Now it's time to work....
Budgets over
The Parliament meeting has ended and the process of implementing Government's "Bottom Up Approach" development starts.
The close to one billion dollars budget in now out in the open. Does the government really has or will it collect the revenue it estimated to obtain to help it implement it rural development policy. The government is banking on all Solomon Islanders to assist in backing the policy to fruition.
PM back down
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has backed down from his controversial plan to re-arm the police in the face of strong opposition at home and abroad.
Instead, Mr Sogavare told parliament last Friday police from Papua New Guinea will provide armed support. The Prime Minister has faced strong protests from churches and trade unions as well as Australia over rearming police, who were disarmed in 2003 when regional peacekeepers arrived to end years of conflict between warring ethnic groups. Mr Sogavare said arms training for the police would continue “but they will not bring back guns.”
Opposition MPs threatened
Three Opposition and one Independent members of Parliament from Malaita have condemned death threats made against them.
Opposition leader and MP for Central Kwara'ae, Fred Fono, Independent leader and MP for North Malaita, Enele Kwanairara; East Are Are MP, Edward Huniehu and Small Malaita MP William Haomae have all received death threats from unidentified people believed to be living in Honiara. A statement from the MPs says the people who have issued the death threats have also sworn at them and their families.
Foreign Influence
Solomon Islands cannot avoid foreign influences, especially in its system of government.
Member of Parliament for North Vella La Vella, Milner Tozaka says Solomon Islands has became a multi-cultural family. He cited Honiara as an example where people from overseas and those from different provinces live. Mr Tozaka says Solomon Islands is a member of the global village, and therefore incorrect to say it should avoid foreign influences including foreign aid.
Mr Tozaka says Solomon Islands' problem is not foreign aid influence. He says the country's problem is that it cannot manage its economy nor govern itself. Mr Tozaka says the country must learn to live within its means. He says Solomon Islands has to go back to the basics, identifying its weaknesses and try to integrate with other cultures for change.
MyBlog says
Budget
The 2007Budget has been passed, but does the government has the money especially in the developmental budget to implement some of the main project under its policy?
The foreign laden development budget as in previous budgets is not really good news to the government and people of the country. Solomon Islands government must encourage and ensure a conducive environment for more investors to start businesses in the country. This is an important means by which the country earn foreign exchange. But if the law and order situation is not restored few investors will try their luck in Solomon Islands.
PM re-armament
In a democracy, the voices of groups and people have a place in the governance.
MyBlog can only say, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and his government may have heard the cries of the people and reconsidered its re-armament plan. MyBlog believes the security of the Prime Minister and senior public officials cannot be over stated. But as those opposing the plan said, the memories of the ethnic tension are too over-bearing to warrant re-arming. They also feel that re-arming may deter investors from coming to Solomon Islands.
Threat on Opposition MPs
Threats on lives of people do happen. This time it happened in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
This is a sad fact of life, whether we like it or not. But MyBlog hopes those threats will come nought. Solomon Islanders want a peaceful place to live. But that can only come through a change of attitude by each individual for the better. The change of attitude means respecting the other person.
Foreign Influence
MyBlog cannot agree more with MP Tozaka on his comments on the notion by Prime minister Sogavare and others in blaming foreign influences for Solomon Islands problems.
MyBlog believes, Solomon Islands problems can also be traced back to the lack of good governance, transparency and accountability. But the good news is that Solomon Islands development partners are contributing to the efforts of the Solomon Islands government and people to restore that situation. The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands is addressing that in it capacity building and other programmes.
And kudos to RAMSI and others for their assistance in that area. The future of the country may lay in the reviving of those missing values.
The Parliament meeting has ended and the process of implementing Government's "Bottom Up Approach" development starts.
The close to one billion dollars budget in now out in the open. Does the government really has or will it collect the revenue it estimated to obtain to help it implement it rural development policy. The government is banking on all Solomon Islanders to assist in backing the policy to fruition.
PM back down
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has backed down from his controversial plan to re-arm the police in the face of strong opposition at home and abroad.
Instead, Mr Sogavare told parliament last Friday police from Papua New Guinea will provide armed support. The Prime Minister has faced strong protests from churches and trade unions as well as Australia over rearming police, who were disarmed in 2003 when regional peacekeepers arrived to end years of conflict between warring ethnic groups. Mr Sogavare said arms training for the police would continue “but they will not bring back guns.”
Opposition MPs threatened
Three Opposition and one Independent members of Parliament from Malaita have condemned death threats made against them.
Opposition leader and MP for Central Kwara'ae, Fred Fono, Independent leader and MP for North Malaita, Enele Kwanairara; East Are Are MP, Edward Huniehu and Small Malaita MP William Haomae have all received death threats from unidentified people believed to be living in Honiara. A statement from the MPs says the people who have issued the death threats have also sworn at them and their families.
Foreign Influence
Solomon Islands cannot avoid foreign influences, especially in its system of government.
Member of Parliament for North Vella La Vella, Milner Tozaka says Solomon Islands has became a multi-cultural family. He cited Honiara as an example where people from overseas and those from different provinces live. Mr Tozaka says Solomon Islands is a member of the global village, and therefore incorrect to say it should avoid foreign influences including foreign aid.
Mr Tozaka says Solomon Islands' problem is not foreign aid influence. He says the country's problem is that it cannot manage its economy nor govern itself. Mr Tozaka says the country must learn to live within its means. He says Solomon Islands has to go back to the basics, identifying its weaknesses and try to integrate with other cultures for change.
MyBlog says
Budget
The 2007Budget has been passed, but does the government has the money especially in the developmental budget to implement some of the main project under its policy?
The foreign laden development budget as in previous budgets is not really good news to the government and people of the country. Solomon Islands government must encourage and ensure a conducive environment for more investors to start businesses in the country. This is an important means by which the country earn foreign exchange. But if the law and order situation is not restored few investors will try their luck in Solomon Islands.
PM re-armament
In a democracy, the voices of groups and people have a place in the governance.
MyBlog can only say, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and his government may have heard the cries of the people and reconsidered its re-armament plan. MyBlog believes the security of the Prime Minister and senior public officials cannot be over stated. But as those opposing the plan said, the memories of the ethnic tension are too over-bearing to warrant re-arming. They also feel that re-arming may deter investors from coming to Solomon Islands.
Threat on Opposition MPs
Threats on lives of people do happen. This time it happened in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
This is a sad fact of life, whether we like it or not. But MyBlog hopes those threats will come nought. Solomon Islanders want a peaceful place to live. But that can only come through a change of attitude by each individual for the better. The change of attitude means respecting the other person.
Foreign Influence
MyBlog cannot agree more with MP Tozaka on his comments on the notion by Prime minister Sogavare and others in blaming foreign influences for Solomon Islands problems.
MyBlog believes, Solomon Islands problems can also be traced back to the lack of good governance, transparency and accountability. But the good news is that Solomon Islands development partners are contributing to the efforts of the Solomon Islands government and people to restore that situation. The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands is addressing that in it capacity building and other programmes.
And kudos to RAMSI and others for their assistance in that area. The future of the country may lay in the reviving of those missing values.
posted by Myblog | 9:47 pm
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