SOGAVARE PLEASED WITH PUBLIC SUPPORT

OUR Party President Manasseh Sogavare has expressed great satisfaction over the overwhelming turnout at public rallies he was invited to explain the political party’s policy intentions.

The rallies staged at Trinity Hills in West Kwara’ae, Mbita’ama in North Malaita, Reko in North East Guadalcanal and the Telekom Recreational Centre in East Honiara over the last four days were organised by the party’s endorsed candidates for the constituencies at the request of their constituents.

“The huge turnouts at the public rallies in Malaita, Guadalcanal and Honiara I was invited to explain OUR Party policies intentions especially our flagship development decentralisation policy, demonstrated the seriousness of Solomon Islanders about electing a government that appreciates their development needs and is committed to putting in place strategies to address them.

“I was moved by the support expressed by Solomon Islanders that attended the rallies for our decentralisation policy and their desire to see us elected to power to implement this policy.   I was also moved by the expressions of appreciation for our initiative to reach out to the rural populace with our policies. It was also interesting to see people openly expressing their dislike for CNURA Government for miserably failing to fulfil its promises.

“Not only did we record overwhelming turnouts during the campaign rallies last week but also at all our party launches throughout the country and this goes to prove the trust and confidence Solomon Islanders have in the leadership of OUR Party to take the country forward,” Mr Sogavare said.

The former opposition leader and OUR Party candidate for East Choiseul said the popularity of OUR Party and its development decentralisation policy would rightly be attributed to its series of launching programmes throughout the country and thus it is proud for taking that worthy initiative though time consuming and costly.

 “We took this initiative because we believe the 2010 National General Elections will be crucial for Solomon Islanders. We believe we have arrived at a cross-road in our development endeavour and our country cannot move forward unless we properly chart our direction by electing good political leaders,” Mr Sogavare

Meanwhile, OUR Party wishes to inform the registered voters of East Honiara, Central Honiara and West Honiara constituencies that it has only one endorsed candidate for each of constituency.

They are: Geoffrey Samuel Faisi for East Honiara, Fred Peter for Central Honiara and Isaac Inoke for West Honiara.

OUR Party Reject Foreign Control, Domination & Manipulation

Sogavare led party; OUR Party was not in the position to accommodate all forms of foreign control, domination and manipulation.

OUR Party Interim President Honorable Manasseh Sogavare says these during the launching of the party’s 2010 election campaign on Thursday morning.

He said it is now time that Solomon Islanders should take full control of their destiny and must actively involved in the process of governance and participation in development.

“We believe that the economic and political control of Solomon Islands must rest with the people of Solomon Islands. We further believe that the process to return that control must be set in motion now within the spirit of tolerance and respect for those who are here to genuinely help us otherwise we will become foreigners in our own country.”

He his former led GCCG was over thrown by disloyal Solomon Islanders who actively involved in pursuing foreign interests

He said the country’s leadership role was destroyed by self-serving leaders who have give way to foreign interests and have no concern for the fragile economy and prosperity of the country.

“We believe that Solomon Islands must no longer be used as haven for legalized abuse of aid money through the implementation of multi-million dollars consultation based aid program on our soil which has done very little to pull the country out of our status as least developed country over the last thirty years.”

He said Solomon Islands needs a parliament that is genuinely have concern for it people and not one that pretends to do so but is actively involved in pursuing foreign interests in the excuse of maintaining good relationship and not one that is led by the nose as puppet

WE NEED QUALITY POLITICIANS: SOGAVARE

Andrew Fanasia Jr.

OUR Party has successfully launched its 2010 Election Campaign in Honiara this morning with a powerful reminder to nation to vote into its ninth parliament people who are serious about their parliamentary role.
The event held at the National Cultural Village following a float parade from King George to White River recorded a good turnout.
In a powerful key note address, the party’s president Manasseh Sogavare said parliament plays a pivotal role in the shaping of development policies and unless Solomon Islanders vote in quality leaders, the country will perpetuate the problems it has faced over the last 32 years.
“We need a parliament with a membership that cannot be bought or sold. We need a parliament that stands for what is right though the heavens fall.
“We need a parliament that upholds and protects the interests of this country. We need a parliament that is concerned about the welfare of our people and not one that pretends to do so but is actively involved in pursuing foreign interests in the pretext of maintaining good relationship.
“We need a parliament with membership that genuinely upholds Christian principles and not one that pretends to do so but is prepared to sacrifice these principles to gain favour.
“We need a parliament that uses its legislative powers responsibly instead of passing bills that have very little or nothing to do with the issues that really matter to addressing peace, progress and prosperity in Solomon Islands.
“We need a parliament that appreciates and fully understands the development status of the country and is willing to take and stand by tough economic decisions that are good for the country and not to be bogged down in the narrow interests of MPs.
“We need a parliament that recognises the potentials of all provinces in the country as worthy participants and contributors to the national wealth and takes steps to utilise these potentials. We need a parliament that understands the issues of concern to our provinces and takes steps to address them instead of paying lip service,” he said.
Mr Sogavare said OUR Party has a point to prove on the issue of seriousness about parliamentary role as the members of the immediate former Opposition Group who founded OUR Party outperformed the CNURA Government in their commitment to parliament business in the eighth parliament.
He said the nation must be rest assured the party has put together a team of men and women who are serious to fully and effectively represent it in the ninth parliament and to ensure its (party) policies are implemented.
The former opposition leader said the current poor state of the national economy is a reflection of bad political decisions and OUR Party is committed to change this status quo through its comprehensive, integrated and peace-conscious decentralisation policy.

Wansolwara Special Report: Prostitution – An unwanted but growing industry

Pacific Scoop:
Wansolwara Special Report – By Ellen Stolz, Fenton Lutunatabua and Ravai Vafo‘ou, in Suva.

This feature report was first published in Wansolwara, and was researched, analysed, and written by final year journalism students at the University of South Pacific in Suva. It looks at attempts to control the sex industry in the Pacific. The journalists found the trade has survived harsh economic conditions and continues to prosper despite its illegality in Pacific island countries.

Prostitution is a problem causing major concerns across the Pacific. Various research reports have been published, detailing the seriousness of the issue. Across the region, poverty, unemployment and low wages are driving sex work.

Prostitution is illegal in virtually all Pacific Island countries. But this has not stopped it from growing.

In addition to locals, foreign sex workers from Asia are now visible in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Some Pacific Island countries have realised that existing legislation to control the problem is inadequate so they have revamped their laws.

Last year, Fiji introduced stronger anti-prostitution laws while the Solomon Islands broadened its laws. With reports and surveys revealing that family members, including parents, were forcing underage girls to have sex with strangers in exchange for money, governments felt compelled to act.

In February 2005, Papua New Guinea’s then Minister for Community Development Dame Carol Kidu announced that legislation would be introduced to punish those selling their children to the thriving sex industry in the country.

Dame Kidu said there was an increase in child prostitution and men-with-men sex (homosexuality) in Port Moresby nightclubs. She added that some parents were forcing their children into prostitution.

In 2003, Kiribati temporarily banned all Korean fishing boats from entering Kiribati ports after reports in the Korean Herald that 30 to 50 girls, mostly underage, were servicing the Korean fishermen.

A former Solomon Islands police superintendent, David Diosi, told Wansolwara that prostitution in the country had hit an all-time high.

“Organised prostitution started in 2001 in Honiara and now those who hire prostitutes in Honiara pay up to SBD$8000 a night (approximately FJD$2000),” he said.

In 2006, the United Nations Division for the Advancement for Women (DAW) released a report on 14 Pacific Island states.

The report focused on Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu as countries where young girls were subjected to various forms of violence, including high rates of commercial sexual exploitation.

The report said that girls in the South Pacific are “sold” for a number of reasons, including poverty, joblessness and the increase in the number of single foreign and local men who are employed by the logging, mining and fishing industries.

The DAW report revealed that in several Pacific countries the, “fear of HIV is driving men to seek sexual relations with very young clean girls. These girls are in turn drawn into the sex industry by relatives.”

Across the world, including in our region, many attempts have been made to stop or control prostitution. All have failed.

Experts say this is because anti-prostitution laws do not necessarily eliminate demand. And the laws of economics say that where there is demand there is supply.

Addressing the deep-rooted and complicated causes of prostitution —such as corruption, poverty, joblessness and low wages— should also be a priority.

The Fiji Women’s Crisis Center (FWCC) coordinator, Shamima Ali, says that people end up in prostitution due to a whole range of factors, including lack of access to education, generational poverty conditions, lack of access to adequate housing and lack of viable employment opportunities.

“They turn to prostitution because of a lack of options and opportunities throughout their life,” says Ali.

“Prostitution becomes a means of survival.”

Ali’s assertions are supported by the findings of a recent survey in Fiji, Risky Business: Sex work and HIV prevention in Fiji, conducted by Karen McMillan and Heather Worth. The results of the survey reveal that most men and women who are in the sex trade are in it because they can make the money needed to support their families.

“I support my two children; I pay for my rent, I pay for my food,” says Louisa, a 40-year old sex worker.

“I don’t have a man in my life because my two children are my responsibility. When they grow up I may be able to pull myself away from here,” she added.

Twenty-six year old sex worker Lisa says that she needs to do this because, “the wage I get is not enough to pay my bills, rent and things…so I turn to sex-work.” Some of those surveyed said they were in it just to earn money to satisfy their wants.

Fear of HIV is driving men to seek sexual relations with very young, clean girls. These girls are in turn forced into the sex industry by relatives.

Authorities are concerned about other activities associated with prostitution—human trafficking, drug abuse, child prostitution and other serious crimes such as murder and rape.

Fiji Police media liaison officer Atunaisa Sokomuri says, “all these other activities are in one way or the other related to prostitution”.

The FWCC’s Ali is also concerned about violence in sex work. “Firstly, we are of the view that prostitution is a form of violence against women as it is a violation of women’s bodies. So ideally it is something that we would like to get rid of.”

The commercialisation of sexual exploitation of children in the Pacific, which has reportedly increased in the past few years, is one of the reasons why countries like Fiji are bringing in tougher laws.

The newly adopted “Fiji Crimes Decree of 2009” is seen by the authorities as a new approach to controlling a growing problem.

Under the new law “selling or buying” minors under the age of 18 years for immoral purposes is now punishable by 12 years imprisonment. Previously, this fetched a two-year jail term, with or without corporal punishment.

Brothel keepers face five years imprisonment, or a fine of F$10,000 (US$5,000), or both. This used to be classed as a mere misdemeanor too.

Fiji Police Spokesman Sokomuri says the new law aims to protect children. But he says more needs to be done to provide rehabilitation for sex workers.

Australia and New Zealand have decriminalised prostitution.

Perhaps having learnt from experience that prostitution cannot be eradicated completely, these countries have opted to contain it by providing those in the industry a safer environment in which to operate.

The deputy director of FWCC, Edwina Kotoisuva, says that when it comes to prostitution, the trade will go to extreme measures to keep operating.

But there is opposition in the region about decriminalising prostitution because of cultural, religious and traditional values.

PNG’s Melanesian Solidarity Group says it will not stand for the decriminalisation of prostitution. It is clear that multi-faceted efforts coupled with strong legislation are needed to contain prostitution in the region.

EDITORIAL : SI needs Qualified and Quality Leaders.

Solomon Islanders are craving for qualified and quality leaders to take the nation forward.

As the national general election in August 4th 2010 is drawing near, people are making up their minds who to chose or to be their next representative in the highest decision making place in the country- the National Parliament.

Without doubt our citizens need a leader with qualification, meaning he is well educated, he can understand what his job in the Parliament for, he can perform to the expectation of his constituency or the country and he can make wise decisions which can benefit his/her constituency or the entire country.

A qualified leader has a capacity to understand our Constitutions, Parliament protocols and good knowledge of the system of governance in the country.

Or a leader who desire good works; he must be above reproach, must have one wife or vice verser, respectable, and free from the love of money, this qualification might look small but this are some type of qualification we need to see in our leaders.

It has been evident in the past that some of the leaders we (citizens) of this country put them into the Parliament become a laughing stoke to our constituency because they are not qualified enough to be there.

So now let us reconsider our past decisions and make the right choice in this coming national general election.

On the other hand, our constituency and the entire nation are in craving need for quality leaders.
What good is a country if it is managed by leaders who are of no quality; who are corrupt, greedy and are hungry for power? This is the main reason why many individuals in our country are suffering from the wrong doings of many politicians we look to as leaders.

The qualities they possess are their main tickets towards the development of our country and to getting the people's trust and sympathy.
Leaders should give out all their best. It is just the same as how the best stun guns give their full performance when someone is in dire need. Hopefully, leaders will do their best and will really exert an effort towards making a change.
The challenge is upon us the voters; our decision today determines our future,

If we continue to make wrong choices on the 4th of August this year then in term of four years let’s not blame our leaders but blame ourselves for the wrong decision we make when we cast our votes on the 4th of August 2010.