Struggle to build Temotu’s Youth Center remains unsolved after grant was used to purchase landing craft

By Simon Tavake

The Temotu Provincial Youth Council has expressed concern over the outgoing Temotu Provincial Government after it diverted a $3-million grant meant for building the province’s first Youth and Children Resource Centre. 

Council President Jack Medirka told SIBC News that to their knowledge the grant was now used to purchase a new landing craft for the province.

He claimed that the grant was not used for its intended purpose. 

“It is our understanding that the funding was for the Youth and Children Resource Center.”

“It was not long after the tendering process that we learned that the previous provincial government used the grant to pay for the landing craft without the knowledge of the Provincial Youth Council and its stakeholders committee,” he added.

Instead the Council was informed by the then executive that they had signed an agreement with the Ministry of Provincial Government to use the grant. 

Of the total grant, $2-million was transferred to a shipping company as a down payment, while the remaining $1-million was used by 12 MPAs for allowances, travel, accommodation, and obtaining personal passports.

“We have been following up on this, producing reports, and providing them to the responsible authorities for further investigation.”

“If we find that these funds were not appropriated according to their mandated purpose, we will consider it a ‘conversion of funds’ by the responsible government and will continue to pursue further investigations.”

“The only thing they told us is that they will reimburse the funds once the vessel arrives and begins its operation,” Council President said.

The Temotu Provincial Youth Council saw such an action as total negligence towards youths by the people in authority. 

Since its establishment in 2010, the Youth Council has been working without a  proper avenue to facilitate its programs. 

The grant was initiated way back in 2011 during a stakeholder meeting between the council and its stakeholders to build a Youth Centre so that it could run its own affairs.

It was finally signed by the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children, and Family Affairs and the Temotu Provincial Government in 2021 in Lata.

Speaking at the signing Permanent Secretary Dr. Alependava stated that the agreement demonstrated the national government’s commitment to addressing youth development and empowerment in the country.

He explained that the assistance is inline with the previous Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement social policy redirection to support the implementation of women, youth, and children’s policies targeting socio-economic activities in urban and rural communities; and strengthen and increase support for women and youth empowerment programs.

The then Premier of Temotu Province, Clay Forau Soalaoi, assured the Ministry that his government was committed to completing the project by the end of 2021 to provide the needed space and resources to empower the young people of Temotu Province to contribute to their society and national development.

Temotu Provincial Youth Council Treasurer, Mr. Tropa Tika said that the money was deposited into the Temotu Provincial Account after the handing over and signing of the agreement in 2021. 

He said the purpose of this was to accommodate the grant to facilitate the project. 

“It is a sad moment for us, the council, and the youths of Temotu Province. This is not a government-initiated project; rather, it is our cry and struggle that led the government to fund this project.”

“The Temotu Youth Council does not have an office, even though it represents the youths in the province. This indicates that our youths do not have a part in the government.” 

“It shows that our government is totally neglecting our young people. That is the reason they do not want us to have an office,” Mr Tika said.

During the pursuit to establish a Youth Center for the province, one of the vocal figures was the then Provincial Minister for Youth, now the Premier of Temotu Province, Hon. Stanley Tehiahua. 

He told SIBC News that his executive will investigate this matter and address it.

“I have been assuring my executive that we will find alternatives and solutions to fix whatever issues the outgoing government has left behind, one of which is the Youth Center.”  

“My government, the Temotu Government for Unity and Reform Advancement (TGURA), strongly believes that we will seek solutions and alternatives to reimburse the $3-million for the youth center and ensure the project is completed during our tenure,” Premier Tehiahua said.

The TGURA government also assures that they will help the Provincial Youth Council pursue further investigation into the issue. 

Council President Mr.Medirka said that he was advised by the Temotu Provincial Planning Specialist that the grant had already been spent by the outgoing government.

In 2022, the National Government through the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and the Temotu Provincial Government signed an agreement to purchase a ship worth $5-million for the province. 

The shipping project was in response to a request by the Provincial Government through the Prime Minister when he visited the province in 2020. Prime Minister Sogavare heeded the call and pledged to deliver the request. 

However, in 2023, the Temotu Provincial Government signed another $2.5-million support agreement to purchase the ship with the Ministry of Rural Development. 

The Ministry said that the ship cost over $7-million and the TPG already made a part payment of $5.4-million. 

The $2.5-million additional support will help the province completely procure the vessel and bring it into the country from Indonesia.

As for the Temotu Youth Council, they have been left with nothing but to fall victim to the poor decisions made by their previous government.

Ends///