BY CHRIS ALEX
FOR years, Ugi Island in the Makira/Ulawa province has been left behind in terms of crucial infrastructure development, while other provinces benefit from essential projects like bridges, wharves, and roads.
The community, frustrated and desperate for change, continues to suffer from these neglects.
Jerry Wala, a local buying agent, voiced the islanders’ concerns, saying, “We still do not have proper wharves, bridges, or roads. Some projects have started but remain incomplete, like the unfinished Ugi Wharf and the failed RDP footpath project at Hunuta. Today, in Makia, we are left to build makeshift bridges with our own hands just so our children can get to school.”
The people of Ugi Island feel sidelined due to project diversions and biased allocations. They are calling for urgent intervention from the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) and aid donors to address these critical infrastructure gaps. Without the support, economic activities, access to services, and daily life will remain hindered.
The islanders are determined, however, and have been building their own makeshift solutions. But they need sustainable support from the government and stakeholders to ensure real progress and a better quality of life.
