Pro-Taipei article quoting Guadalcanal man appears in local press

A Guadalcanal man has told the Solomon Star of his support for Taipei, and called on the country, and on the DCGA Government in particular, to appreciate Taipei for what it had done over the years. He said he would be disappointed if the Solomon Islands switched to China. (Source: Solomon Star, 23 May 2019)

Given the continuing uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will establish diplomatic ties with China, the issue remains a hot topic. The press have published many articles on the issue, and this recent article continues a trend of articles featuring pro-Taipei comments sourced from citizens of Solomon Islands. According to recent media reports, Taipei may be having some trouble communicating with the DCGA Government, and Taipei would hope that this pro-Taipei article can influence public perception in their favour, and perhaps nudge the DCGA Government to look their way instead of towards China. The uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will establish diplomatic ties with China continues.

#astroturfing

Oxfam safe family project gets publicity in local press

A charity group, Oxfam, has launched a program to address violence against women. A Malaita provincial government representative, speaking at the launch, highlighted that alcohol, drug abuse, as well as unemployment, were the leading causes of violence against women and therefore these needed to be addressed. (Source: Solomon Star, 23 May 2019)

The program aligns with the agenda to promote women empowerment.

#nonprofitindustrialcomplex

Local NGO promotes anti-corruption agenda

The Development Services Exchange has launched a legal booklet highlighting the anti-corruption related offences as stipulated in the Anti-Corruption Act 2018. The Development Services Exchange described itself as the umbrella body for all the Non-Government Organisations and Civil Society Organisations. (Source: Solomon Star, 23 May 2019)

The Anti-Corruption Act 2018, which is primarily aimed at addressing corruption within the Government and various public institutions, in order to be effective, will need to have public support. Without public support and consequently, public pressure to get rid of corruption, the Government and public institutions – the prime targets of the Act – may prefer to sleep on the Act. NGOs and CSOs, being outside of – and therefore not subject to the control of – the Government, may therefore be key players in ensuring the Government keep its promise to put in place the necessary policies and structures to carry out the objectives of the Act. The legal booklet is therefore a useful tool to convince the general public of the vices of corruption and persuade them to report acts of corruption. By having the legal booklet promoted through a local NGO, Development Services Exchange, the anti-corruption effort may be seen as being home-grown rather than being driven by the agenda of international interest groups.

#empirestatebuilding

World Bank water project may require Government to acquire land and make changes to land laws

International financial institutes, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Union, will be funding a multi-million dollar project to build infrastructure for water and sanitation. The project will be implemented primarily by Solomon Water, the national body responsible for water and sanitation services in the country. The World Bank says the project will align with policy objectives relating to health, safety and economic growth, reduction of public and environmental health risks, building climate change resilience, as well as empowering women. (Source: Solomon Star, 23 May 2019)

The World Bank anticipates that the project will inevitably require some land to be acquired, particularly around Honiara, and has developed a policy to address this issue. If land will need to be acquired, then the proper identification of the landowners, including identification of their claimed land boundaries, will be necessary. The process of identifying landowners and their land boundaries, training of land acquisition officers, and setting up the appropriate systems and processes to deal with the process including any disputes are probably already underway. Changes to the current land laws are also likely so as to align with the project objectives. Government as well as civil society buy-in will be essential to the success of the project and the World Bank and the other international financial institutes, development-aid donors supporting the project, as well as development-aid recipients co-opted in the project will have an interest in the project being viewed in a positive light. The article in the Solomon Star exalting the potential benefits of the project fulfills that role.

#empirestatebuilding

Taipei offers olive branch to Government

An unnamed official from Taipei based in Honiara, in a statement published in the Solomon Star, has confirmed that there is no official dialogue with the DCGA Government over whether Solomon Islands will maintain the status quo or switch to China. The Taipei official however announced that it would offer an olive branch to assist in the building of sports infrastructures needed to host the 2023 Pacific Games. The official further announced that Solomon Islanders who graduate from Universities in Taipei will be allowed to live and work there after graduation. (Source: Solomon Star, 21 May 2019)

Taipei’s admission that there is still no official dialogue with the DCGA Government and its offer of an olive branch is rather telling. Given China’s extensive experience in building sports stadiums for the previous Pacific Games hosts, and given that only Taipei-educated Solomon Islanders would be able to work in Taiwan, Taipei’s offer may not be as attractive as it ought to be if the status quo is to be maintained. The uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will establish diplomatic ties with China continues.

#bargaining

TSI criticises pro-China movement in Government

Lobby group, Transparency Solomon Islands, in a press release published in the Solomon Star, has criticised the actions of certain Members within the DCGA Government in pressuring Prime Minister Sogavare to establish diplomatic ties with China. TSI urged the Members to instead support Prime Minister Sogavare instead of causing instability by threatening a motion of no confidence in the event the switch – which TSI described as a non-issue – does not happen. (Source: Solomon Star, 21 May 2019)

TSI’s description of the debate over whether Solomon Islands should switch to China as a non-issue is curious given Solomon Islands’ historical reliance on development-aid from foreign states and entities – notably Australia, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank. If China joins that group, that could have serious and significant repercussions not only locally but globally as well. The debate, within the DCGA Government, over whether Solomon Islands should partner with China is therefore a very serious issue and one that will need to be dealt with sooner rather than later. While Prime Minister Sogavare may been keen to keep the status quo, if the majority of the Members within the DCGA Government want to switch, then according to the principle of democracy, the will of the majority may have to be followed. The fact that TSI has considered it necessary to enter the debate suggests the pro-China movement within the DCGA Government is very real and may be gaining momentum. Taipei will surely look forward to more similar articles appearing in the media if it is to have any chance of maintaining the status quo. The uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will establish diplomatic ties with China continues.

#astroturfing

Prime Minister given 6 months to switch to China or face motion of no confidence

The Solomon Star has reported that 22 Members of Parliament within the DCGA Government have told Prime Minister Sogavare that he has 6 months to establish diplomatic ties with China or else he will have to face a motion of no confidence. The Solomon Star further reported that the 22 Members of Parliament have been given the green light from China for massive infrastructure development on the islands. (Source: Solomon Star, 20 May 2019)

Despite the continued uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will switch to China, the DCGA Government is yet to officially confirm its position on the issue. This suggests – which Taipei has already admitted – that there is a real pro-China movement within the DCGA Government ranks. The Solomon Star has not identified which Ministers are in the pro-China camp and it remains to be seen whether the pro-China camp is 22-members strong as reported. Taipei’s influence in Solomon Islands appears to be in rapid decline following the 2019 national general elections and while the 6-month reprieve will be provide some much needed breathing space for Taipei to come up with an irresistible offer, the war may already be lost. The uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will establish diplomatic ties with China continues.

#victorycanbeanticipatedbutitcannotbeforced

More plantation workers bound for Australia

More Solomon Islanders will be sent abroad to work in plantations in Australia under the Australian-funded labour-trade scheme. They are expected to work for up to 9 months in Australia before they are returned to Solomon Islands. The scheme ensures Australian plantation owners have access to reliable labour from the Solomon Islands. (Source: Solomon Star, 16 May 2019)

It is not clear whether Australia is interested in other skilled labour from Solomon Islands.

#labourtrade

Changes to fisheries law soon?

The Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, John Maneniaru, in a speech delivered during World Tuna Day celebrations held in Honiara, poured praise on the tuna industry for contributing to the economy of Solomon Islands. The Minister also praised the Forum Fisheries Agency and the Parties to the Nauru Agreement countries for creating job opportunities, supporting infrastructure development, and particular fishing schemes. The Minister said that it was his duty to review the laws and various legal frameworks to accommodate recent changes within the tuna fisheries and to ensure the tuna fisheries are promoted towards smart tuna and smart ocean. (Source: Solomon Star, 16 May 2019)

The Minister’s speech suggests that new fisheries law are likely, no doubt to align with the policies of the major international players in the global tuna and fishing industry.

#tunadollars

Government accused of not dealing with true owners of land earmarked for Bina Harbour project

A tribal chief, claiming to represent the true owners of the customary land where the Government intends to develop the Bina Harbour project, has challenged the DCGA Government’s reconciliation ceremony held recently, in which a MOU was signed with the apparent resource owners. The tribal chief said that the DCGA Government was dealing with settlers and not with the rightful owners of the land. (Source: Solomon Star, 16 May 2019)

Disputes over the ownership of customary land is par for the course whenever there are talks of commercial development taking place on customary land. Previous Governments have tended to view such disputes as a hindrance to national development when it should probably be viewed as part of the process. There is a process, provided under law, by which such disputes can be adjudicated – which should ordinarily lead to the customary land being made available for commercial development – but this depends on Government funding to meet the costs of the adjudication process. The availability of funds to adjudicate land disputes should therefore be a matter of Government priority. In the case of Bina Harbour, unless the land earmarked for the project is legally acquired by the Government and legally registered as registered land, it would be a risky exercise to commence any development while the land remains customary land and subject to competing and unresolved claims over ownership – as evident here. The DCGA Government’s policy of land reform may be a way forward for unlocking customary land for development.

#ackchyually