Confidence in the Integrity of Government

2 February 2011

The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry has recently been called upon to comment on the current political uncertainty that has developed between the government and the opposition group. The business community has been careful not to make remarks that would be erroneously perceived, but with continued uncertainty, it seems timely that the private sector expresses its views on the present state of things.

There are two issues that must be highlighted in this instance. Firstly, we must realize that frequent political instability in a country always has long-term detrimental effect on our economic growth, as it affects Foreign Direct Investment and overall GDP. As a fact, frequent changes in government is a disincentive to invest in a country and the unstable nature of our political environment will reduce the confidence of investors to commit their capital in the Solomon Islands. Consequently, with restrictive economic growth, there is then the tendency for new governments to make unfavorable and sub-optimal economic policies.

Secondly, the present political instability cannot be seen as an isolated occurrence, but rather recognized as the product of the system. What we see in our parliamentarians today is a reflection of the degenerate state of the ethical culture of our government and institutions and the result of the inherent weakness in our political system. Unless and until we address the system within which we function, we will continue to frustrate our vision of a prosperous and skilled nation.

We have never really had total faith in our democratic system, nor confidence in our self-government. Every parliamentary election in our short history presented the people with the hope for leaders whose only aspirations would be to serve this nation faithfully and openly in the true spirit of leadership; but we are continually denied by self-serving personalities, ill-equipped for the rigors of public life and unworthy of the calling of the institution they were elected to.

The architecture of the current state of Solomon Islands is built by fathers, sons and husbands who valued the right to self-determination for their children and future generation before their own comfort and gain. The current and next generation of leaders must see this nation in the correct way, if not they will legitimize our decline and failure.

The importance of addressing this political uncertainty goes beyond protecting investor and business confidence. It points to the need for a mature political system that will ensure integrity in our institutions, restore confidence in our right to self-government and return faith in our democratic system.

To the business community, the issue is never really about ‘who’ is in government, but about there being a government with integrity, capable of honoring the ambitions of our communities for stability and prosperity and at the very least, certainty that progress is being made.