LAST week the country farewelled one of its friends in Ambassador WU from the Republic of China, Taiwan.

Victor came to the Solomon’s at the end of 2013 to begin a three year term as his country’s representative to Solomon Islands, one of the few countries in the world that recognises Taiwan’s sovereignty as a nation.

Solomon Islands owe a lot to Taiwan.

Apart from the many assistances (technical, educational and financial) that our country is so fortunate to receive, during the troubles that our country went through, ONLY Taiwan responded to SI’s cry for help and assisted in settling grievances and pay for loss property compensation.

During his tenure, Republic of China spent almost a billion dollars in bilateral aid to Solomon Islands.

Most of the funds were tied under the livelihood, millennium, and rural development programs.

These funds are mainly channelled through the constituency offices and the members of parliament because we all believe they are the ones who are closer to the people.

I can go on and mention these funds, expenditures, usages and perceived benefits.

But that is not the purpose of this article.

The reason I wrote is this. The Republic of China (ROC) – Taiwan spend so much money over the years to assist our Government and its people. During the tenure of HE Ambassador WU, it comes to almost a Billion Solomon Islands dollars.

But what intrigued me are the Ambassadors parting speech and statements to the country.

At the handing over ceremony of the Fakaloloma Sanitation Project at Funa’afou in the Lau Lagoon sometime over the 2016 Christmas period, Ambassador Victor T S Wu said and I quote “The Taiwan Government is so pleased with the implementation of this project. This should be a model for all communities in the country. My Government is so proud with its achievements……’ at the his farewell address during a function hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Government, HE Victor T S Wu again said, …’of all the projects supported by his Government during his tenures, the FSP is the only tangible development he witnessed….”

My goodness! Is this true?

Why would this man say such a thing of the FSP?

Has he been paid to say it?

Certainly he had witnessed larger projects and programmes.

Certainly his Government spend more on other programs/projects than the SBD2.9 Million given to the people of Funa’afou and Niuleni for this project.

Or he could mention the SBD$14million each Member of Parliament received and spent in various livelihood and development projects in each constituency in the name of rural development.

Again I can go on and describe the disparity, but that can wait another day.

I think each community in Solomon Islands need to learn from the establishment of the FSP if we are to move development forward in the rural areas.

As announced over the SIBC, all members of the implementation committee are professionals living and working in Honiara and occupying some of the key positions in the country.

But they have one thing in common, that is a heart to assist their village community at home in Malaita.

My investigations reveal they all grow up in the artificial islands in the Lau Lagoon and experience some of the severest life in the country.

They paddled their dug out every day to fetch water, food gardens, firewood, market, motu leaves, trees sticks and leaves for housing you name it.

During bad weather, they cannot travel anywhere and have to fend with whatever meagre resource available until the weather subsides.

Some of us who live on the mainland take these things for granted.

We do not have the slightest idea how our folks living in the artificial islands fend for themselves.

That is why I believe when this opportunity came, they seize it with open arms.

There has never been any assistance like this to these communities since even before Independence.

Lastly I am told the committee does not even receive a single cent from the project money.

100 percent of the funding goes towards the project which included a 4 kilometre water supply system, 6 large water tanks, 4 large ablutions blocks (and showers) with proper effluent system disposal, piped water and solar lighting, 3 concrete footpath bridges with a total length of about 130m and church and security spotlights for the community and off course contractors labour charge.

No wonder Ambassador WU praised the FSP.

They really have something to offer the rest of the country.

I am a close relative of the two communities, watching from my village on the hill and looking down over the beautiful Makwanu passage, oh what a sight.

Congratulations people of Funa’afou and Niuleni, you make us proud.

And to the hardworking committee led by one of this countries educated son now turn businessman, well done!

Has anything good ever come out of Malaita? YES! There is.

Thankyou

 

EM Fatainao

Kukum