The Basic Life reduces The Poor Life!

8 January 2007

Fundamental to Solomon Islands people's 21st century reality is that most are living The Poor Life. While many a leader may crow about how the Wontok System keeps food on the table, a roof over the head and security for all, the reality is something else again! Wontokism--a few 'visitors' sponge off a poor urban family for food, lodging, entertainment, transport, etc.--is literally tearing the typical Honiara family to shreds. Fortunately on the village level, it's much less so, but even there this system weakens families as much as it is suppose to help them. In today's cash society, Wontokism drains more than helps!

Over the next 3 to 4 years, then, government's work is becoming clear. It must demonstrate by its attitude, priority setting and public servant commitment that it can bring about a massive change for most islanders living The Poor Life. The Solomons majority must start to live The Basic Life. What then is The Basic Life?

The most important component in The Basic Life is peace, peace and still more peace. Without this reality operating on all levels of society, then, overseas aid, trained personnel, inspired plans and truly hard work, the majority of people living in poverty will not shift much.

But peace means a whole lot more than no fighting, no guns or armed conflict. Villagers, for instance, must be certain in the depth of their hearts that the "workers of chaos' in and around their areas will be quickly caught, even more quickly jailed after they have faced the workings of the court system spread throughout the nation. Each step in the Law & Order process, however, calls for a robust and well trained police force, vibrant court processes and both supported by a well managed prison system. And RAMSI's presence on all these levels--police, courts and prisons--is vital and essential. At present peace has only begun to creep back to its rightful position.

As the peace process deepens, villagers (I speak of more than 84% of the total population) must experience first hand Quality Education, the primary high road out of poverty. (Another primary reducing poverty road is the world of work, jobs and self employment.) Quality Education starts in Kindy classes runs right though to primary, secondary and university studies. No single sector, e.g. university, is more important than the other. University studies, for example, should never receive the lion's share of government funding. Loan schemes for university students, administered by commercial banks and guaranteed by overseas donors should be part of any Quality Education system.

Closely allied to Quality Education is a network of village aid posts, ward clinics, provincial hospitals right through to the National Referral Hospital. Each of these medical establishments lie at the heart of a health system which must span the nation. Picture a bicycle tyre! The rubber wheel touches the road but is supported by a steel rim frame (ward clinics) attached to thin, steel spokes (provincial hospitals) all leading to the centre hub (National Referral Hospital) which binds the whole health system working as a unit.

But a growing Quality Education system working with a strong medical establishment takes us only half way for a typical Solomon Islander to enjoy The Basic Life. An island nation's life blood is found in her transport services. A major reason why Guale's Weather Coast people got unglued during the Social Unrest years (1998-2003) was due its many years of severe isolation. Weather Coast's murders, rapes and destruction would have hardly taken place had there been adequate shipping and transport available over the previous 20 years to pick up people's cocoa, copra and crops.

Closely connected to the need of reliable and affordable transport is the absolute need for communication linkages. That a nation of 65 languages has only managed two community radios is profoundly embarrassing. In spite of a worldwide messaging capability offered by computer, internet, TV, cell phone miracles, etc. we struggle still to voice contact 84% of our people on a regular, sustained and consistent basis.

It's no wonder, then, that in spite of being so rich a nation--food abundance, housing material, fresh water sources, fish surplus, etc.--we still are locked into poverty. Investment in transport and communication links remain firmly in the early 20th century.

Government's work for the next three years--quality education, working health system, transportation and communication links--is to move our people from The Poor Life to that of The Basic Life.

J. Roughan
8 January 2007
Honiara