As the 2010 national general election looms closer, the people of Solomon Islands will no doubt be treated to a feast of new political parties with menus of policies that are certain to tantalize voters. Spurred on by the Government-sponsored Integrity Bill, which is facing an uphill battle for passage in the Parliament meeting which began this week, the “rush” to form political parties is unprecedented. Here, ALFRED SASAKO, who will also be contesting the election, looks at one of the newcomer parties, the People’s Federation Party (PFP), what it stands for, its policy intention as well as a look back on the 32 years since our Solomon Islands gained political independence from Britain:
FOUNDING Director General of PFP, Rudolf Henry Dorah, will officially launch the People’s Federation Party in Honiara on 11 April 2010.
Mr Dorah, a former diplomat, believes that the 2010 national general election provides an opportunity for a fresh start for our nation – a referendum of sorts for a fresh start in every sector and in every way.
Mr. Dorah provides an excerpt of what the Party founder is expected to say at the launch next month.
“Dear friends, supporters and all the families and good citizens of the Solomon Islands, the 2010 National General Election is a very important election. As such, it should not be seen as just another election. It is not.
“For me and the People’s Federation Party team, we believe, this year’s election should be treated as a referendum on the future of our nation, Solomon Islands,” Mr Dorah said.
“For ever since Solomon Islands gained Political Independence from Great Britain in July of 1978, the people of Solomon Islands, especially the rural village communities have been denied access to and indeed, real development.
“The majority of the poor village people of the Solomon Islands are still living impoverished lives as a direct result of lack of leadership foresight, ill-conceived and designed development policies and sheer greed by few people at the cost of many.
“Our regional and international development partners are shocked at the stunning truth that despite Solomon Islands being endowed with rich natural resources, yet our nation is among the poorest performing economies in the Pacific region, characterised by poor national infrastructures, poor education infrastructures, poor health and medical services, and unstable political culture,” he said.
“The victims of this unfortunate predicament is our rural villages who have no way of meeting their family needs, and the low income urban workers with an increasing unemployment rate which has given birth to an unprecedented crime rate among youths of Honiara and throughout the provinces.
“Sadly, everywhere I go, people are angry at the way politicians have let them down,” Mr Dorah who will be contesting the Small Malaita seat said.
“Today, my good people of Solomon Islands, we stand to ask more questions than answers as to what our future holds.
“We have lost the respect of our leaders who have got us to where we are today, and all we are asking is “CHANGE”.
“We know that to achieve change will be a had battle because our old politicians don’t really want to change a political culture and practice that keeps them in power for private reasons while the silent majority is suffering and struggling to survive on a daily basis.
“The 2010 National General Election will be your chance to tell today’s politicians that the time has come for real CHANGE – your chance to vote for something different, something real and tangible, because this is your last chance to make a change,” he said.
“Many people have been led to believe they would get change for the better in the past 30 years.
“Instead, the gap between the rich and the poor has got bigger and wider, our politics has got even dirtier, our civil liberties have been eroded, the environment around us is in danger and our international reputation and image has been tarnished by past governments.
“Solomon Islands is in the teeth of five crises:1). An increasing impoverished rural population with deep seated land disputes threatening to wreak havoc on our economy, 2). A rotten Westminster system abused by too many MPs for personal gain, 3). An unbiased banking system that serves the rich at the expense of the poor, 4). A leadership crisis; and 5). The threat of climate change.
“We need big changes to fix our economy, our discredited politics and our environment to allow our people to take advantage of their natural resources.
“The People’s Federation Party believes there’s a better way. This country can be fairer, it can be safer, greener, and stronger in the world.
“Only the People’s Federation Party has the ideas, the energy, the vision and the ambition to provide the new hope the country needs.
“If that’s what you want too, after 30 years of great disappointment, turn to us. Together, we carry the torch of hope, opportunity, reward, security, peace, progress and prosperity now,” Mr Dorah said.
“Let me assure you that despite all the gloomy news, there’s still real hope for the future – but only if we make 2010 National General Election a Change to give us a FRESH START.
“We need strong leadership and a different kind of politics to make it happen. The way things have always been done has got us into this mess, and it will never get us out.
“Above all, we must do everything to protect the next generation from the mistakes made today.
“For me, how we treat our poor rural communities especially our young children, our women, our old people, and the way we have allowed others to plunder and rape our resources is the most important measure of what kind of society we want, what kind of values we hold dear.
“Even in these difficult times, giving all children from all backgrounds the life chances they deserve will always be my personal priority.
“So if you want things to be different, choose a party that is different. Choose the People’s Federation Party, a vote you can never regret, a vote for the future of our country.”
• Next week, Mr Sasako looks at the Party’s proposal for root crops (cassava, taro, yam etc) development in the rural area, a AUD$33 million a year export (SBD$231 million) industry we have ignored in the past three decades.
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