I am very grateful to be here today for the launching of the Coalition for Reform and Advancement Government’s Policy Framework document. More than a month ago, I made the announcement that my government would finalize its policy statements within 30 days. I am glad that we have fulfilled this undertaking within the given time.

At the outset therefore, it gives me great pleasure to welcome and thank each and everyone of you for attending this important occasion. Your presence here is a manifestation of your interest in the work of my government as we begin the challenging task of governing our beloved Nation. It is my earnest hope and prayer that this interest would continue to be sustained for the next four years.

It would be remiss of me if I do not take this opportunity to thank the members of my government, Ministers and backbenchers and their political parties that comprise the government for their contributions to this policy statement of intent. Without their invaluable inputs the production of this document would not have been possible.

Lest I forget, I also wish to take this opportunity to record appreciation for the excellent job that the Drafting Committee has done in putting this document together. Your dedication and hard work in merging the policies of seven political parties and entities into a single document is commendable.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Following the general elections the NCRA government was elected into office on August 25^th 2010.In assuming the mantle of power my government is mindful of the peoples’ mandate to bring about a new Social Order. My government is extra conscious of this mandate which calls for a major change in leadership approach and policy direction to ensure that, fundamentally, ownership of Natural resources is returned to our people.

This is fitting and proper. Our people are the rightful owners of the nation’s natural resources, and we must ensure that ownership is returned to them. To achieve this goal is not easy. But I believe it is a challenge that we must face with courage, confidence and determination.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

To implement this mandate the NCRA Policy Statement sets out comprehensive reform as a key strategy to move the country forward. This will ensure that Solomon Islanders are empowered to actively participate in a meaningful way in the development of the country with the objective of improving their standard of living.

The theme of this Policy Statements is “Building a new Solomon Islands in the 21^st century.” These Statements will advance and be advanced to serve Solomon Islanders. At this juncture, I wish to briefly outline the approach and the major reforms embodied in this Document.

The comprehensive reform program is to be implemented through a two-pronged approach.

The first is Constitutional Reforms. The second is Sector Development Reforms. These parallel reforms will be implemented in tandem.

The Constitutional Reforms will deal with specific areas such as the Preamble of the Constitution which states that the natural resources of the country are vested in the people and the State. The NCRA Government believes that because of this reality, unless fundamental changes are made, the nation’s natural resources will continue to remain largely untapped.

Hence, constitutional reforms will target fundamental areas such as customary land, natural forest, mineral resources, rivers, and so on. The Customary Land Institutionalization Bill which intends to reform the customary land tenure system is the way forward to unlock these resources. The bill will ensure customary land holding groups register their land for the purpose of enhancing socio-economic development. The beneficial expected outcome will include allowing land for easy access and availability to host national development projects.

The Document also outlines the Government’s proposals for political and electoral reforms.

This includes introducing the political parties registration and administration bill and reforms to the electoral laws with the view to changing the current first past the post election system to a limited preferential system.

The Policy Statement highlights economic reforms. It proposes to shift the real economy away from its heavy reliance on the logging industry to the development of other sectors such as tourism, agriculture, fisheries and minerals. Our entire sector Policies, including foreign relations and National Security are complementary to this new shift in policy direction.

As part and parcel of its economic reforms, the Government will review the Country’s Macroeconomic Framework, Private Sector-led growth and fiscal policy as a matter of priority. The aim is to redress the key factors inhibiting growth in Solomon Islands. These include macroeconomic policy inconsistency, public sector dominance in production and consumption, infrastructure inadequacy, un-sustainability in government finances and large debt overhangs.

On fiscal policy the NCRA Government will address identified weaknesses in the areas of Public Sector Reform, State-owned Enterprises, the Budget, wage and Salary, Capacity of Development Planning, Balance of payments, Monetary and Exchange Rate policy.

The NCRA Government will also legislate into law a long-term National Development Plan. Furthermore, the government will also establish a wage/salary Commission.

In the Social Sector, the Policy Statement sets out the reforms the government proposes to embark on in the important areas of education and health. Our most important resource is our people. An enlightened population is imperative to the sustainable development of the country. The NCRA Government will develop an equal partnership involving landowners, the national government and Development Partners to ensure the universal right of a child to education is met. The government will consider raising the basic education threshold from Form three (3) to Form Five (5).

We will also consider reviewing the purpose of the current standard six (6) and Form three (3) exams which are intended to drop students from the system. We will pursue the establishment of the Solomon Islands National University during the tenure of this Government in office. Emphasis will also be placed on national technical and vocational training for rural population to create a skilled and semi-skilled labor force for the advancement of economic Growth Centers in rural constituencies as well as urban development areas.

The government subscribes to the conviction that a healthy population makes a healthy and wealthy nation. We will work towards the general acceptance of the Primary Health Care Program to achieve the global aim of “Health for All” by the year 2015.

Present indications are such that due to resource constrains Solomon Islands may not be able to achieve all the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) by 2015. Non-the-less, the government will do its outmost, with the assistance from development partners, to achieve some of the MDG’s in education and health.

As alluded to earlier the second theme is sector development reforms. In line with the national objective of assisting Solomon Islanders to participate in private sector development the NCRA Government will take initiatives to shift resources to support the village economy to create money earning opportunities through self-employment and wage employment.

This new approach will embrace the development of the rural dweller investment programme with the objective of creating new and expanded opportunities in small scale agriculture, artisanal fisheries, tourism and forestry.

The Government also proposes to establish Economic Growth Centers or Rural Economic Communities [RECs] in rural areas to stimulate economy of scale activities with increased production in mind. The Growth Centers will be one of the flagships of this Administration.

In urban and peri-urban centers the government upholds the reserve areas of business opportunities for local people.

In view of its importance for economic security to our existing and potential entrepreneurs and resource owners a comprehensive review will be undertaken to ensure compliance.

The Government believes that failure to address this concern would result in Solomon Islanders being pushed to the periphery, or being marginalized in their own country.

In the manufacturing sector the Government will provide appropriate investment incentives for producers and exporters of finished products in specially established “Export Processing Zones” (EPZ) in strategic locations. New initiatives in promoting Solomon Islands as an ideal location for development of appropriate technologies with offshore partners will be pursued.

On agriculture, which is the backbone of our nation’s economy, the government will set up an Agricultural Reform and Food Commission to oversee the implementation and monitoring of agriculture related policies and reform program.

The Government also aims to develop commercial rice farms as well as provide support for the development of Auluta Basin and Waisisi oil palm projects on Malaita, East Choiseul Oil Palm and Vangunu Oil Palm projects in Choiseul and Western Provinces respectively. Assistance will also be provided to cocoa, coconut, honey and coffee farmers.

In the fisheries sector the Government will pursue establishing fishing and fish processing companies at Suava Bay in Malaita Province and at Tenaru on Guadalcanal.

The NCRA Government acknowledges the forestry sector as the key contributor to the country’s development over the years. It provides substantially to government revenue through export duty and job creation, especially in rural areas.

However, the Government is very concerned about the current unsustainable logging practices in the country and likely adverse impacts on the economy if present trend continues unabated. 

Strong measures will be taken to ensure that no new logging licenses are issued. Instead, logging companies will be encouraged to engage in downstream processing of logs. In addition, small holders and forestry plantation owners will be encouraged to undertake reforestation on their land.

The NCRA Government recognizes the potential for tourism development in Solomon Islands. We believe that in the immediate future, tourism is the alternate industry to declining log exports. In the light of this, the Government will aggressively pursue the development of the tourism industry by vigorous coordination and collaboration with all stakeholders critical to the positive advancement of the sector.

The NCRA Government recognizes the potential for increased mineral development in the country and would immediately pursue tendering the selection of potential investors for the development of nickel mining projects in consultation with landowning groups in Isabel and Choiseul Provinces. We will also update all information and data on mineral deposits in the country. As part of this work an urgent aerial survey to determine the mineral potential s in Solomon Islands will be carried out. Further, the secretariat of the industry is to be corporatized and the requirements of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) will be adopted as part of the reform program.

In the Energy, Environment and Climate change sectors greater emphasis will be directed towards clean energy such as hydropower, geothermal, solar power and other clean energy potentials in the country.

The Government will also promote carbon trading and increase the awareness of the populace regarding the climate change principles of adaption and mitigation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For the economic and productive sector to be efficient and effective in advancing nation building we must not lose sight of the basics, and that is the support sector. The power supply in Honiara and other urban centers is not only inadequate but it is also the subject of complaints by people and corporate citizens. Our people throughout the four corners of the nation are also asking for lightings, telecommunication coverage and proper water supplies and sanitation. Shortage of water in some parts of the capital is now a daily irritation.

Hence, as a matter of priority, my Government will address weaknesses in the Solomon Islands Electricity Authority (SIEA), the Solomon Islands Water Authority (SIWA), and the Telecommunication Commission of Solomon Islands (TCSI) and ensure they function effectively and efficiently towards the overall development of the country.

On Infrastructure Development an urgent review will be undertaken to prioritize economic infrastructures which facilitate trade and economic development. These areas are Road Network, Ports Infrastructure Development, Airstrips Development and Telecommunications. In the area of Road Network the review should establish the need to build roads that will connect producers to Economic Growth Centers. Roads to big development investments projects such as mining, agriculture and fisheries will also be constructed.

The NCRA Government recognizes and upholds the principles of good governance and is committed towards ensuring that leadership at all levels of government reflects the highest standard of conduct. The principles of transparency, accountability and responsibility will be observed in making quality decisions affecting the lives of Solomon Islanders. The Government will take steps to further strengthen the accountability institutions which include the Leadership Code Commission, Ombudsman Office, Auditor General’s Office, and the Courts.

On Security and Foreign Relations the Government recognizes that fundamental to our national security is the need to provide economic security for all. A closer examination of the recent ethnical tension would show that almost all of the root causes of the tension have economic roots. The Government will therefore advance a broadened security agenda which complements our economic aspirations.

In relation to the Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP) the Government believes that an efficient and effective Police Force is essential to the security, peace and development of the nation. Currently the Police Force is struggling to regain public confidence. In order to put impetus to this desire a review of the Police Constabulary will be undertaken within six months. Measures will also be put in place for the improvement and training of the Correctional Service and the Fire Service.

On Foreign Relations the Government’s Foreign Policy will be guided by constructive engagement based on investment, trade, economic and security considerations. We will develop stronger partnership with our immediate neighbors in our Region including Members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and the Members of the Pacific Islands Forum.

The NCRA Government will also enhance Functional Co-operation with our traditional friends, and development partners both at bilateral and multilateral levels. I wish to take this opportunity to record my sincere appreciation for the kind and generous assistance provided to this country by our development partners. I look forward to engage constructively with them in the days ahead.

For broadening our foreign policy outlook the Government has adopted a “Look North” policy which aims to capture possible benefits and opportunities that Asia may offer. 

 On Trade, more emphasis will be shifted to this area with the intention to increase the country’s exports through trade promotion using its membership of regional and international trade organizations.

Trade policy will also be brought into the mainstream by its inclusion in both the mid-term strategy and the national development plan.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Government and people of this nation, to record profound gratitude and appreciation for the great work the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has done and is doing in our country. The tremendous contributions made by our friends in the region are highly acknowledged by our people.

The Government recognizes that the nation has moved from the situation of assistance to that of partnership. In this regard the Government is prepared to work together with the members of the Pacific Islands Forum to implement the Partnership Framework between Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI. We will also study the recommendations of the Foreign Relations Committee Review report on RAMSI.

On Civic affairs the NCRA Government attached importance to a cordial working relationship with the churches and non-Governmental organizations.

We will continue to facilitate the healing process amongst our people and to this end a Forgiveness Bill will be enacted to complement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The Government also recognizes the important areas of Gender Development, Youth Development, Family Development and Traditional Leadership.

In recognition of the importance of sports in national unity and development the Government will build a national Stadium and establish a national sports institute.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Having outlined the Policy Statement s major reforms, I wish now to turn to the implementation of the reform programme.

For any reform programme to succeed three prerequisites have to be satisfied. These are:

1. Political Will;
2. Technical Know-How; and
3. Wider public support

I have already stated in no uncertain terms that the NCRA Government has the political will to implement the reforms. Let there be no doubt on this score.

We also require the necessary Technical Know-How to successfully implement the reform programme.

In the past successive government s who had also advocated reforms had to deal with bureaucratic delays, lack of proper coordination and inadequate resources in driving government priorities forward. The results were that the reforms were either partly carried out, or delayed indefinitely. This is not good for our country.

This time we will do things differently. In accordance with this new direction my government will take both a leading and implementing role in driving its own policies and priorities forward. This means the Government will have to push what it owns as set out in this policy framework document to ensure that at the end of its term in office we leave the government with the satisfaction that we have fulfilled our promises to the nation.

Therefore, the Government will establish within the office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet the BUREAU of SOCIAL and ECONOMIC REFORM (BSER) to carry out this task. The function of this Bureau, which will be manned by technical personnel, is to ensure that line Ministries stay focus and don’t deviate from implementing the reforms. The same will apply to Provincial Assemblies, Statutory Authorities and State Owned Enterprises.

For the reforms to succeed we will also require the support and cooperation of the wider public. This includes our development partners, leaders at all levels in all walks of life in our society, the public service, private sector, and indeed all our people.

Finally, let me close with this. I believe the time has come for all of us to put our differences aside and to focus on what we have.

And this is the sacred trust of advancing our beloved nation, Solomon Islands forward.

The challenge is in our hands today.

As a symbol of unity in purpose, let us join hands together and work, under God’s guiding hand, to achieve prosperity for all Solomon Islanders and our future generations.

Thank you and God bless Solomon Islands.