Construction work on Chea wharf, progress as of 23 January 2023. Photo by MRD

CONSTITUENTS of Marovo Constituency will soon enjoy a new and proper wharf infrastructure as construction of Chea Wharf Project is progressing to completion.

Government through the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) is funding the project and is facilitated by the Marovo Constituency office under the leadership of their Member of Parliament (MP) Honourable Chachabule Amoi in partnership with landowners and communities.

Work on the project should have commenced in the third quarter of 2022 but delayed due to land issues but thanks to the intervention of MP Chachabule and his constituency office, the project began in earnest end of last year.

Trades Transformation Company (TTC) is constructing the wharf while constituency will be constructing a market house similar in size to that of Gasini, that was jointly launched last year by the constituency office and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) Embassy Office in Honiara.

The project is located on Kuila Island, Central Marovo Lagoon and is anticipated to complete by March.

For decades Chea and its surrounding communities were without a proper wharf. People have to load and unload their bulky cargoes, eskies and valuable things only by floating vessels/ships which is very risky during bad weather like heavy rain and choppy seas.

That need and cries of people in the surrounding communities of Ward 24 for a proper wharf has been ignored for decades, until MP Chachabule came into leadership in 2019 and pushed for the project from the national government through MID.

There will be no more floating by ships to load and unload passengers and cargoes once the project is completed and serviceable. 

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) Dr Samson Viulu on behalf of the rural people commended the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) through MID for its robust commitment towards rural infrastructure development in the country.

He said the project is a testament of partnership between the national government through MID, Marovo Constituency Office under the leadership of MP Chachabule Amoi, landowners, communities and the contractor. He further stated that MRD is encouraging every constituencies to pursue similar workable solutions to rollout infrastructure development in our beautiful provinces.

“If we want to see real development happening in our country especially in the rural areas, then partnership is the only way forward. Nothing more, nothing less,” he said.

The project is located on Kuila Island. Photo by MRD

PS Viulu said that government’s firm commitment to building much-needed and reliable socio-economic network of infrastructures in our rural areas is not only commendable but hopeful as such economic stimulating investment will surely contribute to boosting the participation of rural people in economic activities.

He added that such meaningful development would not only bring most needed services to the people of Western Province more especially in Marovo Constituency but also will provide business opportunities and decentralize government services down in the rural areas.

“I am confident that this new wharf once completed will open up more economic opportunities to communities around Chea and Marovo constituency as a whole as vessels can come in and out of the Marovo lagoon to contribute to our local economy.”

He said that infrastructure such as roads, bridges, airports and wharves are enablers of economic development and it is important that we (people) must continue to support such development for our betterment and that of our children. 

“I believe this wharf will boost the Marovo Constituency economic activity and contribute to the transformation of the lives of our rural people at Chea and surrounding communities in Marovo,” he said.

Meanwhile, PS Viulu congratulated Marovo Constituency and in particular the sitting MP Honourable Chachabule for his persuasive and steadfast leadership that resulted in the project and said he is looking forward to the official handing over and opening of it later in the year. He also expressed profound gratitude to MID for funding support to the project.

He said MRD as a ministry responsible for Rural Development will continue to work closely with other ministries and relevant stakeholders to ensure much-needed government services are delivered in the rural areas especially in our 50 constituencies towards improving social and economic livelihoods of everyone.

This is one of the many expressive projects that Marovo constituency continue to facilitate and deliver under the leadership of MP Chachabule.

Other projects include the Gasini market house and Fishery project which was launched together on 28 June, 2022, Sanitation project which is ongoing, support to churches, community halls, housing projects which is also ongoing and other livelihood and generating income projects support as well as education which include school fee subsidy to constituency students.

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