THE 2010 election fever is gaining momentum and the tempo will increase in the coming months.
Temotu Pele is currently in limbo as the future of its current sitting Parliamentary representative remains unclear.
His health status and normal function kept his strong supporters guessing whether he will defend his seat at all.
Most constituents by now have seen him and witnessed his physical and mental health.
While his future remained unclear; certain hopefuls are taking advantage of the situation in trying to gain support to replace him. Most of these people are Honiara based and have their interest rooted in town.
Home base Pele populace should by now be well educated by their own circumstances and experience by electing Honiara based leadership.
The experiences of the past 22 years are a good measure in gauging genuine leadership from opportunists.
They are only interested in your votes and return to Honiara to enjoy a luxury lifestyle and establish their business interests.
It will be interesting to see how many Home based hopefuls will be contesting.
Rural dwellers are always fooled into believing that someone residing in town knows and have answers to their problems better than someone next door.
Observation and evidence proved the opposite is true. Past record had shown they are only good during the campaign period, the rest is history.
What transpired after elections are complaints, frustrations, disagreements, non-satisfaction, etc.
The true picture/colour is starting to take shape and people will start to make label connotations in the likes of “Cam Bak tumoro” or “Cam lo Thursday” (pay day) that never come.
The failure to make constituency visits from funds allocated for that purpose led to the influx of supporters flocking into town.
From the village level, people know that he is the custodian of their money and the only way to have a share is to leave their families and come to town.
Village people make comparison largely on how RCDF is managed and distributed. The role of an MP as a legislator is none of their business.
RCDF mentality had effectively blocked good reasoning and judgement.
A good MP is measured on how he gives money for day to day needs; bride price; coffins; sea fares etc.
The pressures to meet short-term needs are overwhelmingly blocking any effort to pursue long-run goals.
It creates a situation of merry go round even with a changed leadership. We seem to go round the same circle without realising what is best in the long-term for the general population.
With the calibre of the would-be- replacements; do they have the wisdom and vision to change the status quo?
We could no longer afford to change leadership without taking a different direction for the future socio-economic benefit of the majority people.
To do this; genuine leadership is all about making the right development choices that suits the local environment.
Cut and paste development goals do not always happen the way many people or even donor agencies thinks.
What is important is to take what can work for us taking into account the economic realities of our situations.
What I treasure and keep to heart is the fact that though we are remote, isolated and often considered uneconomical; our strategic location far from our own country but close to a neighbouring country is the biggest strength in terms of social and economic development.
Only the right leadership with determination, wisdom, vision and direction can unwrap this opportunity for the benefit of Pele, Temotu Province and the nation as a whole.
Constituents should seriously consider the motivational factors behind each intending candidate before making their choice.
People have a lot of reasons but the bottom line is having access to the famous RCDF.
History had proved the fund had no impact in the national economy.
Whether we like it or not but the fund are deeply rooted in politics and its usage is determined by political expediency.
What is left for the ordinary village man is systematic complain, hardship and suffering.
The circle will repeat itself until someone capable holistically addresses the root problems with affirmative action.
There are also Home base intending candidates in the likes of current Provincial members, Primary teachers and others.
Are they any better than those in town; apart from the only reason of being home based?
People should not be fooled to believe that local/village residents are any better unless someone has proved to make tangible social and economic contributions to people’s lives even without having to enter Parliament.
They have all the time to make a difference and showcase to people the type of leadership skills and actions they take to improve people’s living standards.
Many people talk sweet but they terribly lack ACTION.
Action does not come cheap. It is an art and passion of doing something good not only for the people but for yourself.
Doing comes perfect through experience. If you are not able to do good for yourself how come do you expect to do any better for the people?
That is why some people voted into power divert their attention to themself than people who mandated them.
Preparation for greater responsibilities starts at home not when someone enters the pinnacle of power.
So come 2010 elections, Pele constituents should by now be able to distinguish ethical leadership through assessing intending candidates.
The question that keeps coming to mind is whether some of these hopefuls would dare to contest in the absence of RCDF.
Most if not all are only interested to have access to RCDF but I doubt if they are going to be any different from the former and current MP.
Pele needs real change for the betterment of its population especially developing its 60% youth population through formal and vocational training.
Real transformation can only happen if we invest in our number one resource – human beings.
Departing from this reality will never change Pele no matter how many leaders we have with the same misguided developmental mentality.
What Pele need is strong and determined leadership who can lead, direct and prioritise what is best for the people in the long-term while maintaining genuine short-term needs.
A leader who operates within the small circle of campaign managers will not be able to achieve any long-term development plan.
It is now high time that leaders realise & recognise the already established ward and village structures to reinforce its existence for the betterment of the people.
Often times there were no appreciation and linkages between Provincial representatives and the MP.
Unwrapping, recognising and utilising these established community structures can make a big difference towards participatory governance and collective decision making.
Making the right choice is not always easy. People make choices on a number of factors.
Most commonly on relationships, clan membership (nuwosi) and enticements – sponsoring village picnics, feasts, bag rice, sea fare, dekulmoa (tobacco), cash etc.
General hardship in Pele communities made them easy targets for people with money to fool them.
But how long can we realise that this is only temporary to gain our votes?
Time is running out and again voters will determine who will be our next leader.
Vote wisely! Vote your future!
By KENNETH PELUWO
Honiara
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