Leadership Forum

Greetings from MyBlog as we enter November 2006. In about 7 weeks, it will be a new year, 2007. MyBlog wish you enjoy the remaining moments of 2006 to the fulliest.

Strengthening Good Leadership
Many people have said the situation which Solomon Islands has found itself is the result of leadership crisis. The lack of leadership or weak leadership over the 30 years or so since independence had resulted in the ethnic crises over the past few years. As part of the re-building process, two civil society organisations, the Solomon Islands Christian Association and Transparency Solomon Islands co-hosted in Honiara, a leader forum. Among the key speakers at the forum is Solomon Islands Chief Justice.

Chief Justice
Chief Justice Sir Justice Albert Palmer says Solomon Islands needs good and godly leadership.
Sir Justice Albert says this kind of leadership is at the heart of the future development growth and prosperity of the nation. He says Solomon Islands is a small nation of many scattered islands, cultures and people and languages. With this scenario there are difficulties in transportation and communication, languages and culture barriers. Sir Justice Albert says the challenge pose by these difficulties is to get Solomon Islanders to cooperate with the Government of the day strive for a common good or purpose.

In his address to Solomon Islands Leadership Forum Wednesday 1st November 2006, he highlighted some of the important matters he sees as vital to the state of current leadership in the nation. This include competent leadership, which he described as leaders that demonstrate knowledge and understanding in their areas of work and responsibilities. Sir Justice Albert said Solomon Islands needs leaders who know the nature of their work well, and are able to articulate their plans and goals and translate them into action. He said leadership is not merely about power, authority and privileges. It is equally about responsibility, and that requires knowledge.

Advice and Advisers
The Chief Justice also raised concern about advice and advisers. He said leaders must be prepared to take advice from others. He said they must know when to ask for advice and guidance from others more knowledgeable than them in other areas. Sir Justice Palmer said Solomon Islands is well known for engaging advisers. He said the most common one are political advisors. He suggested that it's time the country source real advisers, not con-ones, those who pretend to know but do not. Sir Justice Albert also said there is a need for leaders to surround themselves with good or responsible leaders who will give good and correct advice rather than wrong ones.

He said leaders need to know where the boundaries of their influence begins and ends. Sir Justice Albert said one of the common problems Solomon Islands has in leadership is leaders overstepping their boundaries.

Other quests also made presentations on the forum theme "Strengthening Good Leadership". The forum which was co-hosted by the Solomon Islands Christian Association and Transparency Solomon Islands ended this evening.

I believe the challenge for all Solomon Islanders is for them to do their part in whatever way they can in the re-building process of the country.

What's your views on the leadership in the country?

Joe