2 January 2007
Both Solomons Government and RAMSI are actively working together for a strong, more dynamic, productive and peaceful Solomon Islands. Both institutions know that only a vibrant population, engaged people and honest, efficient and effective government can bring this goal about.
What they disagree on, however, is how best to accomplish this re-invigorated Solomons. Islanders already have a first hand experience that the colonial model--over centralized government structures, a Honiara-focused economy and both so easily captured by society's elite--is definitely not the way forward.
Major components of this standard model started back in 1893 and significantly strengthened after the nation's 1978 independence. Great Britain's 85 years of stewardship of these islands (1893-1978) followed the prevailing wisdom of the day. Colonial officers declared that the only way a scattered, far-flung group of villages could enter the modern world was to create a nation-state. Centralize the whole enterprise was the cry of the day!
But in 1978 there were already murmurs of dissent about this plan. The Western Province, for instance, was not terribly impressed by the over centralization of the government of the day. To show its deep displeasure, it refused to join the independence movement until a year later in 1979! Unfortunately, over the ensuing 28 years,1978-2006, this same failing model rooted all the more deeply.
During that period, we duped ourselves into believing that the best way of fashioning a nation was to simply strengthen state trappings--own currency, a national anthem, create ministries, hold free and fair elections, etc.--took the place of a people working together to build a nation.
In this whole exercise, however, the foundational reality of the Solomons--the village and the villager--was more and more marginalized. They who even in today's calculations make up more than 84% of the nation's population, control the nation's tree wealth, productive soil, fish the reefs and oceans were systematically and systemically placed at the fringe of society's decision making processes. And the process continues to this very day. In fact, since 2003, central government's dominance on all levels grew at a faster rate than at any time since independence.
The second pillar of modernization, a strong and vibrant market economy, remains over centralized in Honiara. Historically these two pillars of modern state building--centralization of the power with the elite and focused economic structures in one area--rooted in Tulagi before World War II, migrated to Honiara in 1945 and has remained embedded there ever since.
The Grand Coalition for Change Government means to reverse this 113 years--1893-2006--of over centralization of both governance and the national economy. Its 'bottom up approach', rural development accent (I prefer calling it 'strengthening the quality of village living') begins in earnest this year, 2007. Once its new budget has been passed at the end of January, there must not be any delay in beginning to reverse 113 years which reduced the heart of the nation, villagers, to be mere spectators in the creation of their own future.
Make no mistake about it. Once the GCC Government's views take hold it's not about a few more rural development projects, a bit more RCDF funding but the beginning of a profound shift. The shift will mean a lot less of Honiara in the picture but more the province but especially the village and the villager.
What could this reality look like? How will the nation know its happening? Tune in next week when I share my vision of what a village-led Solomons could look like. In particular, how villagers' Poor Life must give way to The Basic Life! Ultimately The Good Life must be the lot of most village people and a lot less of The High Life for many of the 'high flyers'.
J; Roughan
2 January 2007
Honiara
Both Solomons Government and RAMSI are actively working together for a strong, more dynamic, productive and peaceful Solomon Islands. Both institutions know that only a vibrant population, engaged people and honest, efficient and effective government can bring this goal about.
What they disagree on, however, is how best to accomplish this re-invigorated Solomons. Islanders already have a first hand experience that the colonial model--over centralized government structures, a Honiara-focused economy and both so easily captured by society's elite--is definitely not the way forward.
Major components of this standard model started back in 1893 and significantly strengthened after the nation's 1978 independence. Great Britain's 85 years of stewardship of these islands (1893-1978) followed the prevailing wisdom of the day. Colonial officers declared that the only way a scattered, far-flung group of villages could enter the modern world was to create a nation-state. Centralize the whole enterprise was the cry of the day!
But in 1978 there were already murmurs of dissent about this plan. The Western Province, for instance, was not terribly impressed by the over centralization of the government of the day. To show its deep displeasure, it refused to join the independence movement until a year later in 1979! Unfortunately, over the ensuing 28 years,1978-2006, this same failing model rooted all the more deeply.
During that period, we duped ourselves into believing that the best way of fashioning a nation was to simply strengthen state trappings--own currency, a national anthem, create ministries, hold free and fair elections, etc.--took the place of a people working together to build a nation.
In this whole exercise, however, the foundational reality of the Solomons--the village and the villager--was more and more marginalized. They who even in today's calculations make up more than 84% of the nation's population, control the nation's tree wealth, productive soil, fish the reefs and oceans were systematically and systemically placed at the fringe of society's decision making processes. And the process continues to this very day. In fact, since 2003, central government's dominance on all levels grew at a faster rate than at any time since independence.
The second pillar of modernization, a strong and vibrant market economy, remains over centralized in Honiara. Historically these two pillars of modern state building--centralization of the power with the elite and focused economic structures in one area--rooted in Tulagi before World War II, migrated to Honiara in 1945 and has remained embedded there ever since.
The Grand Coalition for Change Government means to reverse this 113 years--1893-2006--of over centralization of both governance and the national economy. Its 'bottom up approach', rural development accent (I prefer calling it 'strengthening the quality of village living') begins in earnest this year, 2007. Once its new budget has been passed at the end of January, there must not be any delay in beginning to reverse 113 years which reduced the heart of the nation, villagers, to be mere spectators in the creation of their own future.
Make no mistake about it. Once the GCC Government's views take hold it's not about a few more rural development projects, a bit more RCDF funding but the beginning of a profound shift. The shift will mean a lot less of Honiara in the picture but more the province but especially the village and the villager.
What could this reality look like? How will the nation know its happening? Tune in next week when I share my vision of what a village-led Solomons could look like. In particular, how villagers' Poor Life must give way to The Basic Life! Ultimately The Good Life must be the lot of most village people and a lot less of The High Life for many of the 'high flyers'.
J; Roughan
2 January 2007
Honiara
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