DEAR Editor,

‘In reporting confidence comes with truth not spin.”

Some years ago, I recall reading an article by a young Irish journalist, Seamus Conboy, writing in the ‘’The Journal,’ perhaps an Irish publication, when he said:

“People have become so accustomed to bad news in recent years that good news is often lost in the noise. We have become cynical; we expect the worst of our politicians, expect their decisions to be the wrong ones. And some media outlets will play on this.

“But if we let the good news be drowned out by the bad, we will stunt our recovery. Recovery won’t happen overnight. and it might be delayed if we allow a negative narrative to smother our confidence.

“This difficult period in our history is not behind us yet, but we are getting there. There is hope. We need this hope; we need to be confident, if we want to get back on our feet. We can share this confidence or we can continue to pile on the despair. Whichever we choose, it will have a knock on effect on our economy, and on our entire society.”

I looked up the writers sentiments again after reading recent articles on the prevailing situation in the Solomon Islands.  The articles, on the whole, painted a depressing picture of happenings at ‘home and  prompted this letter in the hope that, despite what might seems a not too favourable situation currently, reporters and journalists, particularly foreign ones, writing about events in the Solomons will try be more objective, more understanding and more encouraging in presenting their stories.  That is not to say the news should be distorted by ‘spin’ only a narrative that can lead to confidence – and confidence comes with truth not spin. ‘

 Here are a couple of examples of stories written by the well known Pacific journalist Catherine Wilson on 21 December 2017 when reporting on the Solomon Islands.  She writes as she sees the situation but I am left with the feeling there might be an element of cynicism and doubt.

“The dusty streets of Honiara are bustling. Once ravaged by militia fighting, 14 years of peacekeeping by the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands now sees men, women and children at markets, schools and shops, confident and free.”

“But the future of the vast archipelago of rainforest-covered islands to Australia’s northeast is still work in progress. Long term peace and stability after the ‘Tensions’ (1998-2003) depends on addressing the causes and grievances of the conflict, and making headway on equitable development for urban and rural islanders. According to the Pacific Islands Forum, hardship and unemployment remain high in the country and ‘strong resource-led growth is failing to trickle down to the disadvantaged.”

“Landowner grievances, compromised governance and acrimonious competition for land and resources were key triggers of the violence that erupted in Guadalcanal Province in the late 1990s. So tackling land disputes, corruption and management of the country’s natural resource wealth is at the core of ensuring sustainable peace.”

“Natural resource management will be in the spotlight after the government in Honiara recently identified the exploitation of mineral resources – still relatively under-developed in Solomon Islands – as one avenue to boosting post-conflict economic recovery. At the same time, plans are underway to reopen the Gold Ridge mine by the end of 2018.”

“The mine, a drive of less than an hour from Honiara across the flat, sun-baked Guadalcanal Plains, through farming villages and miles of oil palm plantations, has stood dormant for the past three years. The extraction of gold began here in 1998, but a succession of foreign owners and intermittent periods of closure due to civil unrest and environmental problems has left a troubled legacy.”

“The reopening of the Gold Ridge mine is important for economic growth, said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification. A significant drop in national revenue followed the closure in 2014 and the start of two bauxite mines in West Rennell province the following year.”

“But the risks remain. Graham Baines pointed out in a paper published by the Australian National University that ‘should mining be forced while governance of the mineral sector remains weak and uncertain, corruption is rife and villagers are ill-informed and uncertain, the rural population could become a potent source of dissent and obstruction’. This was especially a danger in Melanesia, Baines said, where violence and mining seem to be partners.”

Your readers might have observed in recent days I switched in my letters to the local media to commenting on regional affairs just to put a brighter perspective on what I perceived to be a lack of confidence building issues concerning ‘home’ affairs.

My source of information for regional news as been the trusted news bulletins from Radio New Zealand and I would like to make three more selections here to demonstrate what objective reporting can do to heighten confidence to citizens in regard to developments, economic opportunities, welfare and personal well being.

The following stories are all from recent RNZI news bulletins and quoted.

Solar power for homes in Kiribati capital

“In Kiribati, households in South Tarawa will soon get solar lights to help improve energy efficiency.

“Kiribati has received $US1.1 million from India to have kerosene lamps replaced with solar lights.

“Homes in the urban district forced to use fossil fuel will be the first to benefit from this plan.

“The government of Kiribati has set renewable energy and energy efficiency targets of 45 per cent for Tarawa by 2025, with the aim to reduce people’s dependency on fossil fuel.”

ADB supporting Cooks in submarine cable project

“The Asian Development Bank has provided a $US15 million dollar loan towards the Cook Islands submarine cable project.

“The Cook Islands has joined Samoa, Niue, and French Polynesia to implement a regional cable system – Manatua – that provide faster and more affordable internet.

“The total cost of the project, which is also supported by New Zealand, France and the EU, is estimated at $US65 million dollars.

“The Banks Pacific director, Emma Veve, says ‘improved access to high-speed, affordable broadband internet in the Cook Islands will positively impact the tourism and public sectors as they are, by far, the biggest internet users”

“The Cook Islands finance minister, Mark Brown says the Manatua cable will definitely result in opportunities through improved telecommunications connectivity.”

Exxon discovers new oil and gas reserves in PNG

“The energy giant Exxon Mobil has discovered new natural gas and oil reserves in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province and has begun evaluating the find.

“Exxon says it drilled almost 9000 feet into the earth at the P’nyang field, discovering “high-quality, hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone reservoirs.

“The find adds to the American company’s “rapidly growing inventory of low cost natural gas” in PNG where it operates the Liquefied Natural Gas Project.

“This includes reserves acquired in Exxon’s recent purchase of InterOil Corporation, as well as various other gas resources it has rights to around PNG’s Highlands and Southern regions.

“The president of ExxonMobil Development Company Liam Mallon said the company and its co-venture partners were evaluating the well results and assessing how to develop the resource.

“He said that Exxon would work with the PNG government to undertake the work.”

 Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR Editor,

Radio New Zealand International today, 17 January 2018 (quote)

 “Samoa’s police minister, who is also the prime minister, says arming police officers was not an option while they performed their normal duties.

“Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was responding to a question about a school of thought that American Samoa police should be armed following a recent shooting in the territory.

“Tuilaepa said the current practice of arming police only when on raids that were considered dangerous and could pose a threat to their lives will remain the norm.

“And he said he still believed that a major role of village matai councils is to police the actions of villagers to ensure no criminal activity happens.”

Copyright:  Radio New Zealand International.  (All Rights Reserved)

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

Here is a quote from the article:

 “The Director General was also accompanied by four senior officials from the Government of Thailand.

“This was the first meeting to be held between the TICA Head with SIG Officials.

“The purpose of the visit was in response to the proposal made under the Thailand-Pacific Islands Forum (TPIF) for a ONE COUNTRY-ONE PROJECT.

“This is an initiative that aims to boost sustainable development and food security through the agricultural sector.

“Speaking during the meeting, the Director General explained that this initiative aims to accelerate economic and rural development through the community level.

“She said it will also bring about the concept of sustainability and economic growth to the rural communities and to enable them with the knowledge to be self sufficient and take ownership in their rural development approach.

“In response, Supervising Permanent Secretary Mr. Soaki thanked TICA for accepting the request by Solomon Islands to roll-out this One Country-One Project initiative in the country.

“MFAET together with the Ministry of Agriculture will work collaboratively with TICA to ensure that this model of rural development is forthcoming with success,” he said.”

In a letter that was published in the Solomon Times on Line publication in January 2011, and subsequently re-published on several occasions since that time, I wrote:

“In Thailand, from where I am writing, one of the most successful legacies of a former Prime Minister is what is called the OTOP scheme. This stands for “One Village, or group of villages, One Product.” The idea is to encourage rural people to produce quality products unique to their region. The Thai government helps by marketing the products, both internally and overseas.

 “The OTOP products cover a large array of local goods, including handicrafts, cotton and silk garments, pottery, household items, carvings, wooden bowls and food, to name but a few. The scheme has not only created many jobs locally but also provided many young people with a means of earning a living.

“The origin of the One Village One Product movement actually originated in Oita Prefecture in Japan. The purpose was to improve upon and refine locally available resources and to create jobs and income for the communities, to able the respective communities to become self-dependent, to preserve traditional culture and craftsmanship, to promote human resource development, and to develop creativity in developing products in harmony with local culture and way of life.”

Japan’s External Trade Organisation (JETRO) is helping to promote Thailand’s growing and successful “OTOP” products in Japan.

 In more recent times, last October, I published the following letter on Linkedin

 “THAILAND HAS MUCH TO OFFER THE SOLOMON ISLANDS ON SUCCESSFUL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

“As the Solomon Islands still seeks to grow its economy and provide a meaningful sustainable development policy to accommodate its growing population and at a time of increasing local concern over the effects of climate change, I would recommend the Solomon Islands Government to examine Thailand’s success story on sustainable development.

“First some facts.

“Thailand sits in the centre of Southeast Asia. It has a total area of 513,000 km (198,000 sg mi); a population of 69 million and the unitary state is subdivided into 76 provinces.

“The country is a constitutional monarchy.

“Soon after the late and much loved King Bhumibol took the throne in 1946, His Majesty toured the whole country and became acutely aware of the many hardships then facing the rural people, particularly the poor farmers. At that time the, per capita GDP was about US$200.

“The King took a keen interest in rural development, devoted his whole life to helping the rural impoverished and instituted many royal projects which led to the sufficiency economy philosophy policy now pursued with growing success by the Thai Government.

“The sustainable economy approach has been introduced and adopted in more than 23,000 villages across Thailand, raising prosperity and economic standards to higher levels by stages.

“Thailand’s sufficiency economy concept as sustainability at its very core and is now seen as an important contributor to the UN’s international development goals.

“The Thai governmental organisation most responsible for implementing the sufficiency economy is the National Economic and Social Development Board

“The ECSDB’s primary tool for mobilising action is the excellent, graphically illustrated publication of the National Economic and Development Plan. A copy can be accessed by using your browser to search –

http://www.mfa.go.th/SEPforSDGs/SEPThailandsPathtowardsSDGS/SEP_Thailands_Path_towards_SDGs.pdf.”

 Over the years I have lived in Thailand, I have observed, first hand, the progress the country has made in its sufficiency and one product-one-  project developments for the benefit of the rural people and why I felt so strongly in advocating similar help from the Government of Thailand for the people in the Solomon Islands.

I am really pleased that the Royal Government of Thailand has offered its help and expertise as demonstrated by the visit to Honiara by the Deputy Director General of the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA).

Sawadee Krap.

Frank Short.

DEAR Editor,

The Police Supervising Director of the Kukum Police Traffic Department reported to the Solomon Star last week that the SIPF Traffic Department had recorded a total of 1583 related incidents, including 7 fatalities, in 2017.

Here is a direct quote of the Solomon Star’s article.

“The Kukum Traffic Police Department has recorded a total of 1583 traffic related incidents that leads to 7 deaths in Honiara last year.

“For the past year 2017 we have received a total of 1583 reported cases,” said Mr. Mouli.

“He ( Mr.Mouli) said, careless driving has recorded 341 cases, driving under the influence of liquor – 342, 94, for unlicensed drivers and the use of an unlicensed motor vehicle – totalled to 259 cases.

“He added that permitting unlicensed motor vehicles was 82, dangerous loading was 2, causing death by dangerous driving had resulted in 7 cases, while the number of injuries was 29.

“He said, just over the Festive season a total of 3 deaths had been recorded, one for Guadalcanal province, while the other two within the Honiara roads.

“Mr Mouli explained these incidents have been caused through the drivers’ own carelessness, pedestrian carelessness or owners’ negligence for allowing their vehicles to be used on the road with defective parts or been unlicensed.

“By looking at this figure, it has clearly demonstrated to us that, each and everyone must have take into accounts some areas of considerations as we enter another year,” he said.

“The Supervising Director said, drivers must take on more responsibility to put more consideration while driving and vehicle owners to play their part as owners.

“Making sure their vehicles must be road worthy, valid, registered before using operating on the road.”

“Mr. Mouli also appealed to drivers to have a proper driving license before driving on the road.

“Vehicle owners to register their vehicles and every road users, as police will be more active throughout the year.”

In March 2017, Inspector Brian Surimalefo, also then with the RSIPF’s Traffic Branch, told the media that there were more than 300 road traffic accidents in 2016 causing injury to a hundred plus victims and 5 accident fatalities.

He also added that in the first three months of 2016, the police had attended the scene of close to 50 road accidents.

Prima facie are we to assume that last year the number of road traffic accidents rose from a total of “more than 300” in 2016 to what is now reported to have been 1583 last year?

It is perhaps necessary for Police Headquarters to give some clarification because if there has been a rise of 1000 to 1283 extra road accidents, based on the imprecise figure of 300 quoted by Inspector Surimalefo, then it is important to know the causes and to determine stronger enforcement measures.

Looking at what Inspector Mouli told the Star’s reporter, last year saw an average of 4.3 road accidents every day, an increase in road fatalities from 5 in 2016 to 7 in 2017, 342 reports of driving under the influence of liquor (almost one report per day) 94 unlicensed driving offences and allegations of causing death by dangerous driving.

It is my respectful suggestion that the official reporting of road traffic accident statistics, year on year, should be released by Police Headquarters in the form of an official report in which the statistical breakdown of information is revealed, if not already made available in the Force’s Annual Report.

I suggest sufficient data on the extent, causes and impact of crashes is low in the Solomon Islands, including types of vehicles involved, time when accidents occurred, precise locations, ages of drivers and pedestrians, road conditions, road worthiness of the vehicles, extent of alcoholism and nature of injuries sustained etc.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short