Effective partnerships with all sectors is Transparency Solomon Islands’ (TSI) main strategy in ensuring that all sectors must be included and involved in the effort to fight corruption in Solomon Islands.
“The discussion of promoting transparency must not only with the public sector, civil society sector, churches, women organizations and youths. The private sector must be included. They are an important partner in this fight they are just as affected like the rest of the citizens of this country,” TSI Chair, Ms Ruth Liloqula, said.
Transparency Solomon Islands sees the private sector as “the engine for growth” and has the potential to provide employment and other benefits whilst unlocking the barriers that limits development and economic growth.
Last week on Thursday, TSI held a Biz Link Forum with the private sector in close collaboration with the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce (SICCI).
The Biz Link Forum is an initiative of SICCI which allows businesses and organizations to interact and learn from each other’s businesses product and promotion.
The session is to promote ‘transparency’ in business transactions both in the public and private sector.
Speaking before the session starts, Ms Liloqula said, “TSI aims to involve private sector in promoting transparency and accountability in the Government and helps to address the major hindrances to socio – economic growth” in Solomon Islands, growth that would benefit all and not just a few privileged people through corrupt practices.
In the Biz Link Forum the key presenter, Tony Hughes, TSI board member, said “the potential for growth has been undermined by weak government policies, ineffective accountability institution and a much politicized public service, resulting in ineffective law enforcement agencies, control mechanisms, poor governance.”
“It is evident that when policies cash rather than development coupled with the non-prioritization of the private sector has resulted in lack of economic growth and doing business in Solomon Islands very difficult,” Mr Hughes added.
“It is evident that corruption is responsible for many of the drawbacks and should therefore be seriously addressed”.
Corruption distorts markets and creates unfair competition.
Mr. Hughes added that “when corruption is allowed to prosper it obstructs fair competition; it reduces the quality of services to the country while increasing the costs. Corruption costs us all.
“We need to work together to combat corruption. Promoting transparency is one way that corruption can be rolled back.
“We have seen the priority areas that need to be address and in many ways the private sector is a key partner that can support the drive for ‘Clean government and honest business.’
“It is sad though to see that big corporate companies did not attend the session, but we hope that they will be involved in future sessions.”
Transparency Solomon Islands would like to acknowledge businesses who have attended the Biz Link Forum for sharing their views and discussion and those who have supported TSI in hosting the event and for the in kind contribution made.
“We thank SICCI for the collaborative effort and organizing business houses to the forum.”