Rework RAMSI to help build sustainable Solomons urges Oxfam

The newly elected government of the Solomon Islands can act to help dampen simmering public dissatisfaction but RAMSI will need to change its approach and seek more ways to support ordinary people to have their say in shaping the future of the country, says a new report by Oxfam as the third anniversary of the mission's arrival approaches.

"More needs to be done to allow ordinary people to help shape the future of the Solomon Islands and to have a say in how development is to address their needs and to create jobs," said Barry Coates, Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand.

Bridging the Gap Between State and Society - New directions for the Solomon Islands is published today (20 July) to mark the start of a one-day seminar co-hosted by Oxfam International and Transparency International in Honiara to debate the future of the Solomon Islands. The report found that RAMSI's focus on rebuilding the state and machinery of government was missing meaningful consultation with and the informed support of the people of the Solomon Islands.

"RAMSI had been hailed as a model for state building in post-conflict societies," Coates said. "But a central challenge for RAMSI now is to help build a bridge between state and society."

The Oxfam report calls for resources allocated to strengthen the government to be balanced with an increased emphasis on building better linkages between rural and urban communities and the state, as well as addressing concerns for employment, rural livelihoods and basic services.

In 2005, Oxfam interviewed 776 men, women, youths, police, civil society and government officials in Honiara, Malatia and Central Guadalcanal. It found:

* widespread dissatisfaction that government rhetoric on economic development had yet to be translated into real action on livelihoods and human security

*little understanding of the rebuilding process among the general population

* a perception especially in rural areas where RAMSI has less of a presence that security had not greatly improved

* a pervasive sense of exclusion from government decision making and a lack of linkages and engagement between government and its citizens.

A lack of Pacific Island staff in RAMSI also hinders the mission's impact with Solomon Islanders, according to Oxfam. As at end of May 2006, 94 per cent of civilian advisors in the Solomon Islands came from Australia and New Zealand, with Pacific Island staff largely confined to the role of foot soldiers.

"To help promote long-term peace and stability in the Solomon Islands, RAMSI needs to improve community engagement, address security concerns, focus more on livelihoods, food security and rural development and bolster its ranks with increased representation from the region," concluded Coates.

Download the report Bridging the Gap (PDF 2.4mb)

Scars and Stars

Willie Bugotu
Pape'ete

Dr Jimmie Rodgers head of SPC today sets the scene for the first Youth Pacific Festival in Pape'ete Tahiti. In his statement today to about one thousand plus youths from 28 different countries; he said that, youth focus should be now on a futuristic approach; that is youths ought to be seen as stars for our future; he cautioned that the Pacific Community will be a place of more challenges once the one quarter of a million addition in population each year doubles in twenty years time; this period will be witnessed by alot of us today.

The Solomon Islands Delegation consist of three males; four females; an a govt official. The Solomon Islands Youth delegation will be heading a workshop on Friday sat in Solomons on the Governance in the region; specific points will be on RAMSI; youths in decision making and the experience of the national general elections and clean election campaign

Island Business - Solomon Islands: FIRST --PM WANTS RAMSI TO CONCEDE SOME CONTROL

And first to go: Australian police chief

Samisoni Pareti
Solomon Islands’ police chief, Shane Castle, will be the first to go if the new Solomon Islands Prime Minister Mannaseh Sogavare has his way.

The Fiji and New Zealand educated tax auditor believes the Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) shouldn’t have its own police chief as opposed to the commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP) Force. READ MORE