DEAR EDITOR,

Enough is enough and it is time for real change.

Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela in his New Year message to the people of the Solomon Islands advised everyone to be positive about tomorrow despite the many challenges the country faced in 2017.

The PM was essentially referring to the difficulty the country had faced in the past year in meeting the desired development goals because of the nation’s ongoing financial problems.

“Although issues facing the economy and other sectors have not been resolved, Prime Minister Houenipwela said the country’s citizens continue to persevere,” the Prime Minister urged.

Perseverance in the hope of attaining the desired development goals, perhaps, but not in the wider sense of ‘other sector’ matters and here I single out the ongoing occurrences of gender based violence perpetrated against women, girls and even infants.

The last few weeks have seen reports of shocking cases of sexual abuse occurring in the Solomon Islands and such exploitation must be stopped by concerted efforts of all decent citizens, aided by the church, the law, the courts and rights organizations.

In the early 90’s I saw the early development of  a women’s right movement and later the Ministry for Women was established and followed by the important National Plan for Women in 1998.

Since those days I have witnessed the tremendous efforts made by women for equal rights and an end to gender based violence, supported by help from UN organizations and other agencies putting in huge sums of money to help the fight against the violence and sexual abuse suffered by women in the Solomon Islands.

Perseverance is no longer acceptable and the root causes of gender based violence, said to be the historically unequal power relationship between men and women in the Solomon Islands and the fact that, in the past.  traditional violence against women and girls was continually denied and suppressed by society, must really be addressed for ‘enough is enough.’

If some men in the Solomon Islands still believe that the use of violence is a legitimate and justifiable way to discipline a woman for ‘transgressing their gender roles’, then such ideas must be changed by education with support from the church, community leaders, rights organizations and by strict enforcement of the law.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR,

In the last two weeks the SIBC reported in one of its daily news broadcasts (quote)

“A $29.3 million payment from the Republic of China on Taiwan to Solomon Islands will support the Rural Constituency Development Fund.

“The money was wired yesterday to the Solomon Islands Government to cover a series of outstanding rural development projects during the 2016-2017 period.

“Of the total, $13.5 million was released as the second tranche payment for this year’s rural development projects for 45 constituencies.

“Another $4.4 million was paid for rural social and economic development projects this year for 11 constituencies, while $300,000 was released as the first tranche payment for one constituency for the same period.

“For the 2016 period, $10 million was released as the third tranche payment for 25 constituencies, while $800,000 was a third tranche payment for two constituencies. A second tranche payment of $300,000 for one constituency was made for the same period.

“Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela signed documents to formally receive the funds on behalf of the Government in the presence of ROC Ambassador to Solomon Islands Roger Luo and senior officials from both the Taiwanese embassy and the office of the Prime Minister.

“Prime Minister Houenipwela assured the ROC Government that the Solomon Islands Government will strive to ensure individual Members of Parliament keep proper acquittal records of how the funds are spent on development projects in their constituencies.”

During the same period last week, Tonga and China signed a $US30 million dollar aid package.

Much of the money being for the construction of the Tonga High School sports complex.

Tonga’s National Planning Minister, Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, said Tonga appreciated the assistance.

The sports complex includes an indoor stadium, outdoor netball courts, two swimming pools, one rolling ball court and a parking area.

Radio Tonga reported construction is expected to start next month and be completed by January 2019.

Last January Tonga reported announced it was ‘overwhelmed’ with Chinese (PRC) development assistance.

The Solomon Islands new PM’s assurances to Taiwan that the SIG will strive to ensure individual Members of Parliament keep proper acquittal records of how the latest funds are spent on development projects in their constituencies may have gone some way in satisfying Taiwan but, based on recent factual reporting by TSI and public comments, the CDF money has not always been acquitted properly and there must be the need for very strict supervision and correct auditing of all the latest CDF funds.

In the longer term one might ask is chequebook diplomacy sustainable whether by Taiwan or China?

“Continuing to gain political concessions through expanding outbound investment may not be sustainable, experts have warned and claimedchequebook diplomacy might not remain effective if China failed to complement its economic influence by building trust and expanding its soft power.

 “It’s not unreasonable for any country to use its economic advantage to gain political weight,” said Xie Tao, a professor of political science and expert on international relations at Beijing Foreign Language University. “But in the long term, I keep a critical view on this approach.

 “A lot of projects China is investing in overseas at the moment are not really making any profits,” he said. “It’s not worth it, particularly when China’s own economy is slowing, and is not going to be sustainable.”

 Quoting:  China Policies and Politics.

 Could the same be said in respect of Taiwan?

I recall a statement made by a former Taiwanese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands, when leaving the country, said he had seen no developments for the money his country had given.

 Perhaps the time might come when both the Chinese government and the one in Taiwan will also have to manage the expectations of their domestic audiences and avoid giving their people the impression that all diplomatic difficulties can be solved with money.

 Yours sincerely

 Frank Short

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