For much of last year (2021) the small team of gifted freelance journalist writing for the Solomon Times Online brought us stories of the ordinary men and women of the Solomon Islands who shared their life events giving us a glimpse into how they were collectively interwoven and connected through tradition, culture and wantokism or kinship.
From such stories emerged national identity, a sense of belonging, pride and decent values.
I believe the series of true to life stories united around ideals larger than the individuals but more in line with national unity.
I was keen to read about individual’s culture because culture is said to be the oil that keeps society running. Tradition and knowledge have also been described in certain quarters as the main pillars of development and sustenance of communities and that no society can progress in the absence of the two.
Development in the Solomon Islands, and I mean really meaningful development, has been playing a waiting game for years and if there is to be a move towards national unity, which is my great hope, then I hope it will be realized by all those who seek to enhance development, including development partners, new and old, that culture is central to development, It helps in the transmission of knowledge norms and values of a given people and, therefore, can serve as a good medium to change negative mindsets, about the environment and relationships among others.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
