I REFER to the promise of a massive K10 million allocation under the 2008 Budget to the 89 districts by Finance Minister Patrick Pruaitch (Nov 9).
This provision is in addition to the K4 million he has already distributed to the districts in the October supplementary budget.
Further to that, there is also a supplementary financial grant scheme being devised by the Office of Rural Development under the auspices of “least developed district grant (LDDG)”.
The districts would definitely benefit from these allocations.
While we appreciate the fact that we now have “surplus budget” to play around with, I want to say that given the national socio-economic problems, escalating social disorders, stagnant public service machinery, under-funded public tertiary institutions, increasing unemployment, very low public health and home care facilities, etc, the present Government policies must be swiftly executed.
I now refer to development strategies in my district of Wapenamanda.
I propose the following development strategies for our elected MP Mike Kaeok to consider and prioritise during this term of Parliament:
*Upgrade Mukuramanda-Tsaka feeder road;
*Upgrade Mambisanda-Tupokotes feeder road;
*Rehabilitate Wapenamanda district police headquarters and police housing;
*Rehabilitate and upgrade Mambisanda health centre to hospital status; and,
*Construct and re-introduce rural policing in Tsaka valley, Middle Lai and Lower Lai valleys.
I am sure that these five services among others would transform our local economy and service delivery mechanisms.
If only our MP Miki Kaeok is committed to his strategies and priorities, Wapenamanda would definitely see an instant transformation.

Terry Kilya
West Africa