BY ALEX DADAMU
Leader of Opposition, Hon. Matthew Wale has questioned the impact of the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) in light of the Economic hardship felt across the country.
“It is unclear who the ESP stimulated.
“There is economic hardship right across the country. Many families and households are struggling to merely exist,” Hon. Matthew Wale said during his contributions on the 4th State of public emergency debates last week Thursday.
Hon. Wale pointed out that People are suffering under very difficult circumstances.
“Do not kid yourselves that everything is fine. It is not. People are suffering under very difficult circumstances. Young people openly express their sense of hopelessness.
“Many young people who have graduated with tertiary qualifications cannot find meaningful work.
“How much more difficult it is for the large majority without formal qualifications,” The Opposition Leader questioned.
He furthered that many young people still in the school system cannot continue because they cannot afford school fees.
“There has been no constructive government response to this issue. The message the government is giving these young people is “Man Lake, lake” (anyone win situation).
“The MEHRD does not seem to have data on this or at least has not furnished us with such data, but school attendance rates are no doubt significantly affected by the lack of a comprehensive response to this issue. In this matter there is government neglect.
“Young people need jobs. We have major projects that are under construction. It is important that there is extra effort made to employ as many young Solomon Islanders as possible in all these projects.
“Government needs to be proactive on this and speak directly with these projects, perhaps even make it a condition of the implementation of these projects. This is a good stimulus, ” Hon. Wale said.
Meanwhile, according to a recent statement by the Economic Stimulus Package Oversight Committee, the ESP implementation has reached its Monitoring and Evaluation stages.
Honiara and Guadalcanal Provinces are the first two provinces for the Monitoring and Evaluation stages thus the committee strongly encourages recipients from the ESP initiative to work cooperatively with the data and survey team in order to provide sufficient and reliable information.
“The committee believes the reliability and adequacy of the information provided is necessary for future references and guide on similar initiatives,” The recent statement by the ESP Oversight Committee said.
