Pacific

Solomon's opposition leader calls for new look at economic future

06:41 am on 29 December 2008

Solomon Islands Parliamentary Leader of Opposition, Manasseh Sogavare, has appealed to the government and development partners to work together to avoid a disastrous economic effect when forestry money runs out.

In his Christmas message, Mr Sogavare said that it is very important that diversification of the country's development base be taken onboard now, given the revelation that the country's loggable forest base will run out in 2013.

The Solomon Island's Broadcasting Corporation reports that he is now calling on the government and development partners to demonstrate some seriousness by concentrating meaningful financial resources and logistics to the tourism, fisheries and agriculture sectors.

Mr Sogavare said the current inputs by government into these sectors is far from acceptable.

He said the foreseeable economic future of Solomon Islands is bleak, more so when revenue from logs will run out by 2013.