Member for Gazelle, Jelta Wong is encouraging the people of Baining to rise up and be confident to embrace the changes and developments.
He urged the people of Lassul Baining Local Level Government to be positive moving forward into the future and not to fear the challenges ahead.
“Yes, we have challenges and obstacles along the way but we have come so far and we will not stop,” Mr Wong told the people.
Speaking during the ground breaking occasion for the Kipka community hall and opening of a market for women last Friday 21 January. He said people must embrace development and work with the government.
“There was minimal development brought into Lassul and Inland Baining areas known as the “back page” by the past government. The current Gazelle DDA board has recognised this and made efforts to change this status quo,” Mr Wong said.
He said with the newly constructed road into the hinterlands of Lassul, it reduced travelling time from seven to nine hours from Panarapka to Kerevat to four hours and many vehicles are now seen using the road moving fresh produce to and from the markets.
“This vital road link is the start of the Gazelle Special Economic Zone (SEZ) which will see down streaming of timber and balsa.”
“The Gazelle SEZ has passed through NEC last year and is awaiting a few policies to be sorted out by state solicitor to take back to PM to sign off and give Gazelle District the authority to pursue SEZ. The first project under SEZ is the veneer plant already established at Kuridal and should be operational in June and will provide job opportunities.”
Mr Wong urged the people not to sell their land but to lease to developers or venture into businesses to bring lucrative monetary returns to them and their children to come.
A local mother, Pauline Bernard commended the MP for the new market saying it will boost the informal sector now with the new highway passing through their area.
She commended Mr Wong for pledging to build a proper market that will boost mothers’ status and provide an avenue for most young girls to utilise life skills obtained from vocational centre.