Prime Minister Sogarave FEMM Speech
Prime Minister Sogarave FEMM Speech
3 Jul 2006 22:32:33
Address by the Hon. Manasseh Sogavare, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands
10th Forum Economic Ministers Meeting
Honiara, Solomon Islands 4 July 2006
Honourable Deputy Prime Ministers for Cook Islands and New Zealand, Honourable Forum Economic Ministers, Honourable Ministers of the Solomon Islands Government, Acting Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat, Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished Representatives of the Development Partners, Senior Government Officials, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is a great pleasure to warmly welcome you all on behalf of the Government and People of Solomon Islands for the 10th Forum Economic Ministers Meeting here in the Solomon Islands. The Government and the People of Solomon Islands are indeed greatly honoured to be accorded the opportunity to host this Meeting at its 10th Anniversary. For this, we express our heartfelt gratitude to you and for your very presence here.
I note with great interest some very important issues on the agenda of this Meeting. I do not wish to hold up proceedings unduly. Nonetheless, I would like to make some brief comments on approaches to development in our region. I would then take the opportunity to comment on recent events in Honiara and the Solomon Islands and then conclude with some brief observations on lessons of economic growth.
This region is diverse: in people, in cultures, in economies and in levels of economic welfare. The development tasks before us are also diverse and our region is alive with discussion of the way forward.
The Pacific Plan makes a significant contribution to this discussion. It promotes and protects cultural identity but at the same time looks to strengthen regional cooperation and integration. This provides a useful regional context: we can take collective action where we will all benefit from doing so, but at the same time determine our own national goals and priorities and work towards them.
The launch of the Pacific 2020 is a case in point. It was sponsored by regional partners and contains the thinking of regional leaders and experts on how to realize the opportunities and manage the challenges of development in our region.
Development partners provide vital assistance to our efforts to raise prosperity and social stability in our region. As well as capital assistance, development partners support our efforts to develop the frameworks and strategies that facilitate economic growth.
These collective efforts are gratifying. But what is more important is that we are moving away from the dependency mentality and towards controlling our own futures through our own efforts. This is not always easy, but it is crucial for our future.
What we must be careful of is that our regional forums and planning do not become a substitute for action. I believe the milestones, forming part of the Pacific Plan is a sensible tool for keeping us focused on outcomes.
The economic aspects of the Pacific Plan in particular need a 'home' and it is vital that FEMM be that home and advise Forum Leaders what types of regional integration would be of greatest benefit to the region. On this note, I acknowledge the vital role that FEMM had played in molding the Pacific Plan.
I am informed that several initiatives have been mooted and will be considered in the following year but the biggest 'win' for the Pacific islands would be the creation of a Pacific Islands Customs Service. I believe that the benefits of the Customs service are that it would be a 'win-win' for all parties. If it were funded on a 'user pay' basis (a percentage of imports) it would be no cost to either donors or Forum Island Countries. I would, in this respect, endorse a full feasibility study to be undertaken by the Forum Secretariat so that it could be ready for next year for Ministers and Leaders.
Other work, as I understand, has been about getting countries to take ownership of those development goals and priorities and of the task of improving the economic welfare of their people.
Let me now turn briefly to recent events in Solomon Islands. Recent events in Solomon Islands were unsettling. It was not an ideal process for forming a Government.
The unrest would have revived memories of the destruction and unhappiness of the ethnic tensions. The personal tragedies were shocking. But it is also a reminder that we must work to preserve peace and our recent hard won gains.
I want to reassure all friends of Solomon Islands that stable government in this country is back in business. I think history will show that the unfortunate events just after the election were a hiccup. Proof can be seen in the progress that my Government has made so far.
The Government has already launched a comprehensive policy document a solid achievement for a Coalition formed after the election. A clear Plan of Action for the immediate future will shortly be produced. The Plan of Action will pick up key elements of the Policy Framework Document.
Rural development and grass roots involvement in development summarises the thrust of the Government's agenda. This means that we should direct our energies to making sure that the fruit of our efforts reaches the rural population - the bulk and majority of our people.
For our plans to succeed, we must create the conditions for economic growth. That is why the government is committed to following through on a reform agenda.
We must make sure that government behaviors and business conditions provide security and certainty so that both Solomon Islanders and foreign investors can develop the productive potential of our people.
We must make sure that technical assistance from development partners delivers increased capacities in our public servants. We must make sure that the Public Service has people in place as counterparts and to receive new skills.
This is a partnership. Our development partners have made a big commitment to us. To benefit fully from that assistance, Solomon Islands must make a corresponding commitment to them. My Government is making that commitment.
At the same time, development in Solomon Islands will have a distinct Solomon Islands flavour. We are determined to preserve our cultural heritage.
Distinguished guests and ladies and gentlemen I would now like to conclude by making a few observations on the key note topic for this Forum Economic Ministers Meeting.
I do not wish to steal any one's thunder, so I will be brief. I have three observations:
Economic and social development means change. This can create stresses in our societies. To manage that stress we can draw the strength of our history and culture and balance the values of our past with the benefits of development.
Openness and regional cooperation are the way forward. We should not try to lock the world out. We can, and should, value our domestic industries. But we need to balance this against the benefits available from ideas and resources from the rest of the world. The Pacific Plan is a balanced approach.
The quality of Government is a key to successful development strategies. Putting systems in place and undertaking lots of training make a big difference to the quality of Government.
However, the Government must follow through and serve ethically, fairly and openly. If it does not, confidence in government ,a key feature of successful societies, is undermined and the society risks failure. This is an area in which Solomon Islands, in its brief history as a sovereign nation, has not done so well.
It is my intention that this will change for the better.
Honourable Economic Ministers, Acting Secretary General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, let me again warmly welcome you all to Honiara and Solomon Islands. I do hope your stay here is memorable and your deliberations are purposeful. With these, I wish the 10th Forum Economic Ministers Meeting the best of success.
Thank you
3 Jul 2006 22:32:33
Address by the Hon. Manasseh Sogavare, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands
10th Forum Economic Ministers Meeting
Honiara, Solomon Islands 4 July 2006
Honourable Deputy Prime Ministers for Cook Islands and New Zealand, Honourable Forum Economic Ministers, Honourable Ministers of the Solomon Islands Government, Acting Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat, Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished Representatives of the Development Partners, Senior Government Officials, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is a great pleasure to warmly welcome you all on behalf of the Government and People of Solomon Islands for the 10th Forum Economic Ministers Meeting here in the Solomon Islands. The Government and the People of Solomon Islands are indeed greatly honoured to be accorded the opportunity to host this Meeting at its 10th Anniversary. For this, we express our heartfelt gratitude to you and for your very presence here.
I note with great interest some very important issues on the agenda of this Meeting. I do not wish to hold up proceedings unduly. Nonetheless, I would like to make some brief comments on approaches to development in our region. I would then take the opportunity to comment on recent events in Honiara and the Solomon Islands and then conclude with some brief observations on lessons of economic growth.
This region is diverse: in people, in cultures, in economies and in levels of economic welfare. The development tasks before us are also diverse and our region is alive with discussion of the way forward.
The Pacific Plan makes a significant contribution to this discussion. It promotes and protects cultural identity but at the same time looks to strengthen regional cooperation and integration. This provides a useful regional context: we can take collective action where we will all benefit from doing so, but at the same time determine our own national goals and priorities and work towards them.
The launch of the Pacific 2020 is a case in point. It was sponsored by regional partners and contains the thinking of regional leaders and experts on how to realize the opportunities and manage the challenges of development in our region.
Development partners provide vital assistance to our efforts to raise prosperity and social stability in our region. As well as capital assistance, development partners support our efforts to develop the frameworks and strategies that facilitate economic growth.
These collective efforts are gratifying. But what is more important is that we are moving away from the dependency mentality and towards controlling our own futures through our own efforts. This is not always easy, but it is crucial for our future.
What we must be careful of is that our regional forums and planning do not become a substitute for action. I believe the milestones, forming part of the Pacific Plan is a sensible tool for keeping us focused on outcomes.
The economic aspects of the Pacific Plan in particular need a 'home' and it is vital that FEMM be that home and advise Forum Leaders what types of regional integration would be of greatest benefit to the region. On this note, I acknowledge the vital role that FEMM had played in molding the Pacific Plan.
I am informed that several initiatives have been mooted and will be considered in the following year but the biggest 'win' for the Pacific islands would be the creation of a Pacific Islands Customs Service. I believe that the benefits of the Customs service are that it would be a 'win-win' for all parties. If it were funded on a 'user pay' basis (a percentage of imports) it would be no cost to either donors or Forum Island Countries. I would, in this respect, endorse a full feasibility study to be undertaken by the Forum Secretariat so that it could be ready for next year for Ministers and Leaders.
Other work, as I understand, has been about getting countries to take ownership of those development goals and priorities and of the task of improving the economic welfare of their people.
Let me now turn briefly to recent events in Solomon Islands. Recent events in Solomon Islands were unsettling. It was not an ideal process for forming a Government.
The unrest would have revived memories of the destruction and unhappiness of the ethnic tensions. The personal tragedies were shocking. But it is also a reminder that we must work to preserve peace and our recent hard won gains.
I want to reassure all friends of Solomon Islands that stable government in this country is back in business. I think history will show that the unfortunate events just after the election were a hiccup. Proof can be seen in the progress that my Government has made so far.
The Government has already launched a comprehensive policy document a solid achievement for a Coalition formed after the election. A clear Plan of Action for the immediate future will shortly be produced. The Plan of Action will pick up key elements of the Policy Framework Document.
Rural development and grass roots involvement in development summarises the thrust of the Government's agenda. This means that we should direct our energies to making sure that the fruit of our efforts reaches the rural population - the bulk and majority of our people.
For our plans to succeed, we must create the conditions for economic growth. That is why the government is committed to following through on a reform agenda.
We must make sure that government behaviors and business conditions provide security and certainty so that both Solomon Islanders and foreign investors can develop the productive potential of our people.
We must make sure that technical assistance from development partners delivers increased capacities in our public servants. We must make sure that the Public Service has people in place as counterparts and to receive new skills.
This is a partnership. Our development partners have made a big commitment to us. To benefit fully from that assistance, Solomon Islands must make a corresponding commitment to them. My Government is making that commitment.
At the same time, development in Solomon Islands will have a distinct Solomon Islands flavour. We are determined to preserve our cultural heritage.
Distinguished guests and ladies and gentlemen I would now like to conclude by making a few observations on the key note topic for this Forum Economic Ministers Meeting.
I do not wish to steal any one's thunder, so I will be brief. I have three observations:
Economic and social development means change. This can create stresses in our societies. To manage that stress we can draw the strength of our history and culture and balance the values of our past with the benefits of development.
Openness and regional cooperation are the way forward. We should not try to lock the world out. We can, and should, value our domestic industries. But we need to balance this against the benefits available from ideas and resources from the rest of the world. The Pacific Plan is a balanced approach.
The quality of Government is a key to successful development strategies. Putting systems in place and undertaking lots of training make a big difference to the quality of Government.
However, the Government must follow through and serve ethically, fairly and openly. If it does not, confidence in government ,a key feature of successful societies, is undermined and the society risks failure. This is an area in which Solomon Islands, in its brief history as a sovereign nation, has not done so well.
It is my intention that this will change for the better.
Honourable Economic Ministers, Acting Secretary General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, let me again warmly welcome you all to Honiara and Solomon Islands. I do hope your stay here is memorable and your deliberations are purposeful. With these, I wish the 10th Forum Economic Ministers Meeting the best of success.
Thank you
