The United States is reportedly poised to re-open its Embassy in Honiara after having a Consular presence for 20 years or so.
Setting aside the political inferences as to why the US is once again seeing its greater presence in the Solomon Islands, I wonder what one might see change for the better across the whole nation, and I say this knowing that the USA is currently seeing to developments in just one province.
How will the USA help the Solomon Islands bring about strong economic growth and development to help the poorest citizens lift themselves out of subsistence living and boost their livelihoods and incomes?
The Solomon Islands is in a fragile state, in my eyes, currently fighting the invasion and widespread transmission of Covid-19, increasingly ravished by climate change, hampered by the issues of customary land ownership, a tourist industry at a standstill due to the global coronavirus pandemic, rampant unemployment, urban drift, informal settlements in urban areas, especially in Honiara, the capital and the major decline in the once major source of income, round log sales, and a health service needing a major transformation given an ever increasing population, non-communicable diseases, broken down and abandoned Colonial era health clinics and far from major importing markets for exports from the Solomons.
I welcome the intended return of the United States but its agenda on return must go far beyond what I term charity development, but must help the Solomon Islands with strategies for economic growth, development and widespread infrastructure, including the health sector.
It would help if the USA would assist with private sector investment on a scale the World Bank has promoted in its operational strategies for several years.
How could this practice be brought about given the constraints on land acquisition for the creation of economic zones, the once talked about policy ideas of the national government?
The USA must help the Solomon Islands government to improve education, health, training, including IT training, social protection, export marketing,good governance and a growth that is inclusive, but, frankly, the needs are endless, but an absolute priority must be in job creation.
I very much wish that the return of the USA will work towards uniting the Solomon Islands and help to build a more sustainable future for all the citizens of the country.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
