TUTUVATU

By  Dr. Tarcisius Kabutaulaka Manasseh Maelanga’s statement in parliament (as reported on SIBC News, July 21,  http://www.sibconline.com.sb/anti-corruption-bill-could-affect-kastom-maelanga/) that the Anti-Corruption Bill could affect kastom is misleading, ill-informed and irresponsible. It is an indication that either he did not read the Bill, or he didn’t understand it.  The Anti-Corruption Bill provides that an act of exchange done according to kastom could be used as defense. Clause 93 (2) (a) & (b) of the Bill states that: “It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (1) if the defendant proves that the defendant promised, offered or gave the benefit: (a) in accordance with custom; and (b) openly, in the course of a traditional exchange of gifts.” So, if one were accused of corruption, one could argue and provide evidence that his/her action was in accordance to kastom. For example, a presentation of goods done in public and in exc

Dr. Joseph D. Foukona By Derek Futaiasi Canberra, Australia On 13 July 2018, at a graduation ceremony at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, Joseph Daniel Foukona walked onto the podium and was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). He looked dignified in his graduation regalia. This was the culmination of a long and arduous journey that started many years ago for this Solomon Islander from Lau Lagoon in the Malaita Province.  I have known Dr. Foukona – or Joe as he is keenly known by friends – since our childhood days growing up at Naha II in the mid-1980s to early 1990s. With other kids our age, we were often the neighbourhood menace. I vividly remember one day when we were playing under a cherry tree at Wayne Ghemu’s family backyard. Stephen, a I-Kiribati boy, climbed to the top of the tree. Joe threw a rock to Stephen. He failed to catch it, so it came tumbling down and landed on my head. As I yelled in pain, the other kids scattered back to thei

By Dr. Transform Aqorau We have been captivated by the story of the Wild Boars Soccer Team and their Coach going missing in the cave and the rescue efforts in Thailand. Underneath all of that veneer of the media has been our concern for their safety, for their safe delivery, and for their return to their families. We shared our humanity, our connectivity at these moments. Humans are capable of unleashing untold destruction and harm on each other, and we just watch often in helplessness as peoples after peoples maim and kill each other in the name of religion and on account of their political inclinations. Yet, humans are also capable of rallying together when faced with such circumstances as the tragedy that befell the Wild Boar Soccer Team to support each other. We prayed for them and wished the rescue effort the very  best. We saw how young the Team was and thought of our children and relatives. We thought of the pain that their parents and families must be going thro

By  Dr. Transform Aqorau Rakutu McCully Highway, Munda   At the breakfast meeting organized by the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday 27 June, the Prime Minister said he is optimistic about the next 40 years. I too share his optimism about the next 40 years and indeed believe that it offers huge possibilities. This shared view is held against the backdrop however over a cloud that hovers over the prospects that we will have difficulties to trade our products in the near future unless we are able to secure the same preferences that we currently enjoy as a Least Developed Country (LDC) potentially impinging on that future that we need to crate for our future generation. On the eve of the celebrations of 40 years since we became independent, we are being recommended for graduation from being an LDC to a Developing Country. While that gives us reason to applaud ourselves, the permutations that graduation implies for our trade particularly for our tuna and oil palm products are s

By  Dr. Tarcisius Kabutaulaka As we celebrate 40  years of constitutional independence, it is important to reflect on the ideas that form and continue to influence our country, our relationships to each other, and how we portray our Solomon Islander identity  ( or identities) to others.  There are numerous reasons why such reflections are important. One simple reason is because ideas are powerful. They have the potential to transform our societies and environments in both positive and negative ways. Here, I focus on the idea of Solomon Islands. Yes, in a way Solomon Islands is an idea. Its existence as a nation-state is dependent on our individual and collective ideas of belonging and commitments to making this idea a viable and beautiful reality.  Solomon Islands, in other words, is as good as our imagination of belonging to this community that we call our country  – our home.  It is “our imagined community.” This idea of Solomon Islands as a community is based on a s

Dr. Tarcisius Kabutaulaka As Solomon Islands celebrates 40 years of constitutional independence and share with our Melanesian  wantoks  attending the Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival, this is also a time to reflect on our individual and collective futures. It is an opportunity to reflect on the soul of our nation, Solomon Islands. Perhaps you are wondering: Can a nation have a soul? What constitutes the soul of a nation? How do we know if our nation has a soul, or not? I believe that nations, like individuals, have souls. It is difficult to explain what the soul of a nation is. But, like faith, it simply exists. The soul of a nation is the embodiment of ideas, principles and values that form the foundation of every nation. It is the altruistic values that exist for a higher purpose, beyond the self-centered personality of its citizens and leaders. A nation ’ s soul constitutes the collective soul of its citizens. As the great Indian philosopher and political refor