Aid effort may mean

self-[?]iance

The United Nations De velopment Programme (UNDP) has guaran teed to spend $ A 315,000 in Kiribati this year to cover five development pro jects which the government needs as part of its 1987-91 National Development Prog ramme.

UNDP with other donors will also give extra aid to unfunded projects during the year worth $2l million.

The UNDP grant will be used to provide advisers and experts for various projects including the provision of staff for the Tarawa Technical Institute (TTI), a gateway to employ ment in Government or private organisations.

A large portion of the aid “cake” will be spent on provid ing advisers for a Regional Project Plan that needs $A140,000. A Public Service Inspectorate and appropriate technology staff for TTI need $A70,000 while an adviser on solar salt production requires $A20,000.

Tamana, the smallest island in the republic, less than three miles in length and about a mile in width at some places, re ceives $A15,000 UNDP aid under the scheme, the Inte grated Atoll Development.

This scheme already oper ates on Tamana. Early last year a UNDP consultant from the Philippines, Mr Galgo Bemado, arrived on the island.

The whole of 1986 on Tama na was spent on planning. Mr Galgo said that some work was done on gardening and provid ing training opportunities for leading people who will help him in his implementing stages.

“Two canoe builders, three water tank makers, a house

builder and a mechanic have received training at Tarawa at the TTI. They will be helping me this year in providing the skills they have acquired to their fellow countrymen,” said Mr Galgo.

He said the canoe builders were taught at the Fisheries Division the art of building a modified Kiribatese model. This

craft is more flexible than the local version. It can also carry a bigger load and can travel under sail or by outboard motor. The idea is to make

Tamana a supplier of this type of craft to neighboring islands.

Mr Galgo said, “1987 is the implementation year. We will go full swing. Our materials are now available in Kiribati. Some will be transported to Tamara very soon. The people are very excited and I’m looldng forward to it.”

He added that more gardens

will be established and seeds ordered from Fiji and neighboring countries. An agricultural officer on the island is providing assistance in this area.

In Kiribati, because of the limited fertility of the soil, only cabbages, tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables grow well. The agricultural division has been engaged in soil experiment so that a greater variety of vegetables and fruits flourish.

Social, economic and political centres on Tamana will be provided with a solar energy source for lighting and other services.

Village maneabas for social gatherings, island council buildings, the church area, school and hospital plus the main store will also be provided with solar panels and other facilities. Mr Galgo said materials for this project were imported from New Zealand.

Commercial activities will

also be encouraged by UNDP assistance. Small handicrafts and large undertakings will re ceive UNDP help either in cash or expertise. The consultant said toddy cutters that provide toddy drinks from the sap of coconut trees will have their excess produce sent to Tarawa or other islands in the form of a kamaimai toddy that is cooked until it has the texture and taste of honey.

Mr Galgo said fishermen in the future will be able to sell their catch to the council who will keep it in cold storage to be provided by UNDP. The fish will be then traded to Tarawa or other islands.

“Tamana will change, there is no doubt about that,” said one government official. “The people will be self-reliant if they co-operate with the program.

They will have have a better standard of living than the rest

of the islands.”

Bataua

Batiri T.

A Kiribatese built canoe.