Government,
Members of Parliament,
Provincial Leaders,
Public Officers,
Development Partners,
Head of Diplomatic Missions,
Business Houses,
Heads of Churches,
NGOs and All of you who are breathing and alive today.

Greetings to you, each and every citizen of Solomon Islands. In 1999 you had hoped for a better New Year in 2000 for your country but it never came. You never gave up, and again you hoped for still a better New Year in 2001. The ethnic tension was stopped, but your country dived head long into economic and political hardships. Yet again you have looked forward to 5th December when you elected your members of Parliament, hoping that a new government will not repeat the errors of the past. It is now on the shoulders of the new Parliament and new government to make a difference. Good people, you have exercised your democratic rights to elect leaders to govern, define and direct the country’s course of development during the next four years. With this new group of leaders your hope remains that the New Year of 2002 will bring with it good and many happy blessings. But you know too that no blessings come easy. So we must all invest extra efforts to fulfill and maintain our best hopes for the future of Solomon Islands.

LAW AND ORDER

Foremost in people’s mind is the unconditional return of illegal deadly weapons, still held by former militants. If there has to be a new beginning these weapons must be handed in with no conditions attached. Those who still hold on to weapons made a commitment under TPA, to surrender them, in exchange for amnesty. Parliament has granted the amnesty but not all weapons have been returned. Leaders of former MEF and IFM still have big responsibility under TPA to assist in locating and returning all weapons. Reason and sound judgement must be applied.

Chaos rules the day where there is no order. This is why it is very important at this time to give back respect and loyalty to rightful authorities in the country. By rightful authority I mean church leaders, traditional and appointed village leaders, civil leaders, the courts, elected government leaders, public servants, heads of families and tribes and the police. There has to be a renewed acceptance of these rightful authorities by the general public if law and order must return and prevail. Everybody must have genuine desire to live and work together in harmony.

GOVERNANCE

All concerned citizens agree that the General Elections held on 5th December 2001, was the most important since independence in 1978. The Electoral Commission had worked tirelessly hard to facilitate the will of the people, to choose or elect new leaders into Parliament. People of Solomon Islands wanted and demanded that national elections be held. They wanted to give democracy another chance. The international community, that is, development partners, also wanted to see the return of democracy to Solomon Islands. They too called for elections to be held, and they demonstrated their concern for democracy by fully funding the general elections. Furthermore, they sent in 70 plus election observers to witness and assess the process and conduct of elections. The will of the people and the unreserved support of the international community clearly signals the new Parliament and government, to turn a new page, to write a new chapter, to map out a new direction for the country.

The new Parliament, Government and People of Solomon Islands must prove that democracy can work in the country. Elected leaders must show that government is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Government must exercise firmness, consistency and foresight, while at the same being open minded, listening accessible and adjustable. It is the most important public authority and institution, as far as governance is concerned. Its Policies, Plans and Programmes must be generous, not self-centred. In the next four years people who voted for Parliamentarians and Cabinet Ministers, want to see a realistic, workable, pragmatic rural and provincial government system. People want to see a government with determined achievable visions, that will lead the country honestly, justly and progressively. They want to see a government competent and in control of governance, and in charge of the destiny of the country.

Being in charge must also include getting along well with other countries and organisations in the democratic world. Solomon Islands must be a friend to all countries and organisations and an enemy to none, based on just and equal give and take relationships, taking great care not to make diplomatic or other ties which would tarnish the integrity and legal sovereignty of the country. Solomon Islands must have global perception while at the same time nationalistic in goal setting.

It is important for Governments to realize and remind themselves again and again that in actual fact, rural Solomon Islands have always been independent. So modern governments must assist rural people to become more and more independent, in the modern sense of the word, and not more dependent, as seems to be the trend.

GOVERNMENT OFFICERS/WORKERS

The role of Government cannot be realized, accepted and appreciated by people, if public officers pull in one direction and ruling government pulling another way, Government is accountable to voters through the machinery of Public Service, as well as by implementing ministries and technical people. With the new Government now in place I’m hoping that public officers will renew their vigour in their service to the people of Solomon Islands. More than two years of economic hardships have tested your patience and even affected your work morale. But now, who else is there to implement government policies, plans and programmes, and maintain essential services? In hard times such as we are currently facing, sacrifice and dedication to public duty must surpass normal times. Those of you who have worked through the hard times of these more than two years, you have indeed shown your love for your country. I’m sure you will continue to show the same dedication working with the new Government.

BENEFITS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Many people in rural areas of Solomon Islands are asking, when will 23 years of political independence bring us economic and social benefits? A question that must be answered by governments now and in future.

In society good quality leadership makes a difference. Elected leaders especially must make a difference, because people elect them by their pledges. They pledged to speak for and do something to improve the physical and social conditions and wellbeing of their voters.

People are prepared to work with their elected leaders, and even are prepared to wait for services to flow, when their governments are pragmatic, and actually deliver affordable developments and services. There is, however, a stumbling block to people’s patience. The perception that members of Parliament and Governments are bread winners of voters, must be corrected. People must feed themselves and not be fed, they must live on their own earnings and not on handouts, they must be encouraged to be self reliant and independent, not dependent.

Because people vote for Parliament members, they must not be let down. With huge outstanding issues and services not being delivered, the new Government will know that priorities must be right and distribution of resources must be fair. This is important to maintain peace and unity in the country.

DEVELOPMENT AIDS

Rural people are asking, `where have the millions of dollars worth of development aids gone to? Who have benefited from them?’

Where would Solomon Islands be in the past 23 years without development aids? Thanks to endless generosity by development partners. The way things are Solomon Islands is sure to require foreign assistance, because there is very limited options and alternatives to take for the country to come out from the harsh realities of self imposed economic crisis. However, in the long term Solomon Islands must resolve to prove that independence must mean independence, and not indefinite period of dependence on foreign aids. At a defined time period the country must begin to reap the profits of her own labours. In the short to medium term development aid must be utilised to shorten unaffordable gaps of under development. If used appropriately, fairly and wisely, development aids can bring about positive results to the country’s overall short term development needs. What the Government and People of Solomon Islands must realise and appreciate is that they cannot demand development aids from foreign governments and organisations. The giving of grants in aid depends entirely on the goodwill and policy of the donor, so Solomon Islands must not rely on foreign aid indefinitely. Dependence on foreign assistance in the long term undermines a country’s sovereignty, the reason why people of Solomon Islands must learn to live within their means.

Solomon Islands must rise above her internal conflict, constraints and obstacles, so that a conducive and viable environment is created for the inflow of foreign investment and outflow of trade. Solomon Islands must view global trade as an important and necessary way of distributing the world’s beneficial resources, to uplift her people from poverty and underdevelopment. More than two years of self inflicted social, political and economic crisis, have sounded aloud and clear, that the absence of the international common frontiers of democracy, good governance, rule of law and universal justice, prevent foreign investment and free trade. No independent country can survive without going along with the rest of the world, a reality leaders and people of Solomon Islands must see as unavoidable in the modern world.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

How best can development be facilitated coordinated and carried out in rural areas? Should government give all, or the essentials only? Or should government enable people to do development for themselves? Should government control people’s life or assist them to determine the course of their own destiny? Should government govern them or help them to be more efficient and effective in governing themselves?

Successive governments of the past have been very lucky, they did not have to feed village people, nor pay out money to unemployed rural people. Government does not have to allocate land to people for resettlement or farming, they already have land. In other words, the basic ingredients or basis of rural development already exist. Fish are in abundance in the sea, so are resources on land and in the forest. There are enough people for required labour but not enough right leaders to help institute appropriate sustainable development. That is, if by development we mean improvement in people’s standard of living.

Rural people are able to look after themselves provided they sell their copra, cocoa, fish, other marine resources, timber, chilly, fruits, rootcrops etc. on a regular and timely basis. They want a permanent economic infrastructure. Times have changed and we live in a modern world, the very reason relevant changes must be brought about to help improve the quality of rural life in Solomon Islands. For relevant changes for improvements to begin with peoples understanding and tolerance, elected leadership must consult the people. After all governments are supposed to represent people who vote them into power.

In the next four years signs of rural development must begin to be seen by the majority of people in Solomon Islands. The new government must begin to deliver, and all citizens and sectors must give the government chance to function as it must and should. The way forward will not be at all easy, so in order even to begin, the best of efforts from leaders, educated people, technical and resource people, business houses and every citizen must be directed and invested towards recovering the country’s image, economy, social services and law and order. There have to be changes for the better, because the success of democracy, peace and unity in Solomon Islands is dependent on people seeing, benefiting from and participating in positive and progressive economic and social changes.

POLITICAL STABILITY

Why is it that after 23 years of independence there had never been stability in successive parliamentary terms and governments of Solomon Islands? Since repeated political instabilities have been one main cause of repeated economic hardships, is it not a sensible thing to do right now to find a political solution once and for all?

Because the political system of Solomon Islands was instituted by virtue of the Constitution, solution to lessen political instability has to be by enactment of appropriate legislation in Parliament. It may be somewhat painful for members of Parliament, but it is the only way to find a once and for all solution to this never ending, so it seems, voluntary political instabilities. However, public duty must not be personalized by members of Parliament. For national interest it is in order and urgent, that the Parliament of the People of Solomon Islands, take legislative measures to vote for political stability. It is unwise to watch problems escalate, because for the sake of convenience leaders walk over them, when solutions are within reach. Problems of today, created by people today, must not be passed over to the next generation. This would be an irresponsible thing to do.

I very much wish to God Almighty, for the sake of the peace and unity of Solomon Islands that, the new Parliament and Government consider it important to put into place by law a more stable political system of governance for the country.

Solomon Islands is greatly indebted to bilateral and multilateral development partners for funding the general election in full. I take this time to express thank you to the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, not only for election funding but also for assisting the Government and warring parties to sign the Townsville Peace Agreement, and monitoring it thereafter until now and for logistical supports. I must not forget to thank you for your assistance to the health and education sectors. Words of appreciation also must go to R.O.C., EU., Japan, U.K. for continuing to help the country during times when it was not at all easy to give your tax payers’ money to Solomon Islands. Assistance from other donors not mentioned here are equally highly appreciated.

Solomon Islands generous development partners, we will not prove ourselves if we depend on you too long, but at this juncture in our history we simply cannot afford it developing and uniting the country by ourselves. I sincerely hope that you will continue to be cooperative and understanding as development partners with the new Government and People of Solomon Islands.

GOVERNMENT, CHURCH, NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATION AND CIVIL SOCIETY

The ethnic tensions between some people of Guadalcanal and Malaita, demonstrated that elected leaders cannot possibly ignore other sectors of the country.

At the height of the social tensions the women of Honiara came out forcefully to demonstrate their desire for peace. The churches played a big part in calming down militants. NGOs too were active in speaking out. So were young musicians voicing their concerns for peace in songs.

In fact the reality is independence means inter-dependence. An independent country should be one which relies or depends largely on citizens to work toward raising their own standard of living, and in time become self reliant. Independence for Solomon Islands should mean Government, Church and all sectors of the country’s people taking unconditional responsibility in giving the best of themselves to build a viable and livable country. This means in practice, Government, the Churches, NGOs, business sectors, all levels of leadership and people at large work as partners and not as antagonists.

Leaders and People in all sectors, together must strive to make Solomon Islands a humane, free, just, united and peaceful country. For this to happen there is need for regular and closer consultation between Government, Churches, Leaders of all Sectors and People. One sector must be accessible to and by all the other sectors. In brief I’m saying independence means deliberate, coordinated, open, willed or well intended inter-dependence of all cross sections of people in one country. My hope and prayer is that Solomon Islands becomes such a country in time.

We have a very long way yet to go to reach perfect unity, perfect peace, perfect economic self-reliance, perfect educated population, perfect health services, perfect communication infrastructure, perfect social tolerance, etc. But it is equally true to say that we have come a long way, and so greateful we must, for the good things that have come since 23 years of independence, excluding two years of ethnic hatred. Thank you to the Churches, the Government, the brave business people still around, people in general, and warning parties too for stop fighting.

Solomon Islands is located in a cyclone prone region. Thank God we have not been visited by devasting winds and waves during two years of ethnic tensions. The weather has been exceptionally good and favourable, helping the country to avoid double or triple tragedy. Natural tragedies and disasters cannot be avoided, but those masterminded and initiated by human beings can definitely be prevented. Let us therefore look forward to a New Year that will be a welcome difference from the last. Different because there are now new Members of Parliament and a new Government, which will spearhead the restructuring and restoration of the country. Different because those men who continue to hold weapons of war will give a renewed commitment for Peace.

NEW MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND NEW GOVERNMENT

Greetings to new Members of Parliament and the new Government. I wish you well in your crucial four year term in Parliament and Government. The job you have at hand is tough and challenging. You know that your voters and the country expect you to exercise the democratic mandate of governance entrusted to you honestly, unselfishly and responsibly. You know that you are accountable to your country. You know that your voters and people expect you to perform and achieve the most extra ordinary, given the critical economic downturn at this time. You know you have proven yourself by beating the other candidate during the general elections on 5th December 2001. Now you have to prove yourself to your countrymen and women, and indeed the international community. You know that you have been mandated to be responsible for the overall good governance of the country. You know that now you are a political hero, tomorrow you may become unpopular. But such is the situation you have given yourself to face. It depends on how you perform and conduct the public affairs of Solomon Islands.

I know, however, that there is good nature in each member of Parliament, and with that you will do good for your country during your four years in Parliament.

VOTERS, ELECTORAL COMMISSION, INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVERS

The 5th December general elections is over and we have heard and seen the results. Now is the time for me to say thank you to those who were directly involved in the elections. Solomon Islands is indebted to the Electoral Commission and its Chairman, Secretary to the Commission, Technical Advisors to the Commission, Staff of the Commission, Election Officers and Assistants, Development Partners who funded the entire election expenses, International Election Observers, Police Officers, Voters and People of Solomon Islands.

You have indeed earned yourselves a good reputation for having accomplished a job well done. Considering the many challenges you faced, the country owes you so much for your tireless time, efforts and contributions in ensuring that the elections took place on the date appointed, and more so in ensuring that elections were carried out democratically. The result was constitutionally satisfactory, and now Solomon Islands has a new Government. You have shown your commitment to democratic ideals and principles, by the commendable job you have thoroughly carried out.

APPEAL TO PEOPLE OF SOLOMON ISLANDS

My appeal to people of Solomon Islands:
When Peace has not fully come,
When weapons of death are still at large,
When the Police Force is still trying hard to regain public confidence,
When the courts lack finance to function normally,
When schools are poorly funded by Government,
When health services are inadequately funded,
When the Government is financially broke,
When political stability in the country is not guaranteed;

The call for unity,
The call for cooperation,
The call for dedication and sacrifice,
The call for peace to be restored,
The call for stable Government,
The call for humane and orderly living etc. etc.;
Become all the more important at this critical time in the history of the country. All citizens must not be complacent at a time when basic requirements for daily living are far from satisfactory.

Indeed village leaders, elders and chiefs continue to uphold law and order in rural areas. The churches continue to do good and commendable work in every community throughout the country. Every family take care of their own members. NGOs play important roles in the country. Banks and business houses work hard in environments which are socially, politically and economically hostile to confident investment undertakings. Dedicated public officers work without timely salary payments. Development Partners continue to pour in assistance to the country, despite questionable democratic environment in Solomon Islands. All in all there are signs of goodwill among people in the country. There is common desire by all for a better future. With such goodwill let us all go forward to face what are yet to come with forward look, diligence and love for the country, i.e. people who call Solomon Islands home.

GREETINGS AND GRATITUDE

Even in times of hardships, such as it is in Solomon Islands right now, we should still be grateful for what life has offered, however mixed the blessings. There are people who have made efforts to help others cope with life. On this note I take this chance to appreciate and thank each and every citizen in Solomon Islands, for what you are, what you have been and what you have done in the past year. We are specially thankful that the ethnic fighting on Guadalcanal had stopped. We thank the leaders of the two militant groups for applying their good sense, and for agreeing to stop fighting and start talking. Genuine peace is still far away, but Solomon Islands has been grateful for the cessation of fighting and violence. For those men who had engraved their signatures in the Townsville Peace Agreement, you have demonstrated your resolve and commitment towards the cause of eventual lasting peace in Solomon Islands. You have obviously come some way, but you also have an important journey to travel yet too, to help return genuine peace in the country. Under very difficult circumstances the Sogavare Government, Malaita and Gudalcanal Provinces, had achieved a great deal by becoming signatories to the TPA. A significant achievement and beginning of the peace process! The Peace Monitoring Council, the Internal Peace Monitoring Team, have been very important players in the peace process. They truly deserve the appreciation and thanks of Solomon Islands.

The Governments of Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan have been very generous to Solomon Islands during these very hard times. They have been part of the peace process so far. Despite ongoing abnormal law and order situation in parts of the country, foreign Missions have not pulled out from Solomon Islands. A sign of their commitment to see the country come out from the present crisis. Foreign assistances have also continued to be received by Solomon Islands from UK, Japan and EU, again a very positive sign of commitment to assist Solomon Islands.

We say that Solomon Islands is a predominantly Christian country. Thanks be to God for this. I want to believe that this is so. The work and influence of the churches has greatly helped the greater number of people to keep their patience during these more than two years of ethnic, political and economic crisis. Thankfully the churches were active during the heights of the ethnic tension, working tirelessly to pacify militants on both sides of the warring parties. My hope is that the new Government will look to the churches for partnership in areas of conflict resolution, in the ongoing peace process. The churches are important partners that the Government cannot do without, in the interest of peace and unity in Solomon Islands.

My fellow citizens, I thank the great majority of you for resolving to take no part in the ethnic tension that almost broke the unity of our country. Let us keep on praying and hoping for harmony and genuine peace to come, and national unity maintained. Let us resolve to do nothing that would destroy Solomon Islands.

People of Solomon Islands, it is my firm belief that,
if we choose to we can remain a united country,
If we choose to we can live in harmony with our rich diversity,
If we choose to we can make our country politically stable,
If we choose to we can become independent economically,
If we choose to we can become a country with an educated and healthy people,
If we choose to we can become in time a modern state, equal in status and dignity as other countries in the modern world. The choice is ours to make, and the efforts and dedication must be equally ours to give unreservedly.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2002 AND GOD GUIDE AND BLESS SOLOMON ISLANDS

Sir Fr. John Ini Lapli GCMG
Governor-General

01 January 2002