I understand that skilled Chinese construction workers are being brought to the Solomon Islands to start work on the USP’s 4th Campus and to kick-start the building program for the planned 2023 Pacific Games being hosted in Honiara.
I have often raised the need to begin the “greening” of the national capital ahead of the Pacific Games but I am not aware of any projects that are planned or actually underway to transform the national capital to the pleasant environment that it needs to be ahead of the many visitors expected for the hosting of the Games.
Fuzhou in China has been transformed from the concrete jungle it was once by government initiative started in 2004 to a city filled with green trees and landscaped areas. A city is now a place where the inhabitants live in harmony with the canopy of trees and nature. In other words, Fuzhou is now a city in a forest.
Between now and 2032 is but a short time to bring about a major “greening” transformation to Honiara but I believe Chinese landscaping experts if brought in on short-term contracts, could make much-needed changes to Honiara’s environment and worth considering.
Once a “greening” transformation comes about local people will be able to enjoy a much more attractive city and hopefully gain the added incentive to keep the national capital a much cleaner and pleasant city in which to work and enjoy.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
