Regional vs Peoples Issues
Melanesia Spearhead Group Meeting
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare left Honiara this afternoon for Port Vila, Vanuatu where he will take part in a Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders meeting.
The Prime Minister is being accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Patteson Oti. The MSG leaders are expected to discuss a whole range of issues affecting their respective countries and the region. Among others, issue of trade among the Melanesian countries and the establishment of MSG Secretariat in Port Vila will be high on the agenda.
MyBlog says
All MSG member countries PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have challenges to tackle as they try to find their way into the 21st century.
Fiji has had several coups, Solomons had its ethnic tension, PNG the Bougainville crisis and facing other issues of concern such the increase in the number of people living AIDS. Vanuatu had also had its share of problems including the break-away movement of Steven in the 1970s, and the later was the row between people of two islands.
Whilst the MSG members nations try to cooperate and emerge as a group to address common regional issues, much needed to be done on the home turf. Of course their solidarity as a regional group is an illusion. The instability and uncertainty and a fragile foundation at home, undermine such noble intentions of MSG as a group.
Landowners want their land back
People of Russell Islands, Central Province are demanding the national government to pay them millions of dollars for the use of their land over the past 104 years.
Chief Jason Kikolo says since 1902, various companies had planted coconut and cocoa plantations on the main islands of Banika and Pavuvu, in the Russell Islands. He says the landowners of Russell Islands had not benefited much from the commercial activities on their land during that time. Chief Kikolo says the landowners are demanding 300-million dollars for the use of their land. And the chief says the people of Russell Islands want the government to return the land to them, just as previous governments returned land to people of other provinces.
MyBlog comments
MyBlog sees the return of alienated land to its original landowners to be amongst the priorities to deal with in the remaining three years of the present house.
During the campaign last year for the national election a Russell Islands candidate has touch on that matter. There was this aspiration by landowners that now that the company operating on their land had stopped, government should repatriate those from other places to their home provinces.
For many from other provinces who were born and raised and had been part of the in the Russell Islands plantation industry, that thought may not have come into their mind. MyBlog passes this on as "Food for Thought". This is something leaders must address. Leaders of people living outside their provinces must take stock of their people and be pro-active in dealing with issues before its too late. Repatriation could be necessary.
Government's BUA
MyBlog believes that the Government's Bottom Up Approach, BAU, could just be the catalyst of making the villages come alive.
Solomon Islanders may not start harvesting the fruit of BUA in the next five or 10 years, even in 15 years time. But if the people actively participate in the development, they could realise its benefits sooner that later. But for that to happen Solomon Islands needs a new breed of leaders to facilitate a conducive environment, where the rule of law is the order of the day. The country will also need people with a change of attitude to work hard and respect their fellow men and women.
Solomon Islands wants you be part of that process to peace and prosperity. Have a nice weekend.
Shalom
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare left Honiara this afternoon for Port Vila, Vanuatu where he will take part in a Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders meeting.
The Prime Minister is being accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Patteson Oti. The MSG leaders are expected to discuss a whole range of issues affecting their respective countries and the region. Among others, issue of trade among the Melanesian countries and the establishment of MSG Secretariat in Port Vila will be high on the agenda.
MyBlog says
All MSG member countries PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have challenges to tackle as they try to find their way into the 21st century.
Fiji has had several coups, Solomons had its ethnic tension, PNG the Bougainville crisis and facing other issues of concern such the increase in the number of people living AIDS. Vanuatu had also had its share of problems including the break-away movement of Steven in the 1970s, and the later was the row between people of two islands.
Whilst the MSG members nations try to cooperate and emerge as a group to address common regional issues, much needed to be done on the home turf. Of course their solidarity as a regional group is an illusion. The instability and uncertainty and a fragile foundation at home, undermine such noble intentions of MSG as a group.
Landowners want their land back
People of Russell Islands, Central Province are demanding the national government to pay them millions of dollars for the use of their land over the past 104 years.
Chief Jason Kikolo says since 1902, various companies had planted coconut and cocoa plantations on the main islands of Banika and Pavuvu, in the Russell Islands. He says the landowners of Russell Islands had not benefited much from the commercial activities on their land during that time. Chief Kikolo says the landowners are demanding 300-million dollars for the use of their land. And the chief says the people of Russell Islands want the government to return the land to them, just as previous governments returned land to people of other provinces.
MyBlog comments
MyBlog sees the return of alienated land to its original landowners to be amongst the priorities to deal with in the remaining three years of the present house.
During the campaign last year for the national election a Russell Islands candidate has touch on that matter. There was this aspiration by landowners that now that the company operating on their land had stopped, government should repatriate those from other places to their home provinces.
For many from other provinces who were born and raised and had been part of the in the Russell Islands plantation industry, that thought may not have come into their mind. MyBlog passes this on as "Food for Thought". This is something leaders must address. Leaders of people living outside their provinces must take stock of their people and be pro-active in dealing with issues before its too late. Repatriation could be necessary.
Government's BUA
MyBlog believes that the Government's Bottom Up Approach, BAU, could just be the catalyst of making the villages come alive.
Solomon Islanders may not start harvesting the fruit of BUA in the next five or 10 years, even in 15 years time. But if the people actively participate in the development, they could realise its benefits sooner that later. But for that to happen Solomon Islands needs a new breed of leaders to facilitate a conducive environment, where the rule of law is the order of the day. The country will also need people with a change of attitude to work hard and respect their fellow men and women.
Solomon Islands wants you be part of that process to peace and prosperity. Have a nice weekend.
Shalom
posted by Myblog | 9:46 pm
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