BY LIONEL TAORAO – ISLES MEDIA FREELANCER
Hon. Peter Ba’ewai, Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) for North Arosi Ward, has called for a more equitable distribution of development projects funded under the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) as Makira/Ulawa Province prepares to roll out its next round of initiatives.
Speaking in a recent interview, Hon. Ba’ewai stressed the need for fairness and transparency in how PCDF projects are allocated, echoing the national policy of “leaving no one behind.”
“Every community deserves its rightful share of development,” he said. “We must uphold fairness and transparency in how these projects are distributed.”
Hon. Ba’ewai expressed concern that some wards have consistently benefited from multiple PCDF-funded projects, while others—including his own—have received very few.
“Since PCDF was established, my ward has only received one project—a market house at Ubuna,” he explained. “Other wards, like Ward Five, have had similar experiences, while some have received four or five projects over the years.”
He emphasized that this imbalance undermines the purpose of the fund, which is designed to support inclusive and needs-based development across all provincial wards.
“It’s not fair that only certain wards benefit while others are overlooked. We need equal budget allocations so every ward can address its felt needs,” Hon. Ba’ewai added.
As Makira/Ulawa moves forward with project implementation, Hon. Ba’ewai’s call is expected to spark wider discussions on governance, equity, and rural development priorities.
The PCDF is a performance-based grant system supported by the Solomon Islands Government and development partners. It aims to strengthen service delivery and infrastructure at the provincial level by rewarding good governance and planning.
