
“The concept aims at doing away with disorganized and disconnected financing arrangement practiced up to now under which politicians have become project financiers.
“But to ensure that national MPs remain connected with development program in constituents, they will be allowed to be members of the development councils.
“RCDF and other politically controlled and managed finances will be channeled through the development councils.”
Sir Allan said that the new financing packages will see provinces receiving 10 tens more than what they are currently receiving through provincial grants.
PAP also approved a shift policy where women and youths will take a leading role in national development through direct funding.
Sir Allan said women in Solomon Islands will be assisted under a micro-finance scheme of up to $20 million per annum to get them engaged in revenue generating activities.
“PAP’s election platform policies guarantee inclusion of community leaders in mainstream governance through capacity building and active participation in rural development.
“New law will be enacted to ensure that formal structures be set up to provide for effective leadership at community, including law and order administration and in land dispute resolution.”
