Saturday 7 June 2014

Clean and Fair Election important for Solomon Islands


By ELLIOT DAWEA
DIVINE WORD UNIVERSITY
MADANG




Solomon Islands urged to respect each other as the nation prepares to go to the pools later this year.

“I call on voters and candidates must uphold the clean and fair election”

Clean and fair election is voters and candidates alike need to respect each other’s rights.

It is important that voters and supporters to respect the rights of candidates to campaign and the right of voters to choose freely without fear and intimidation by rival supporters.

Clean election implies all candidates to avoid illegal campaign strategies that will threaten the rights of voters to choose freely.

“Voters shouldn’t be induced with bribes or other illegal means to lure their support.”

As a matter of fact electoral officials must adhere to laws to ensure clean and fair election.

“It is important that electoral officials to conduct elections with a clean and open mind according to the democratic and legal electoral laws."

A clean and fair election is important for Solomon Islands to live up to 
because it will relay a positive message to neighbours and the international community.

This is how I would see these two words. Clean means no bribery. This is a problem because of all the gifts given to individuals and communities by candidates, from roofing iron for churches to bags of rice or cash for individuals. Also, people voting only once. 

Fair means accurate counting of ballots, everyone entitled to vote being allowed to, no one allowed to vote twice. I think this is not so much a problem.

In my final analysis the smooth conduct of this year’s election will give a positive signal to the region and other democratic nations that Solomon Islands is growing mature as a democratic country.

 

Thursday 5 June 2014

Culture of Political Rag Syndrome

                                                
                                                 COMMENTARY



By ELLIOT DAWEA
DIVINE WORD UNIVERSITY
MADANG




Over the last 35 years of independence there is a development of a kind political culture that is somewhat a hybrid unique (and I wish endangered) to Solomon Islands.

What is quite interesting is that when more responsibilities is assumed by our politicians from being legislators, political executives, overseers of policies now to becoming more of constituency project managers (mandate themselves to dish out grants and fundings) there is an increase of MP’s being elected into Parliament who have the characters of what I coined as “Culture of political rag syndrome”

To date if one observes debating and proceedings of the 9th parliament, only an average of 8 to 12 members contribute to during debates. 

And if one would analyze the content of the debates about 4 to 5 MP’s contribute meaningfully. 

That is, they have done some form of research and prepare properly before debating hence the contents of debate is of quality and relevance to bill and motions passed in parliament. 

A good proportion of MP’s either merely debate to be heard by constituents as if contributing (however the contents of debate is merely hot air), whilst the rest are just sitting ducks in the parliament chambers as if brooding over their eggs to hatch or perching on a branch waiting to be rustled by any loud noise or the rattling sound of the dollar.

My discussion will be on those brooding MP’s. This category of MP’s is somewhat the stumbling group to any stability of any government. 

Because those MP’s all along are politically idle, legislatively ignorant, policy dumb but are professional experts in what Dr. Tarcius Tara termed in the 1990s ‘Rubber 

Band politicians. Who jumped here and there, whenever political juggling occurs.
What this rubber band politicians should realize that they are no more than political grasshoppers, which are used by the power brokers and those thirsty for the PM’s post to wipe their dirty shoes in the process of jumping onto the leadership and or the executive’s chair.

If you compare the behavior of this category of politicians and a door rag, they have some similarities.

Firstly, door rags are only useful during rainy seasons when the foot path is muddy and there is a need to clean ones leg before going into the house, whenever they are not needed the rags will be stored in a back room and forgotten. 


Similar this group of MP’s will only be needed and active only when camps are formed, you will note that the Prime Minister or the Opposition group will showing them off in the front row in the media, with the executive or the Opposition group or they are known to jump forming their own camps etc. 

And after a motion of no confidence, they are stored like a door rag in back room called the back bench or unremunerated shadow portfolios. 

Waiting whenever there is another attempted Motion of no confidence or a controversial motion then they would again cuddled by the PM or the opposition group and showed off to the public.

Secondly a rag is used to clean dirt, and this category of MP’s are merely used in the same manner, only when there is accusation of corruption and abuse and influential MP’s are sacked or resign then you would note that some of those MP’s in that category will be pulled out of the back bench to bolster the government side or pulled into the opposition camp to be used for dirt.

Thirdly a rag doesn’t seemed to think or have any conscience, ethics or complain, they can be used to wipe shoes, mop stains, and dust windows.

 And such categories of MP’s are moreless like that whenever they are thrown out, neglected and used for odd dirty jobs, they don’t have any say. 

Rather they just allow themselves to be used to satisfy the masta’s convenience. Whether they are tossed, muddied or whatever, they don’t mind.
What matters is as long they are used by the master as a wiping material by the Captains (-Prime Minister) or their engineers (Caucus boss), and then patted for their service. 

In Solomon Islands where by the party system is fluid, the trend of this ‘rag politicians’ entering parliament is increasing. These characteristics and the practice to an extent has influence the perception as to how Solomon Islands society defines leadership and politics.

For instance gift giving and the cargo mentality (buying for support) is one of the main criterias people now have in order to vote people into parliament. And in one view, the increase of funds to be administered by the Politicians is a reaction to meet and fulfill this view of politics by society.

This culture of political rag syndrome is an incurable virus for stability in the Solomon Islands. Because this bunch of leaders, do not operate on human or societal conscience, principle, morality, or ethics, which are the essential ingredients of political wisdom that entail stability.  

Rather the main characteristics of these political grasshoppers are: polilicking, strategizing, lobbying, political brokering, political prostitution, political auctioning etc. These factors on the other hand are recipes for corruption, dictatorship and all the political nastiness one can think of. 

The question to ask is, if these things occur in our political arena who are or will be the victims? The answer is the people that these leaders assumed to represent. Therefore if that is the case what are the victims (people of Solomon Islands) going to do to prevent or stop this from happening?

Big Hope in PNG Tourism

By ELLIOT DAWEA
DIVINE WORD UNIVERSITY
MADANG


Tourism industry in Papua New Guinea is an alternative to contribute to their national economy in future to replace the unrenewable resources.

Senior lecturer of the school of tourism, hospitality and management Hellen Gimbo uttered the statement in an interview.

Mrs Gimbo said PNG have massive unrenewable resources such as gold, cooper and the liquefied natural gas but it will run out in the future.

“But tourism is here to stay and is an alternative source of revenue earner for PNG in the future”

She said PNG students graduated with tourism hospitality management from Divine Word University now they are working in tourism industry as hotel managers and general managers in Papua New Guinea.

She affirmed that courses offered in DWU were of international standards, that graduands can explore opportunities overseas and abroad.

Senior lecturer Gimbo said, the department was encouraging THM students after completing their studies to start their own tourism business.

In fact starting your own business is a win, win situation in which the nation will benefit and your business as well.

PNG government has strong political on tourism as their priority because it creates employment opportunities to engage the unfortunate ones in the rural areas and urban centres working.

Currently DWU enrolled students from Vanuatu, Bougainville and Solomon Islands studying various courses.

Papua New Guinea Model To Solomon Islands

                                                   
                                                     COMMENTARY
  By ELLIOT DAWEA
  Divine Word University
  Madang




Today’s Papua New Guinea economic development successful story of transitioning from raw materials into manufacturing industry is a model for us Solomon Islands must emulate.

“This is a clear manifestation of empowering their human resources with accurate skills and knowledge to work in the industrial sectors”

As a matter of fact it alleviates them from importing manufactured goods overseas. This should ring a bell for us to strategically consider how level of human resources in the industrial sector cope with today’s technology to venture into manufacturing industry.

It is extremely impressive to see that PNG produces most of their products such as cordials, biscuits, soaps, noodles, rice, varieties of soft drinks, canned foods, food products and the lists goes on.

Obviously some of their products also sold in supermarkets, shops in Honiara and throughout the country. Such transition has come about because of their best academia utilise their knowledge and skills, that give rise for them to established manufacturing factories; thus there is employment opportunities and it boost their national economy.

Just imagine Papua New Guinea gained his political independence in 1975, three years ahead of Solomon Islands. Now PNG is a model to emulate in terms of human resources that cope with today’s world of science and technology.

Our relevant authorities needs to rethink on how we could improve our industrial sector to ensure the country’s human resources is engaging in attaining relevant knowledge and skills that would empower them to utilise their skills to venture into manufacturing industries.
Our private sectors needs to be strengthened, by injection adequate financial resources, hence they could go into multiple streams to engage in manufacturing our raw materials.
“Don’t look to far we can stop importing cordials, and we could alternate to process our own. Look in the central market in Honiara supplying of pineapple from Malaita gives me a clear picture that it’s possible we can do it”
But it is important the farmers needs assistance, to ensure they meet the requirements of production that is adequate for processing.
“If only we have people with accuarate skills and knowledge then we could start our own factories. It is now time for us to look beyond the horizon and starts something for the betterment of our nation”
Divine Word 32nd graduation last month is a significant milestone for the government of Papua New Guinea to produce more pool of human resources preparing to work in the government sectors, non-government organisations, and private sectors.

One student tipped me that “PNG is a big country but as our population is increasing rapidly, it is a wakeup call for us; hence education is our top priority to produce best human resources to contribute to the socio-economic developments.

“Our saying in PNG is education is our food garden” the student said.

Solomon Islands are blessed with abundant resources but we need accurate skills and knowledge to develop our resources. It is important to alleviate importing of goods overseas rather than we produce our own products.

“The time to act is now sooner than later that developing education for the next generation is extremely important”

The country is investing into future problems if there is no meaningful investment in education. "A country that does not invest in its human resources is limiting its ability to grow and worst still is investing in future problems."

"We don’t need to look beyond the borders of Solomon Islands to prove the significance of this policy issue”

The role of education here would be to install an attitude of tolerance, respect and acceptance amongst our people.

Let us look back and see those 36 years on but the country is still depending on export of primary products to sustain our efforts to improve our competiveness.

Developing of human resources is the most sustainable of all the factors of production scored very low in its use and worst still we are not producing enough human resources with relevant skills to cope with the demands of investors in a drastically changing world that is driven by science and technology.

Solomon Islands 36 years of existence as a nation only 4.4 percent of the proportion aged 12 and older have tertiary education and only 1 percent has vocational and professional qualification. Of the same group only 56.8% have primary education and 18.9 percent have secondary education.

"This is a statistics that we should be proud of. It shows that we are not taking sustainable investment in our future seriously."

Solomon Islands must in the next ten to fifteen years have a pool of human resources that can meet the challenging needs of investments and development in the 21st Century.

I believe our aim is to graduate this country from suppliers of raw materials to producers of goods and services and exporters of trained human resources.

"Talking about coping with the demands of development in the 21st Century and beyond, Solomon Islands has and will continue to face a huge challenge in training our human resources to a point where we can be proud of as a meaningful factor of production compared with other small countries."