BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Young people face the greatest challenges in the Solomon Islands, impacting them as individuals, as part of society, and within the economy.
“Firstly, there are more of you in the demographic. Secondly, you don’t have the same level of resources that our generation had,” said Opposition Leader Mathew Wale during a recent SIDP podcast.
He noted that youths have fewer resources and opportunities to fully realize their economic potential compared to past generations.
He also emphasized that these challenges extend to the mineral sector, where young people are particularly affected.
Wale highlighted the increasing number of young people leaving the education system each year, driven by a rising birth rate.
“I believe this will continue to be a challenge for the foreseeable future,” he said.
“I know this may sound pessimistic, but the reality is, this has been our situation for the past three decades,” Wale added.
Despite the economic and demographic challenges, he remains hopeful, stating that the high percentage of young people in the country presents a valuable opportunity.
“But of course, to unlock this potential, we need strong, rational, and pro-Solomon Islander economic policies that put our people first,” he stressed.
He emphasized that the Solomon Islands government must focus on empowering its citizens to take control of the economy.
However, Wale warned that the country’s current economic trajectory is turning Solomon Islanders into mere spectators rather than active participants.
“More and more Solomon Islanders are being pushed to the sidelines while others take control and reap the benefits,” he said.
“We are being reduced to renters—where all commercial and industrial property is owned by others. If you want to do something, you have to ask someone else for permission to rent their place. This marginalizes us from real economic activity.”
Wale further compared the country’s economic state to the biblical parable of Lazarus and the rich man.
“When we talk about empowering indigenous Solomon Islanders, we are really just giving them the crumbs that fall from the table,” he said.
“Our economy reflects what Jesus described in the parable—where the rich man feasts while Lazarus and the dogs wait for scraps under the table. That is exactly how Solomon Islanders, and especially our young people, are being treated today.”
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