Minister hands down 2007 Budget
2007 Budget
Solomon Islanders awaits the 2007 budget with anticipation.
The Manasseh Sogavare government had promised that the budget would focus on the "Bottom-Up Approach" development. This is development that encourages particiapation of the villagers in the islands.
The about one billion dollar budget which was handed down today, will be debated over the next few days starting tomorrow. Solomon Islanders are pinning their hope on the budget. But that said, Solomon Islanders too must do their part in cooperating in implementing their development aspirations in their quest for a better future.
Guadalcanal Bona Fide Demands
On Monday the Minister for National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace, Sam Iduri delivered a statement on the Guadalcanal Bona Fide Demands.
Basically, it is an update of the process that the Sogavare government had been trying to do to address the demands. Minister Iduri said the government is committed to its National Reconciliation programs.
Below is summary of the 18 point statement delivered by Minister Iduri.
Summary
1. “The Bona Fide Demands of our people from Guadalcanal are an ongoing priority on our Government’s Agenda.
2. The Peace Reconciliation first; in the manner proposed under the SIG/GPG Reconciliation & Rehabilitation report is what my Ministry is currently addressing. Once an Amicable Understanding is reached between both parties, then the next step would be the SIG/GPG Peace Reconciliation Ceremony also in a manner agreed to by ALL PARTIES.
3. Sir, my Ministry promotes Continual DIALOGUE & consultation with Understanding as the key strategy.
Mr Iduri said reconciliation might be a long process; and it is not a one off process either. It may, time before parties can agree to move forward and inevitably a lot of resources are involved and required. He said building shattered human relationships, hurts and pains of peoples; is just as equally important as rebuilding of our economy, if the country is to ensure sustainable peace and national unity.
According to the statement, if all thing goes well, various activities including addressing some of the demands and reconciliation between various parties involved involved in the social unrest would be completed by August this year.
MyBlog comments
MyBlog feels the government has timed its release well, in a time of uncertainty.
The statement is timely as it gives hope to the Guadalcanal people who want to see more action on their demand. It follows the joint task force report which addressed many of the demands. It also comes at a time to ensure the Guadalcanal members in the government can show their people that at least the government is doing something on the issues.
MyBlog hopes the statement is a positive move in the right direction to address the long outstanding demand of the Guadalcanal. This should also point the way forward to the government tackling some grievances of other province.
2007 Budget
Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo handed down the country's 2007 budget in a packed Parliament this morning.
The budget estimated to be around one billion dollar is the first for the current Government after coming into power April last year. Mr Lilo says the budget is based on the performance of country's economy since last year. He says revenue collection has been favourable and the control measures taken had reaped benefit to the government's aspirations.
Mr Lilo said the focus of the budget is on rural development and the stabilisation of the economy. He said the highest allocations in this year's budget is for the Education and health sectors and salaries and emoluments. Debate on the budget starts in parliament tomorrow.
Solomons-Australia relations
Foreign Minister Patteson Oti deferred delivering the statement on the relations between the Solomon Islands and Australian government.
Relations between the two countries had soured following various issues since around mid-2006. These includes the expulsion of the Australian High Commissioner to Honiara, the Julian Moti issue, the banning of Police Commissioner, Shane Castles entering the country.
MyBlog says
Since Mr Oti has not given any reasons why he has deferred delivering the statement, one can only speculate. MyBlog offers this opinion. Has the Minister and government making some changes to the original statement that was supposed to deliver Monday?
Could the visit of United States diplomat, Glyn Davies, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific to Honiara yesterday had any thing to do with the deferment. May be not. But as I have alluded in a previous post, US do have influence over what happens in the world. And, as an ally of Australia that is regarded as the Big Brother in the region, nothing can be ruled out.
Mr Davies whose area of responsibility in the Pacific covers 14 nations including Australia and New Zealand met with the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Speaker of Parliament while he was in Honiara. He was reported as saying Solomon Islands and Australia should come together and solve their differences.
Solomon Islanders hope things gets better soon.
Cheers!
Solomon Islanders awaits the 2007 budget with anticipation.
The Manasseh Sogavare government had promised that the budget would focus on the "Bottom-Up Approach" development. This is development that encourages particiapation of the villagers in the islands.
The about one billion dollar budget which was handed down today, will be debated over the next few days starting tomorrow. Solomon Islanders are pinning their hope on the budget. But that said, Solomon Islanders too must do their part in cooperating in implementing their development aspirations in their quest for a better future.
Guadalcanal Bona Fide Demands
On Monday the Minister for National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace, Sam Iduri delivered a statement on the Guadalcanal Bona Fide Demands.
Basically, it is an update of the process that the Sogavare government had been trying to do to address the demands. Minister Iduri said the government is committed to its National Reconciliation programs.
Below is summary of the 18 point statement delivered by Minister Iduri.
Summary
1. “The Bona Fide Demands of our people from Guadalcanal are an ongoing priority on our Government’s Agenda.
2. The Peace Reconciliation first; in the manner proposed under the SIG/GPG Reconciliation & Rehabilitation report is what my Ministry is currently addressing. Once an Amicable Understanding is reached between both parties, then the next step would be the SIG/GPG Peace Reconciliation Ceremony also in a manner agreed to by ALL PARTIES.
3. Sir, my Ministry promotes Continual DIALOGUE & consultation with Understanding as the key strategy.
Mr Iduri said reconciliation might be a long process; and it is not a one off process either. It may, time before parties can agree to move forward and inevitably a lot of resources are involved and required. He said building shattered human relationships, hurts and pains of peoples; is just as equally important as rebuilding of our economy, if the country is to ensure sustainable peace and national unity.
According to the statement, if all thing goes well, various activities including addressing some of the demands and reconciliation between various parties involved involved in the social unrest would be completed by August this year.
MyBlog comments
MyBlog feels the government has timed its release well, in a time of uncertainty.
The statement is timely as it gives hope to the Guadalcanal people who want to see more action on their demand. It follows the joint task force report which addressed many of the demands. It also comes at a time to ensure the Guadalcanal members in the government can show their people that at least the government is doing something on the issues.
MyBlog hopes the statement is a positive move in the right direction to address the long outstanding demand of the Guadalcanal. This should also point the way forward to the government tackling some grievances of other province.
2007 Budget
Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo handed down the country's 2007 budget in a packed Parliament this morning.
The budget estimated to be around one billion dollar is the first for the current Government after coming into power April last year. Mr Lilo says the budget is based on the performance of country's economy since last year. He says revenue collection has been favourable and the control measures taken had reaped benefit to the government's aspirations.
Mr Lilo said the focus of the budget is on rural development and the stabilisation of the economy. He said the highest allocations in this year's budget is for the Education and health sectors and salaries and emoluments. Debate on the budget starts in parliament tomorrow.
Solomons-Australia relations
Foreign Minister Patteson Oti deferred delivering the statement on the relations between the Solomon Islands and Australian government.
Relations between the two countries had soured following various issues since around mid-2006. These includes the expulsion of the Australian High Commissioner to Honiara, the Julian Moti issue, the banning of Police Commissioner, Shane Castles entering the country.
MyBlog says
Since Mr Oti has not given any reasons why he has deferred delivering the statement, one can only speculate. MyBlog offers this opinion. Has the Minister and government making some changes to the original statement that was supposed to deliver Monday?
Could the visit of United States diplomat, Glyn Davies, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific to Honiara yesterday had any thing to do with the deferment. May be not. But as I have alluded in a previous post, US do have influence over what happens in the world. And, as an ally of Australia that is regarded as the Big Brother in the region, nothing can be ruled out.
Mr Davies whose area of responsibility in the Pacific covers 14 nations including Australia and New Zealand met with the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Speaker of Parliament while he was in Honiara. He was reported as saying Solomon Islands and Australia should come together and solve their differences.
Solomon Islanders hope things gets better soon.
Cheers!
posted by Myblog | 7:22 pm
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