DEAR EDITOR, partnership according to Thesaurus English is companionship, relationship and alliance. For the purpose of my presentation, I will pick on the first two words; companionship or relationship. Companionship or relationship is the company of friends and the relationship that exists between them and that has been the very purpose, why God created Eve. God had already foreseen that Adam being by himself would experience extreme loneliness. From a human understanding, a person devoid of companionship or relationship is a person devoid of life.

Thus, man-woman relationship encompasses the recognition that partnership is God ordained. Thus, man would indeed be a hopeless little creature devoid of happiness, fellowship and intimacy without a woman by his side. The Biblical record in the creation story is quite explicit on this truth: ‘For it is not good for man to be alone’; how true that is.

Creations’ partnership came with this startling statement: Gen. 1:26-27 “Then God said `Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness ; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth’. There are two important truths revealed by God through this utterance.

Firstly, at creation, God pronounced the making of male and female as an act of partnership; “Let us”. This partnership is reflected in his ordaining of Adam and Eve to exercise dominion over the whole of creation. As they exercise their partnership role in the worlds’ most beautiful garden, they would experience close fellowship with God daily, as they go about looking after the garden. This fellowship with God was the very best any man had/could experience at any point in human history. However, because of disobedience this privilege was lost, as God would not associate his divine nature with our sinful nature.

Secondly, man (both male and female) is made in the image of God. This is the beauty and privilege of mans’ position in regards to creation. Thus, we need to affirm in our attitudes and actions that we believe man and woman are created in the image of God. Thus the life they, share equally shines and value before God. Saint Paul puts it beautifully in his letter to the Church in Philippi: Husbands love your wives and wives respect your husbands. The value and dignity of this relationship is clearly articulated through the very acts of love and respect.

However, throughout human history, culture and other social factors have led even Christians and believers of other faith to think and act in ways inconsistent with this basic truth of both man and woman being created in the image of God. We have no reason to think and do otherwise; because God is the creator and we are the created.

Partnership resonate well with Gods’ creative purpose, in living in community as well as in engagement in God’s mission and decision making at all levels of our society. This partnership is leadership and it is a god given gift, strengthened and empowered by his Holy Spirit. This basic truth – partnership must not be compromised by our greed for power or self ego. It must be maintained, throughout our spiritual commitment/journey to both God and man.

It is sad to say, that our greatest misery comes when we compromise and watered down his ordained ministry and subsequently, lost fellowship with God. Psalm 127:1 (NIV) `unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labour in vain.’ Without God, all else man tries to achieve will be void, however, tempting, convincing and colorful they may appeal to our eyes.

As Christians, we need to exemplify partnership in our homes (a domestic church). A home that builds on partnership will experience love and growth in their relationship, fellowship, trust and mutual respect. This is because decisions made are inclusive and consensus rather than one ruled by a one-man show.

So too, we need to exercise partnership at all levels of our National life. God has given us the freedom to think and move about doing things that will benefit all Solomon Island citizens and our creation (environment): and the worse we can do is to abuse that freedom.

The call for an equal man-woman partnership is a godly call. If it happens at home, it should also happen at both the local and national level. Sadly enough, opponents of this line of thinking have taken their stance quoting from isolated verses in the bible without presenting the bigger side of Gods’ very nature – Love.

Our religious influence is significant in deepening spirituality which nurtures life and promotes justice and right relationships as essential in socialization, community building, culture, norms and values.

As a Christian nation, we are being challenged to look beyond our traditional barriers and participate constructively in the struggles for justice, peace and right relationships between and among our people.

To conclude, we need to take heed of two basic truths. Firstly, Partnership was instituted at creation and involves the first couples on earth, Adam and Eve. And secondly, Love, is the very nature of God that keeps their companionship afresh. If our conscience is to be guided by this truth, then, the call for an equal participation by both men and women at all levels of our governance is Godly. Think and pray about that.

By A.M Junia Port Adam

Small Malaita

DEAR EDITOR, as long ago as 1997 when I first arrived in the Solomon Islands, I was concerned about the job prospects of the unemployed young people and since those early years I have become increasingly concerned about the growing numbers of youths without jobs and the increasing voices of the young people to be consulted and to be able to participate as equals in decision making that involves their prospects, livelihoods and especially concerns over land and tenure.

Veteran journalist Alfred Sasako recently reported in the Island Sun newspaper on the closing stages on a Land Summit that was held in Malaita.

The report claimed that young people at the summit had issued what were reported as warnings to political leaders to take their concerns on board, citing leadership amongst the political elite as being a problem.

I can sympathise with the young people having been an observer of their unemployment prospects and their desire, indeed need, for closer involvement in matters that have been brewing for the past 20 years.

Strong language was claimed to have been voiced by some youths at the Land Summit, as recorded by Mr. Sasako and I will not repeat here was attributed to the words of one or two speakers, save to offer one or two comments.

Threats that were insinuated might have been political hyperbole or unpleasantly sharp attacks, but rather too strong for free speech, I thought.

Way back in 2002, the National Youth Policy provided the basis on which efforts to promote youth development would be directed, particularly in its key strategy area, challenges that required immediate actions to be addressed.

The policy provided a framework for the coordination & strengthening of then current youth programmes & activities.

It was seen an important instrument for the cause of youth empowerment to become an integral part of overall development.

Incorporated were guidelines for the purpose of developing programmes in the form of a National Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment.

In view of the now more strident and thought provoking views of the youth, views I would still choose to view as expressions of free speech rather than threats, what plans exist as main components of national youth policy to promote the productive employment of young people and, crucially, how will things change to see their full involvement in consultations and decision making on all matters which involve their lives in every aspect?

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR, the Solomon Forest Association (SFA) has issued a notice today, Thursday, 15th November 2018, calling on the Solomon Islands Government to help stop illegal logging activities occurring in the country.

The notice follows a recent similar kind of appeal lodged by civil society organizations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) calling on China to introduce regulations on illegal wood imports from PNG.

The SFA spokesperson reiterated many previous statements made saying if any of its members were “acting out of hand and found to be breaking the law,” then the Association would wish to de-register the offending member but it could not do this alone and once more called on the Solomon Islands Government to ensure a proper measure of control over logging operations is introduced.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR, two separate news reports published this week in the Island Sun newspaper, both related to local health issues, were praiseworthy and justify comment.

The first report made reference to the Solomon Islands PNG Association having generously handed over medical equipment to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) worth over S50, 000.

The equipment comprised an ECG machine and a Suction machine, both items especially useful to the NRH.

The money needed to purchase the equipment was said to have been raised following an appeal by the Solomon Islands PNG Association on the occasion of Solomon Islands 40th Independence anniversary.

To all the people and organizations in PNG that contributed to the appeal I would like to express my personal thanks and say I very much appreciate the donated medical equipment now in practical use at the NRH.

The other piece of news I found particularly encouraging was the report which related to a health team that had undergone specialist health training in order to better respond to disasters.

Quoting from the Island Sun article it said:

“Solomon Islands now have its own Emergency Medical Team to respond to outbreaks, natural disasters and other health emergencies.

“Known as SOLMART, a group of health professionals have undergone a weeklong training that is locally structured to suit the needs of Solomon Islanders.

“Speaking to Island Sun during the professionals training, Dr. Nemia Bainivalu, Supervising Undersecretary Health Improvement said, the names of health personnel will now be entered into a database whereby they can be able to respond to emergency situations should the need arise.

“Dr. Bainivalu said from the database, they will also identify those that can be trained in specialised areas to further enhance their capacity”.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short