QUESTIONS are being asked as to whether or not Australia has abandoned its multi-million-dollar commitment to fund rehabilitation projects in Malaita and Guadalcanal Provinces following the signing of the Townsville Peace Agreement (TPA) nearly 25 years ago.
The agreement, which restored relative peace and calm to Solomon Islands was signed in Australia’s northern city of Townsville on 15 October 2000, nearly 25 years ago.
In the intervening years, successive Solomon Islands Government have worked towards establishing a platform for undertaking the proposed projects, starting first on Malaita and then Guadalcanal.
That platform is the Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs (MTGPEA), which the GNUT government has formalized.
“The SIG shall immediately take steps to improve the capacity of health and educational services in Malaita and Guadalcanal provinces,” page 16 of the agreement said.
Ten (10) rehabilitation projects were proposed – five each in Malaita and Guadalcanal.
The problem is that it would seem Canberra has abrogated its commitment in funding these projects.
“The following five projects shall be included in the Memorandum of Understanding referred to in paragraph 2 (d) of Part Four.
- The Suava Bay Fisheries Centre;
- The Wairokai Seaport;
- An international Airport;
- The South Road Construction (Auki-Bina); and
- The Leili Island Tourism Site Development and Marketing
Section 2 (d) says, the SIG, Guadalcanal Provincial Government (GPG) and Malaita Provincial Government (MPG) shall negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding in respect of development incentives for the two provinces including SIG loans and grants.”
On Guadalcanal, the following projects were proposed:
- Aola-Marau Road;
- Marau-Kuma Road;
- Guadalcanal Cross Island Road;
- Lambi – Tangarare Road; and
- Wharves at Marau, Tetere, Variana and Aola
“Any MOU entered into in pursuance of this Agreement shall be deemed to form part of this Agreement,” it said.
“The government needs to be assured that these projects are still on the Australian funding radar. And if they are not, Solomon Islands needs to know,” one senior official said.
The official suggested that Australia’s focus has shifted in recent times and may have abandoned the proposed projects.
“It now concentrates in erecting bill boards across Honiara to boast about how much it has injected in infrastructure development across the provinces in the last six years.
This is one of the bill boards on the corner of Kola’a Ridge Road and the Main Highway.
Its latest billboard claims it has created 27, 300 jobs in the same period. Australia is also using the airwaves to spread its propaganda, using Solomon Islanders to say he or she works in these projects.
“This is very misleading unless Australia uses two sets of books for its accounting. For example, there really is no tangible evidence at all in the claim it spent $5 billion in infrastructure projects across the nation since 2019, unless the money was spent on consultants’ fees.
“These claims are outrageous and is an insult on the intelligence of educated Solomon Islanders. Seeing is believing,” the official said.
“Australia should not capitalize on our people’s ignorance.”
In fairness to Australia, Solomon Star asked the Australian High Commission in Honiara for comments.
“I am doing a piece on the Townsville Peace Agreement (TPA) signed almost 25 years ago. My article is based on questions raised by senior government officials. One of the questions is whether Australia has abandoned its obligation and commitment in funding a number of rehabilitations projects in Malaita and Guadalcanal
“Were there any commitment explicit or implied in the agreement obligating Australia to fund the rehabilitation projects identified in the TPA? They also pointed to the shift in Australia’s focus to erecting billboards across Honiara which seems to be a tall story capitalizing on the ordinary people’s ignorance.
“The impact of Australia’s alleged investment in infrastructure development and job creation in the last five years is highly questionable, as there is no tangible evidence to show for the claim
“Your urgent input would be very much appreciated,” email sent on Monday 5 May said.
In response to this report which was sent to the High Commission, the Office in a statement said: “There are factual inaccuracies in the article on the Townsville Peace Agreement. Australia is not party to that agreement,” the statement said, adding the report is misleading on this issue, because it suggests that Australia has commitments under that agreement where this is not the case.
“We provided this information to Mr Sasako earlier in the week, in response to an enquiry he made to the High Commission.
“Mr Sasako’s statement that we did not provide a response to his enquiry is incorrect.
“There are other factual inaccuracies in the article. We are confident in the data we use for billboard content and would be happy to discuss if you would like to understand this in more detail,” the statement concluded.
By Alfred Sasako
