THE Minister for Pacific Peoples Honourable Barbra Edmonds and New Zealand delegation has been sincerely welcomed by the Honiara City Council Lord Mayor, Councillor Edward Siapu during his welcome remarks on Monday 17th April, 2023 at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Honiara City.
In his welcome remarks he highlights Honiara City truly appreciated the New Zealand Government and its people for their timely support in assisting Honiara City completes its new Youth Hub complex building.
He has thanked Reeves International, a construction company who have continued to do their project responsibilities in upgrading the multi-purpose hall despite threats the COVID-19 brought on our shores.
“This project was handed over to Honiara City Council by New Zealand officials on Friday, 13th May, 2022, in which was estimated to cost about NZD $11.5 million, equivalent to SBD $59.5 million Solomon Islands dollars,” he said.
Lord Mayor highlights that it is New Zealand Government and its people’s gift to the Honiara City Population, especially youths.
He said as the Solomon Islands will be hosting the Pacific Games this year, from the 19th November to 2nd December, 2023, Solomon Islands will be hosting some 5,000 athletes and officials from all the 24 Pacific countries including New Zealand and Australia athletes and officials during the Games.
“Therefore, Honiara city will also be expecting increase of population during the games, we will expect fifty thousand people from the nine provinces in the Solomon Islands,” he explained.
Furthermore, City Mayor Councillor Siapu had expressed the look and learn trip in February to New Zealand early this year, 2023 was truly a worthwhile learning trip indeed.
“We thanked the New Zealand Government for supporting Honiara City Council to strengthen our asset management, facility management and related programs or activities through Pacific TA,” he uttered.
Lord Mayor expressed Honiara City Council is looking forward to welcome a team from the Pacific TA here in the city anytime next week.
“The Pacific TA delegation will be here purposely to look at means in which the project can support Honiara City Council to manage its assets and facilities,” Mayor Cr. Siapu explained.
