Dear Editor – Thank you for allowing me space in your paper to express my most humble views, which I believe are timely and appropriate for the purpose intended.
As a rural dweller who has a keen interest especially with the transitions occurring within these few months and weeks that we've gone through, particularly in the political arena I believe this is the right time to beat my wooden drum specifically for my good people of Ranongga and Simbo.
Firstly, I'd like to make myself clear or else someone might wrongly interpret me. I'm a neutral person and I am not writing for a contesting candidate or any particular group.
However, I'm only using my right as a citizen of this democratic nation to freely express my views, solely of my own.
In question of who was the longest serving parliamentarian in the recent dissolved parliament, we the people of Ranongga and Simbo will proudly stand together, hand in hand, and with one voice proclaim, Francis Billy Hilly (FB), our parliament member.
Amazingly true isn't it? Apparently, he should be given a double award during that thirty second independence ceremony at Lawson Tama, for the twenty four years in parliament, and for creating and leading the lowest developed constituency.
On the other hand, I should be proud of him because he had been with the parliament squad since 1978.
A lot of his team mates involved in the negotiation of our independence constitution in London in 1977 have already moved on.
Only the likes of our Sir Peter Kenilorea and few others are still with us.
The picture I'd like to paint here is plain. These many years does not represent our RANOSI constituency in terms of development.
After all these disgusting years, we are still fainting behind like a faithful dog, which still has to follow even though it's not been given a share of the kill.
By the end of the day we were just like a useless tyre under a coconut tree. What a sad omen but that was what and who we'll be if we don't give change a chance.
I know and everyone knows there are resources within, and around these two islands that can be utilized to contribute to our national economy.
But why? Simple because we don't have the financial means to initiate, and a leader who has the heart for our development.
Prove me right or wrong but whoever goes around these two islands will prove my word. Hardly would you notice any change.
For Ranongga the only change you'd notice were the surface corals from the 2007 earthquakes uplift and the erected bearer less house posts, standing till today like the Easter islands statues.
Why Mr FB? As an economist is this how you defined economic development? When the same few have been benefitting while we the majority have been struggling to make ends meet.
Mr FB why do you want to contest again when instead of raising our standing of living, you've taken us down the drain.
Therefore, for the sake of preparing you in advance before you come around for another powerful campaign, I'd like to put down some simple questions which I believe only your CDO and you are qualified to answer.
What about the cinema, the store, and the motel at Lambete? Where did you get money to build them?
How can we give you another term when you're building you empire in a different place, instead of Ranongga and Simbo?
Or do you want to contest against Peter Boyers, talem stret nomoa mekem yu go stand long dea nao, or if you still can't tell RANOSI from Roviana. Ask a standard one kid, and you'll get your right answer.
What about the 2.7 million tsunami money, the livelihood, the millennium, micro funds, tithes, independence celebration money and etc.
Please be practical enough and provide reports on them when you come around. How can we cast our ballot for you again when you have not been transparent with our money?
What about your CDO who has never done any good for us, but a pain in the head. Until today thousands of our project applications are yet to be replied.
Maybe they are already in your trash bin waiting to be burned.
Are you selective Mr FB or is it your CDO? How can we give you another term when the same few are getting fatter?
What about your so-called chiefs and ward representatives who you use to get our votes. While they got OBMs, solar, cheques and some other privileges, the rest sat down and watch with our salivas running down. How can we vote for you again when only few have been benefitting.
Mr FB culturally speaking, as Melanesian we do things communally.
Which means, it would be better if we were assisted likewise but sadly, that was not the case with you.
Please don't come around telling us that you've assisted us because you only assisted a few.
they were only your same few.
What about the tens of thousands of dollars you gave the United Church women group of Ranongga who attended the Ngatokai women's rally?
Why are you now spending tens of thousands when you should have doe it how many years you were in power?
But maybe because they've been your winning ballot, and because some contesting candidates now are making you uneasy that you decided to be Mr Good Samaritan.
What a joke! Do you think that with the 0.001 percent of the millions you've misused, you can easily fool unsuspicious women? Wrong! You can never hid because that was not the real you.
Mr FB let me ask you this one single question regarding the above matter. What would be more beneficial for these women, giving them tens of thousands of dollars to attend a one week gathering, or buying sawing machines for them to start their own small sewing business that would have sustained them in the long run?
Please don't get me wrong because I'm not saying that their going was wrong. 'But' should the money be given them five years or fifteen years ago for the above reason, they would never bothered you now.
Why? Because they would have supported themselves. But guess what? They were back with their old job-struggling and looking from means to buy soap, kerosene, salt and etc. my my, my, how can we vote for you when you don't even recognize the priority areas to develop?
What about the solar panel sets you've distributed near the end of your term, stickier with your picture. Do you think that you could easily fool us? Wrong!
Those panels were funded by the ROC government and not from the millions of dollars from our constitutional funds. How can we vote for you when you tried to hide behind someone else's good works?
What is so special about names like Lodu and others that by the sound of them, nothing has been withheld? How can we vote for you when we'd been left suspicious and questioning?
Mr. F.B four terms [not including the other two] was too much. With this length of period you should have already accomplished your short, medium, and long term plans.
If Mr Honorable Taneko can buy two ships, then why can't you our longest serving member?
How can we vote for you again when we no longer have any confidence on you?
Mr FB while I'm not being ignorant towards many of the good things you've done for us in the past, what I'm only trying to draw out here is; these vast times does not really draw out the real colors of development that we should be enjoying now.
Seriously, we need a new leadership perspective.
Finally, I'd like to appeal to all of you my good and wise people of Ranosi to vote wisely on the fourth of August.
Don't be deceived by anyone who comes with any RCDF (Rural con deceiving fund) but go for someone who has the heart for our well being.
And some one who fears God. We need change, a change that will get us out from the pit we are in, to a dimension where we can joyfully contribute to the national economy of our country.
Yumi no man nating yia. We got to change!!!
Kenneth Osopo
Ranongga Islan
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