Changes have been ushered in on who could be chairman of the district council, according to what the Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development (MWCSD) has told them in a letter. There has been no reason given as to why this change is being brought in.

Is this a cabinet decision, and are there other changes that could be conceived as policies for the District Development Project? The haste with which the ministry demands the application is also concerning. Only a week has been given for people to apply for the role. The letter also does not specify how the chairperson would be selected, nor whether people can apply for the role without the backing of the district council. When the District Development Project (DDP) was introduced in 2021, each member of parliament served as chairperson for their district, except for Lotofaga.

Needless to say, many district councils are fuming about the proposed change in the letter. This move breaks the one-party stronghold on the district council and on the use of the grants. Yet, at the same time, many are seeing this as a political move to disrupt the work already being undertaken.

The district grants were initiated to fast-track projects in villages without the red tape and the long waits. This is funded with public funds. The MWCSD has already outlined how the money has to be used, and before the next tranche of the money can be given to the district council, financial reports have to be presented to the ministries involved for accountability. At the end of the day, this project is to help people to better education, build infrastructure, and improve lives. The question remains to date: have the districts used the money in such a manner?

Issues, including mismanagement of funds, have been highlighted over the years, and one was mentioned during a court petition a few weeks ago. What is needed is a revamp of the district council to make it more accountable, and political appointments will not help in achieving this. 

If there are going to be changes in policies that affect governance, even at the village level, they should be made in consultation with stakeholders. There should also be information available on why such changes have been made, what the changes entail and their impact. The flow of information from the relevant ministries should be there to ensure transparency.

Questions to the MWCSD were deflected to different people, but no one has come forward to explain the changes. The Ministry’s Chief Executive Officer, Loau Donina Vaa, referred it to Acting CEO-ICT and Communications Tuilimu Misikupa Surds Kupa, saying proper channels need to be followed. The Project Coordinator, Unasa Viane Toala, said only the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has the authority within the Ministry to release information.

The changes announced by the MWCSD for the district council chairperson’s role need to be explained further. If the government or politicians believe that voters cannot be trusted with the truth, democracy is in serious jeopardy. For a democracy to function, it is essential that a government respects the people and takes them seriously, not only those who have voted for that government, but all people. Furthermore, in order to exercise their democratic rights properly, people should be informed as fully as possible.