In his address at the opening of the 2017 Second Joint Solomon Islands-Development Partners Dialogue in Honiara on 6 December 2017, Prime Minister Hou said for too long the Government has left our development partners in the cold which has negatively affected the progress of important government programmes.

The dialogue gathered together top representatives from the donor community and senior officials from the Solomon Islands Government to chart a new direction to move the country forward.

 “My Government will take extra efforts in working closely with each and every one of our development partners as we work towards our common goal to move this country forward in the interest of everyone,” Mr. Hou said.

While the ultimate goal of the Solomon Islands must be to become more self-reliant and less dependent on outside help, the fresh approach of the SIG in wanting to work more closely with its development partners is seen as a welcome initiative.

In terms of what the PM described as socio-economic development for the Solomon Islands, a broad definition, I would hope that the basic needs of the Solomon Islands MOHMS will not go unrecognized because, real socio-economic development first and foremost depends on the health and welfare of all its people.

In separate letters to the local media in Honiara this last few days, I highlighted the current crisis at the Buala and the National Referral Hospitals for hospital beds and the fact that the New Zealand Take My Hands (TMH) Charity Trust had offered the SI MOHM between 50 to 100 hospital beds but NZ$12.500 is needed from the MOHMS before Christmas this year to secure the donation and guarantee the shipment of the beds to Honiara.

I also pointed out that because of the huge shortfall in the SI’s government’s coffers occasioned by revenue losses, complicated all the more by predictions of over-spending in SI government ministries, the chance to acquire the hospital beds is most likely to be lost and see them having to be diverted to other agreement partners linked to TMH, notably Pakistan, Nepal or Fiji.

For the  record, in the initial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the SI MOHMS/NRH and TMH, the undertaking was for the MOHMS/NRH to pay to TMH NZ$50,000 per annum for TMH to supply up to 10 twenty foot containers of medical equipment and medical supplies for the NRH and Provincial hospitals in the Solomon Islands.

Only the first payment of NZ$25,000 was met and the request for just NZ$12,500 only half of the outstanding agreed sum, is a concession by TMH to try to assist the Solomon Islands acquire the much needed hospital beds.

Against this picture I have painted, it is known that the New Zealand Government has effectively made an 18 percent increase in foreign aid available in the coming year after two consecutive years of under spending in the three year funding cycle implemented by former foreign minister Murray McCully.

New Zealand is highly committed to showing increased leadership in the Pacific and that “leadership’ could, I suggest, be exemplified by helping the New Zealand Charity Trust TMH send the hospital beds to Honiara by utilizing some of its aid budget allocation and perhaps considering ongoing support for TMH in its ongoing charity endeavours throughout the Pacific region, especially given TMH was recently one of the finalists for a New Zealand Business Award of Excellence.

Haere tonu ki te whakaatu i te huarahi, Aotearoa.

 Yours sincerely

 Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR,

After 39 years since the Solomon Islands became a sovereign independent nation it was a sad day, and one of reflection for me and I gather for many more, both at home and abroad, when Manasseh Sogavare revealed during the recent Motion of No Confidence moved against him in Parliament that the 50 Members of Parliament (MPs) together received more than half a billion dollars a year and if that amount of money had been used wisely it should have benefitted the entire nation.

The full details of what the former MP revealed on that occasion is already well documented with the allegations raised against certain MPs smacking, prima-facie, of corruption and detrimental leadership.

The country has a new PM and a fresh team of Ministers and one must really hope that the emerging leadership style will accord to all the new servant-leaders a primary focus on the growth and well-being of the people and the communities which they were elected to represent.

In traditional forms of leadership, by those at the top, accumulation and exercise of power is generally paramount, but as a servant leader, which is what is expected of an MP, one shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.

In the next 10 months there will be many waiting and watching to see if Solomon Islands politics will turn around.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR,

According to a news broadcast by the SIBC on 3 December 2017, from which I quote.

Some local women became so concerned about the waste management issue that they decided to form Plasticwise Gizo in February this year.

Chairwoman, Rendy Solomon, said members of Plasticwise Gizo focus on promoting the three Rs of waste management — reduce, reuse and recycle — for plastic bags and other plastic products.

Over four days this year, the women showcased different ways to recycle plastic, such as by making purses, mobile phone holders, garlands and flower decorations.

Since its formation, the group has also held a plastic recycling workshop with the United Church Women’s Fellowship in Gizo and conducted awareness programs in 10 area schools.

Plasticwise Gizo will meet in February to set its agenda for next year.

I heartily congratulate Ms Rendy Solomon and Plasticwise for the initiative taken in helping to protect the environment from unwanted plastic rubbish and turning the waste into saleable items.

Well done to all concerned and thank you!

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR,

During last week Prime Minister Hou met in Honiara with the World Bank’s Resident Representative Guido Rurangwa and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Resident Representative Seva Payevskiy.

The PM said he was impressed by the World Bank’s assurance to support the new Government’s development aspirations.

Similar assurances of collaborative support had come from the UNDP.

Mr Rurangwa reportedly informed the Prime Minister that the World Bank was currently working closely with the Government to identify key priority areas in infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy and water sanitation.

He added that the World Bank is also prepared to provide financial support for these sectors.

A full report of the meeting with the World Bank’s Resident Representative and the one from the IFC was contained in an article in the Solomon Star, from which I quote.

“The World Bank is ready to support the new Government in the infrastructure and transport sector as well as the airfield projects.

“Mr Rurangwa said a team from their transport sector would be coming into the country next week to start off discussions with the Government.

“IFC’s Seva Payevskiy also informed the Prime Minister that they are currently working on a new country partnership framework for Solomon Islands.

“This new partnership, he said, would be focusing on priority areas for sustainable economic growth in the country.

“Mr Seva also updated the Prime Minister on a recent exercise carried out called Systematic Country Diagnosis.

This is an exercise which is based on the Bank’s view on the key problems in Solomon Islands and suggested solutions for the country.

Mr Seva also assured the Prime Minister of IFC’s support as a transaction adviser to the Tina Hydro project, as well as providing technical advice and support to the progression of the Bina Harbour Project.

“IFC also supports tourism projects in Western province as well as actively providing investment support in the fisheries sector particularly to Soltuna and NFD,” he said.

“Mr Rurangwa then informed the Prime Minister on the USD$100 million support program the World Bank is currently progressing in different sectors such as energy, job creation projects, climate change rural development and fisheries.

“He also told to the Prime Minister that the Rapid Employment Project under World Bank would be extended to the provinces beginning with Malaita, Guadalcanal and Western provinces.

“Prime Minister Hou in response welcomed the comprehensive updates rendered to him.

Mr Hou thanked the World Bank for their support and more so for undertaking the Systematic Country Diagnosis exercise.

He said this would surely assist the Government in identifying key areas that needed attention and how best a collaborative approach could provide best solutions.

“It is important that we focus on sectors that can boost the economy.

“Not only that, but also to focus on priority programs that will bring out dividends and that will generate income for our rural people,” he said.

“Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hou told the World Bank representatives that the Tina Hydro project is a project the Government wanted to get rolling in the next 18 months.

“The Prime Minister has also re-assured World Bank of his desire to see a closer collaboration between the Government and donor partners.

The World Bank representatives applauded the Prime Minister’s assertion in re-establishing confidence amongst donor partners through the core economic working group.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR,

According to a news bulletin released by Radio New Zealand International today, 5 December 2017, Fiji’s fisheries minister Semi Koroilavesau says Pacific tuna is under threat from the world’s largest fishing nations including China, Japan and South Korea.

Quoting from the report it said.

“He ( Mr Koroilavesau) is critical of what he said was the inaction of the Western and Central Pacific Fishing Commission in controlling overfishing in the high seas and the low catches within regional fisheries zones.

“Mr Koroilavesau told the annual meeting of the Tuna Commission in Pasay City in the Philippines that Fiji does not want to see this continue as the country’s fishery may collapse under the pressure.

“The Tuna Commission makes its decision by consensus and easily deadlocked by recalcitrant fishing nations.

“The Forum Fisheries Agency’s director-general, James Movick, said there was a need for the region to confront the distant water fishing nations.

“Mr Movick said the time had come to step up conversations around the economics of tuna and what countries, thinking regionally, are prepared to take – and give – so that the Pacific can protect its fisheries resource, and achieve its economic aspirations.”

It will be recalled that in April this year in the Solomon Islands, several Vietnamese were caught stealing local marine resources and were ordered to pay $36 million if they wanted their three blue boats back or in the event the owners failed to pay, the boats would be destroyed.

It was believed the Vietnamese fishermen were charged under the Fisheries Management Act 2015 and the charges consisted of

Illegal entry without permit, which attracted a $12 million fine or imprisonment term for none citizens of not more than five years

Illegal fishing without licence from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, which attracted a fine of 5 million or imprisonment term not exceeding five years

Using of diving apparatus in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and territorial waters of Solomon Islands, which attracted a fine not exceeding $5million or imprisonment term not exceeding three years

Harvesting of bech-de-mer using illegal diving gears in the country’s EEZ, which attracted a fine of $50,000 and

Illegal harvesting of bech-de-mer, banned by the Solomon government.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR Editor,

In a newly released Foreign Affairs White paper, Canberra has placed significance importance on Pacific Islands

Relaying the news, reportedly to the delight of some Pacific scholars, Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) gave considerable converge in a news broadcast this evening, 27 November 2017.  Here is a précis of the main points (quote).

“Beyond the diplomatic platitudes of shared heritage, interests, and longstanding ties, the paper announced a significant surge in its interests in measures like labour mobility, including going as far as recognising that “new approaches will be necessary” to how it deals with island countries.

“An academic from the Australian National University, said the White Paper contained one of Canberra’s strongest commitments to its own backyard in recent memory.

“It singles out our relationship with the Pacific and deepening that relationship as one of the five top objectives for Australia. I think that in itself is interesting,” said Professor Howes.

“The Pacific doesn’t normally have that high a profile in foreign policy discussions.”

“An entire chapter of the Foreign Affairs White Paper is devoted to the Pacific (A shared agenda for security and prosperity, it’s called), making supporting the region’s development one of the Canberra’s key aims.

“The stability and economic progress of Papua New Guinea, other Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste is of fundamental importance to Australia,” it said. “Our ties with these neighbours are long-standing and will be enduring.”

“From here, it lays out a plan to support labour mobility, something Australia was once reluctant to do; enhance security partnerships; the prospect of shared services, such as allowing Nauru, Tuvalu and Tonga to access Australian pharmaceutical testing; and fostering greater people-to-people relations.

“That’s a dramatic change from the last White Paper in 2003, which characterised the Pacific Islands as fraught with instability and governance issues, while alluding to the possibility it could be a breeding ground for extremism.

“Dr Howes said the 2017 paper took a more optimistic tone and, significantly, recognised that a new approach was needed.

“However, it’s not all altruism. Dr Howes said the new approach was also underlined by strategic concerns, particularly with a rising interest from distant powers – particularly China.

“It’s partly driven by a feeling we’ve only been paying lip service – we really have to deliver,” said Professor Howes.

“But it’s also driven by this feeling that other powers are entering the Pacific and challenging Australia’s role in the Pacific, so if we’re not careful we’re going to be marginalised.

“Australia remains the largest power in the region and is still, by far, the largest aid donor. For all the talk of China’s increased spending, its nearly US$2 billion pales in comparison to Australia’s US$7 billion, according to figures from the  Australian Lowry Institute..

“But in Australia itself, Pacific issues are often far from the priorities of the Canberra classes compared to Asia, the United States and even the Middle East. The shadow defence minister, Richard Marles, said this needed to change.

“The Pacific has choices, and we can’t take for granted that we will be the partner of choice forever,” said Mr Marles. “The country that cares the most will be the country that has the most influence in the Pacific.

“It’s really important that Australia makes clear that we are that country.”

“While a lot more optimistic than 2003, the paper still identified several challenges facing Pacific countries that would likely need assistance: weak governance, corruption and small economies vulnerable to shocks.”

Source:  Radio New Zealand International.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR, in a news bulletin broadcast today, January 8, 2018, Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) quoted the Solomon Islands Prime Minister as saying the Solomon Islands will ratify the UN Convention on Persons with Disabilities.

This is the text of the RNZI bulletin.

“Prime Minister Rick Hou announced this commitment during a recent meeting with the Solomon Islands Deaf Association in Honiara.

“According to the Solomon Star, Mr Hou said supporting people with special needs was everyone’s business.

“He said schools and institutions around the country should consider introducing sign language into their curricula and training.

“Mr Hou told association representatives at the meeting, Solomon Islands would ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as soon the relevant documentation was finalised.

“Speaking through a sign language interpreter, the president of the Solomon Islands Deaf Association Ali Barnabas thanked the prime minister for this commitment while also highlighting the struggles associations like his continue to face because of a lack of support for people with disabilities in the Solomons”

This commitment by the newly elected Prime Minister is welcomed and one must look forward to the Solomon Islands Government early ratification, but it should be recalled that in a press statement from the PM’s Press Secretariat in September 2015, Prime Minister Sogavare said, “Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) can be done in Solomon Islands and transmitted to the UN.

“Furthermore any decision by the government to ratify this convention does not even need to be approved by Parliament.

“All we need is a Cabinet Paper for endorsement by Cabinet and we will proceed to be a signatory to the UNCRPD.”

The many persons with disabilities in the Solomon Islands have lacked support for their varied needs for a very long time and I personally urge Prime Minister Hou to finalise the relevant documents and to obtain Cabinet approval for ratification of the UNCRPD and submission to the UN as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT