Monday, September 05, 2011

Another Day in the Happy Isles

Trading at the Point Cruz Wharf
PM Official Residence - Vavaya Ridge
Mother Ships Loading Tuna Catches
Children Kayaking - Kakabona
Popular Beaches- Kakabona
Hyundai Mall, next to Central Market
Busy Point Cruz Harbour




Saturday, September 03, 2011

Diplomatic cables claim Australia has failed to stabilise 'fragile' Solomons

Philip Dorling August 30, 2011

MORE than a billion dollars and eight years of effort by Australia has failed to build political and economic stability in the Solomon Islands, according to secret United States diplomatic assessments.

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US report: RAMSI fails

By DOUGLAS MARAU


THE Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has remained tight-lipped over a secret United States (US) assessment report stating that RAMSI has failed to build political and economic stability in the Solomon Islands. The report which was highlighted in the Sydney Morning Herald said RAMSI wasted billions of dollars but failed miserably since they were deployed to the Solomon Islands in 2003. “We have no response at this stage,” a statement from RAMSI communications said. The report highlighted that Australia's intensive policing and aid effort has not succeeded in stabilising what they described as a ‘fragile’ Solomon Islands. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, despite large-scale Australian assistance and intensive institution building, Solomon Island democratic institutions could not cope with the deep fractures and frustrations that divide the many communities in its society. A strong outside hand will be needed for a long, long time, the report highlighted. The Sydney Morning Herald reported the confidential US diplomatic report was leaked to WikiLeaks and provided exclusively to Fairfax. The report also highlighted that ''if RAMSI officers should leave tomorrow, the situation in the country could quickly revert to the dark days during the ethnic crisis.’ ''There are still people out in communities who have not been brought to justice for atrocities committed during the ethnic conflict. These incidents and the economic tensions ... continue to fester. ''As is clear to every observer, over the 28 years since independence, modern government has failed to take firm root in Solomon Islands soil,” it was reported. RAMSI was deployed to the country in July 2003 at the request of the former Solomon Islands government led by Sir Allan Kemakeza. This followed the five years of ethnic crisis which led to a widespread breakdown of law and order. Australian taxpayers over the years have complained that the peace-keeping force has wasted billions of taxpayer’s money. In 2011-12 Australia will provide the Solomon Islands, which has a population of only 500,000 people, with more than $260 million in overseas development assistance. It was believed the US assessment report was drawn down by the visiting US delegation who visited the country earlier this year.