"In my opinion, an underlying rationale to choosing better leadership is, the desire for national progress and prosperity. Short-term thrills in a campaign period and calculated factors based on dependency-culture, lifestyle, and strings-attached with conditions disrupt the space for quality leadership."
Author: W. Kadi [LLB/LLM, Chevening Alumni 22/23]
A March to the Polls in April.
Once confirmed, 17 April 2024 would be the day eligible voters in Solomon Islands march to the polls to choose leaders. For the first time, we will have the National General Election (NGE) and Provincial Government Elections (PGE), and Honiara City Council (HCC) election on the same day, with only the exception of Choiseul and Western Province.
The Switch.
In the past five years, a geopolitical tug-of-war stirred up following the Sogavare-led coalition’s switched diplomatic recognition of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) over Taiwan in 2019. Solomon Islands was pretty much making headlines on global, regional, national, and even in village-kitchen conversations. Some were grossly misleading, some really hitting the nail about the background scenario leading up to the switch, others spun to foreign policy narratives, some other reactions rooted on deep ethnic differences, and for some, an opportunity to express political dislikes or just barely to have an opinion, regardless of whether it made sense or not. In my opinion, the switch was risky on many levels, but it may appear necessary with just the timing a bit suicidal. Other opinions of the switch are welcomed, speaking of desperate times and the consequences of options taken, which were not pleasing to many if it’s a cup of tea. Somehow it was a leverage for Solomon Islands to re-negotiate, with hopes to strengthen bargaining options for trade and diplomacy as the country struggled to address development challenges. If not all bad, the switch to a relationship with China can be used to really advance trade and investment bargains in years ahead – and it demands quality technical capacity, backed by strong regulatory measures with a sense of direction. The switch can also be interpreted as a statement from Solomon Islands in the balance of power-relations within the Pacific family and how it was positioned. This statement that can be read and interpreted in many different ways, depending on which angle you view it from. But it would be unwise to not mention that we also played into China’s economic and power strategy.
Priority Policies and Vision of Leading Parties.
February has been a busy month so far for intending candidates including former members of the House. Two of the groupings that appeared to be going head on with their party launch and pushing strong on their public engagement sessions to highlight their policy priorities, were: Ownership, Unity, Responsibility (OUR) Party led by former Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare; and the Coalition for Accountability Reforms and Empowerment (CARE) a combination of Solomon Islands Democratic Party (SIDP) and Democratic Alliance Party (DAP), spearheaded by the former opposition leader of the House, Mathew Wale, and Rick Hou, also a former Prime Minister.
OUR Party’s policy priority can be summarized as: promotion of national unity and social cohesion, enhancing the rule of law, socio-economic growth, national defense, national security, and trade, land and resources empowerment and development.
CARE’s policy priority can be summarized as: free education, health services enhancement, job creation, reduced cost of living, increased investment in infrastructure, with a 50-year vision towards a common future, where all people are equally part of the country, and a more stronger and united Solomon Islands.
Analysis of Priority Policies and Vision.
In one of his interviews with Tavuli News, OUR Party wing-leader Manasseh Sogavare highlighted that OUR Party was formed after the ethnic crisis, as a respond directly to the experience that the country went through, where he mentioned that; the last thing that we want to see is for this this country go down – again. OUR Party policies were mindful to address the issues that threaten the unity of this country.
However, some challenges would include: maintaining control and responsibility for the strategic relationships it had fostered in the last 5 years while being mindful of the National Development Strategy of the country, how to diversify sources of revenue collection, and how it can fairly accommodate existing and ongoing outstanding matters which may demand to be resolved.
CARE is committed to the idea of democracy and a parliamentary system as the best system for governance in the next 50 years. However, there need to be thorough analysis into the future of democracy as the world shifts more towards being multi polarized.
In light of free education, the costs of holding together such an important aspiration must be weighed with the realities and technicalities of the education sector. Free education will demand strategic planning in the job market, technical industry demands for growth and diversification, and many other factors.
A cross-over of policies and priorities can be seen from both OUR Party and the CARE coalition at this point, however, there is also a significant difference in approaches to dealing with matters of national interest.
For that, I am of the opinion that political campaigning and strategies may differ, but the goals remain that: these parties all want a united Solomon Islands with a stronger economy with locally led investments, quality and affordable services delivery, equitable opportunities for all, and an empowered society. The only differences may lie in the setting of priorities and the approach to be taken to achieve national goals such as; the graduation from a least developed country to a developing country, climate change and risks, natural resources exploitation, human resources development, and how to diversify revenue sources.
To achieve these, would take some sort of killing the ego and putting aside differences for the best interest of the country. How to do that? That would be up to the elected candidates to dialogue over and reconcile. As it appears, low key criticism and deflection of responsibilities over national concerns still persist and it may set a dangerous pretext as we head towards election and post-election.
Way Forward.
At this point, I am of the strong opinion that regardless of one’s personal conviction and view as to who is fit to run this country in the next term, the ultimate aim for all 50 winning candidates should be to support and progress ongoing developments, continue to forge stable foreign relations, reset domestic priorities to achieve better healthcare, ensuring affordable and efficient public utilities, offering favourable incentives to invite trustworthy investors with a diversified investment ecosystem, and maintaining the peace.
An effective united front must be developed. One that would be requiring national leaders, provincial leaders, religious and tribal leaders, the private sector, and academics, to be coordinated by some level of national policy in order to contribute and work towards effective trade and economic growth strategies - both domestic and international.
China is no small feat in the power balance of the international community and is second (2nd) on the list of top five (5) economies in the present day, not to mention its role in tech development. To fully maximize the relationship between China and Solomon Islands requires a clear understanding of China: it’s role as a global leader in the 21st century and into the future, understanding geopolitics and the role of media strategies and propaganda tied to several countries’ foreign policies, practical and strategic planning for strong regulatory measures on natural resources management, a collaborative and fair entrepreneurial and investment ecosystem, and stable governance. These are some of the key ingredients that I have seen as important. Quality leadership with experience and vision is required to execute them.
Voters’ understanding about the need for quality and visionary leadership is critical. For the majority of people in the rural and remote areas, the equation for a ballot is calculated with factors like land, tribal ties and family affiliates, records of community, family, or individual assistance, acquaintance and approachability, faith-based influence, some food and celebration during polling day, and many other short-lived estimations. Our rural majority holds the power to choose great leaders that aspire to build this country.
In my opinion, an underlying rationale to choosing better leadership is, the desire for national progress and prosperity. Short-term thrills in a campaign period and calculated factors based on dependency-culture, lifestyle, and strings-attached with conditions disrupt the space for quality leadership.
We Need Better.
To be better should be the national goal. To be better than how far the leaders of the last four decades of an independent Solomon Islands have led this country, and to be better than our past short comings. How to achieve better? You are responsible. We can all talk and point fingers at each other’s fault and might go as far as blaming other people and countries for our circumstances, but are we willing to see through a lens of acknowledging responsibility and a genuine intention to rebuild the economy and image of this country? For these I am of the opinion that we need better – not just change.
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