DEAR EDITOR, the New Zealand Government has recently signalled some important long-term approaches to assist Pacific Island states in meeting the challenges of climate change, plastic pollution and in development assistance.

I have found that quite often such news of regional assistance, with a few exceptions, is buried in our local newspapers in general topics having a loose bearing on regional happenings.

Because of the substantive proposals made by the New Zealand Government, I think it is important that the proposed measures outlined in Wellington should be given better prominence and why I am venturing to quote from news broadcasts from Radio New Zealand to illustrate my concerns.

Here are a few examples.

NZ signals long-term Pacific climate change strategy: Quoting Radio New Zealand International – 18 May 2018, “New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister says the government has agreed to a long term approach to assist Pacific Island states in meeting the challenges of climate change.

“Winston Peters said the cabinet’s strategy would assist the Pacific with development assistance that focuses on practical projects for climate change adaption and mitigation.

“This includes building better infrastructure and developing disaster preparedness.

“The government will also look at ways to avert climate displacement of people.

“According to Mr Peters, the approach was a response to the wishes of Pacific leaders who are concerned with protecting their people’s social and cultural identity.

“The government said it would also support the “progressive development of international law to protect Pacific Island coastal state rights in the face of sea-level rises”.

“We cannot ignore the risks faced by our Pacific Island neighbours who are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,” Mr Peters said.

“Supporting Pacific peoples’ desire to remain in their own countries translates into prioritising regional and country-level-initiatives that build resilience and adaption to climate change.”

“According to the minister, the government’s approach will put New Zealand at the forefront of a wider Pacific regional effort to be a world leader in responding to climate change.” Copyright © 2018, Radio New Zealand

A significant boost in New Zealand’s foreign aid: Quoting Radio New Zealand International – 11 May 2018, “A significant boost in New Zealand’s foreign aid budget has been heralded as part of a transformative shift in the country’s relations with Pacific islands.

“The 30 percent increase, primarily for the Pacific, was announced yesterday by foreign minister Winston Peters.

“Foreign aid will be hiked by $US500 million ($NZ714 million) over the next four years, increasing support for multilateral and humanitarian agencies.

“Mr Peters said it was time to reverse the pattern of under-investment in the Pacific which over the past nine years left New Zealand open to criticism that it had abandoned its neighbourhood.

“Moving away from the previous government’s focus on economic development, more money had been earmarked for responding to climate change and other emergencies, he said.

“The director of the New Zealand-based Council for International Development, Josie Pagani, said the funding supported a new emphasis on partnership in New Zealand’s relations with the Pacific.”

“This is moving us beyond a very 20th century approach to aid and development where it is a hierarchy, where we are seen as a donor, we come in, we hand over money to an aid recipient, and they’re very grateful,” said Ms Pagani.

“I think the change here is that you’ve got a government and an approach which is in line with development good practice, which is where local people get to say what’s right for their communities and how they want to develop.

“Shifting beyond… an aid relationship where you’re dependent on aid to something where you’re truly independent. That’s in New Zealand’s best interests. We want a region that’s prospering, a region that’s free from any of the stresses and the strains that we’re seeing in the world today where there’s a lot of insecurity.”

The Cook Islands finance Minister Mark Brown said his country welcomed the change from New Zealand.

“This is in line also with what the Cook Islands development priorities are,” he said.

“Although we were looking over the last number of years to grow the prosperity of our countries, it’s also important that we ensure there is balance in the social aspect as well, and that we don’t leave people behind as the country is prospering.”

“New Zealand’s move came as Australia also announced a significant aid increase to the region, considered by many observers a response to China’s growing influence in the Pacific.

“But collaboration between aid partners was the best way to enable Pacific states to achieve their development goals, Mr Brown said.

“For us, the use of blended finance, if you like, which is sources of development finance from different sources, and being able to put it together to produce an output that benefits our countries, is something that we’ve been doing for a number of years now.

“So it’s encouraging to have these commitments from New Zealand to work on a partnership basis”

“With New Zealand making more funding available for regional NGOs, Pacific civil society is expected to play a greater role in defining what is needed in their communities.

“Executive director of the Suva-based Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO) Emele Duituturaga said New Zealand’s “Pacific Re-set” was music to their ears.

“The change in position on climate change – this is the number one issue for the Pacific – that was very welcomed,” he said.

“The ‘Pacific Reset’ strategy, while we’re still waiting to see what that sounds like, that’s very welcomed from PIANGO’s point of view and Pacific NGOs.

“New Zealand, for a very, very long time supported civil society and NGOs in the Pacific and when there was a change in direction of the government, a lot of that funding had gone. So this is wonderful and great news.”

“The new funding will lift New Zealand’s overseas development assistance to 0.28 percent of its gross national income, still well below international averages.”

New Zealand Preventing disaster: Pacific maritime safety: Quoting Radio New Zealand International – 11 May 2018, “New Zealand Defence Force aircraft are spending hundreds of expensive hours every year looking for missing fishing boats and ferries in the Pacific.

“While there are moves afoot to improve maritime safety in the region, some say it’s time for a total rethink on where aid money is going.

“Latest annual figures from the defence force for 2015 to 2016 show New Zealand defence planes spent over 200 hours scouring the vast Pacific Ocean for small fishing boats and other vessels.” Copyright © 2018, Radio New Zealand

Thank you New Zealand!

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

DEAR EDITOR, in a press statement from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in September 2015 it was stated that the SIG could ratify the UN Treaty for the Protection of Persons with Disability (CPRD)

The PM at the time, the Hon. Manasseh Sogavare, made the statement when speaking with Casper Fa’asala, the President of People with Disability Solomon Islands (PWDSI)

The then PM was told the PWDSI was  wishing  to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities and the UN convention clearly identifies the rights of persons with disability and sets out obligations for state parties to promote, protect and uphold those rights.

Mr. Fa’asala also reportedly reminded Mr. Sogavare that the Solomon Islands Government had accepted the recommendation to ratify the CRPD in 2011, based on a report to various international institutions by the PWDSI on the situation of human rights of people with disability in Solomon Islands, but no action had taken.

Mr. Fa’asala added, the Government could be committed to protecting, promoting and upholding the rights of people with disability in Solomon Islands and it would only be by the ratification of the convention by the Solomon Islands Government that other instruments to implement the convention in Solomon Islands could be pursued. 

“If we do not ratify that convention, it will be hard for us to domesticate the obligations therein.

 “We cannot just wait until the instruments come before ratifying the convention. It does not fall in that protocol,” Mr. Fa’asala had explained to Mr. Sogavare.

It is understood Mr. Sogavare then said, “Ratification of the CRPD 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 CRPD.”

It is with the greatest respect, now in 2018, that I ask the incumbent Prime Minister, the Honourable Rick Hou, and his administration when will the Solomon Islands Government move towards the ratification of the CPRD?

I pose the question because as soon as the CPRD is ratified the possibility exists of the PWDSI obtaining funds from the Disability Rights Fund to further projects in support of local disabled persons and to better accord them the human rights dignity they deserve in life.

At the time of writing, the Solomon Islands Deaf Association, with over 100 members, gets very little recognition and struggles to maintain its programmes for the deaf.

In March, the Association received a generous cash donation from Mr. Alfrence Fatai, a Councillor for Vura Ward.

At the time of making his donation, Mr. Fatai said “Though they are disabled in terms of speaking or hearing, they have all the right as normal humans to enjoy and be part of our society, and I wish them the best in their future” he added.

I add my thanks to Mr. Fatai for his support of the deaf community.

Thanks are also due to the Solomon Islands Red Cross Association and to the San Isidro at Aruligo, as well as other individuals and organizations for extra support.

It would be very much appreciated if more people would offer cash donations to the Deaf Association to facilitate the Association’s administration and support programmes.

I was very pleased to read most recently that the U.K. government has said its new funding to the Pacific would “support human rights institutions to meet international standards and help improve governance. Women, young people, persons with disabilities, and other minority groups will all benefit.”

I very much look forward to the British Government’s continued help to persons with disabilities in the Solomon Islands, especially as, it seems, there is likely to be more funding available.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela most recently praised Japan’s initiative for its connectivity in providing quality infrastructure in the Pacific region.

Specifically, on the cultural dimension of sustainable development, the Prime Minister reportedly said Solomon Islands and other PIF members are looking to strengthen the very basis of their own sustainable development by seriously taking into account their specific and unique cultural dimensions.

“These cultural dimensions will include the consideration of policies, formulation of plans and the implementation of sustainable development programs.

“One in which sustainable development has a working rationale in which it stipulates that the interdependence of economic, intellectual, political, environmental and cultural dimensions must be considered together in the making of policies and plans for the future of Solomon Islands and its people,” he said.

Following closely on the heels of the PM’s statements, Matthew J Matthews, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands is quoted by Radio New Zealand has having said, “Infrastructure development aid projects in the Pacific region should not leave island countries with debt.”

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands was expressing concern about Chinese soft loans to Pacific countries.

Mr Matthews said the US urged China to adhere to the development approach of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank in the Pacific.

Quoting more from the Radio New Zealand news bulletin on 22 May 2018, Mr Mathews went on to say it was essential for the long term economic prospects of Pacific Islands that infrastructure and development assistance projects are free and fair.

“Projects, regardless of the donor, should be transparent,” he added

“They should [have] high standards and high impact and follow international rules and norms that are designed to ensure that projects in the region provide economic sustainability and the ability of borrowers to repay loans in a timely fashion and generate greater economic potential for the countries in question,” Mr Matthews commented.

“Clearly, China has dramatically increased its funding into the region. A lot of lending.”

“We want to make sure that that lending takes place in a way that’s constructive and that helps grow the economies in the Pacific Islands makes them healthier, make them more prosperous,” Mr Matthews said.

“If they can follow that kind of pathway, great… if they look at the approach of Australia and New Zealand, the United States, Japan, other traditional donors in the region that have been working you know over the longer term to improve economic outcomes in the Pacific, I think will be a good place.”

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR,

Radio New Zealand presented a news bulletin this morning, 24 May 2018, which highlighted the situation at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara and photographs accompanying the report showed many hospital patients sleeping on the floor in the corridors and on the floor in other rooms due, it claimed, to an acute shortage of beds.

I was deeply shocked to see those pictures and to learn of the critical shortage of beds, images reminiscent of scenes I had first witnessed more than 50 years ago when working as a young policeman in Africa.

With the very kind support of the Solomon Forest Association (SFA) 100 hospital beds will be shipped from Wellington by my partner charity, Take My Hands, in June.

The critical shortage of hospital beds could have been overcome with help from New Zealand if only the second stage payment of NZ12,500 had been paid in relation to the two-phase payment requirements set out in the MOU signed between the MOHMS/TMH and myself as Coordinator of the aid support.

When the first payment was made several containers of medical equipment and medical supplies reached the NRH but shipments ceased once the second payment went unpaid.

It has also to be said 48 hospital beds and new mattresses were delivered to the NRH by TMH after the SFA met an appeal I had raised for help in shipping a 40 ft container about 2 years ago.

TMH is able to acquire hospital beds in extremely good condition from hospitals throughout New Zealand when the hospital authorities there seek to make administrative changes.

I would, please, urge, the MOHMS/NRH to make payment of the outstanding second phase payment on the MOH so that I can quickly supplement the already provisioned 100 hospital beds for early shipment to Honiara.

The cost savings to the MOHMS are huge in acquiring much needed fully serviceable hospital equipment and supplies from TMH compared to having to buy new equipment.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short