Dear Editor
MY recent letter to the media mentioning that the Indian Prime Minister had promised in 2015, to provide several of the smaller islands states in the Pacific region, including the Solomon Islands, lighting for 200 homes in each of 14 island states with electricity generated by renewable energy sources, brought immediate comment from three doctors in service at the NRH.
The old English proverb asserts itself with complete assurance: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Like many time-worn sayings, this claim that mind always rules over matter rings true only some of the time. Sometimes we don’t have the will; sometimes we lose our way.
Have I witnessed a new spirit emerging,however,from this trio of doctor and a spirit that will continue to emerge amongst Solomon Islanders till eventually the country’s over-dependency on foreign aid will be radically diminished?
One must hope so, but perhaps not in my lifetime.
In support of the refreshing and enterprising commentary by the doctors, it might be worth recording that total dependence on foreign aid means that it becomes the opiate of the Third World.
In a similar way to how the development of the welfare state in some developed countries has helped undermine society by removing the need for communities to develop themselves through cooperation and exchange but by instead supporting and facilitating anti-social and irresponsible behaviour, foreign aid has largely encouraged Third World governments and their populations to rely on hand-outs instead of on themselves for development.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
