Temu: Give office top priority

 By SHIRLYN BELDEN 

COMMUNITY development should be regarded as a top government priority as far as provincial and district assistance programmes are concerned. 

Abau MP Sir Puka Temu told Parliament on Wednesday during debate on the first quarter report by Community Development, Youth and Religion Minister Loujaya Toni that community development dealt with women, youths and local level governments.

“After going through the report and seeing what Minister Toni has said, implemented and planned for community development, I want to suggest to the government to include community development as its sixth top priority,” he said.

“It must be included in the newly-developed chart of accounts so that good support and assistance can be dedicated to it. 

“It is an area that encompasses the entire population and where women, youths, children, the disability and sports, churches are concerned. 

“If we talk of development, then give it prominent attention by making it a separate programme in the district services improvement programme (DSIP).

“It is much bigger than education, health and infrastructure and is also a more direct development approach.”