Solomons provincial

leaders study Malaysian model

A visit to Malaysia by a group of Solomon Islands provincial pre miers late last year could be the forerunner to much closer rela tions between the two countries, according to the group’s leader, the Minister for Malaita Provin cial Affairs, Adrian Bataiofesi.

On the trip were Makira Pro vince Premier Mathais Ramoni, Isabel Province Premier Culwick Vahia, former Guadalcanal Pro vince Premier Stephen Paeni, the deputy secretary to Makira Pro vince David Sita and Lency Mis ros of the Solomons Ministry of

Foreign Affairs.

Mr Bataiofesi said the trip had permitted mission members to broaden their outlook on things and events. The mission had visited six of Malaysia’s 13 states, as well as development projects including palm oil, rub ber, timber-milling and manufac

turing industries.

He said their study of Malay

sian local government had been beneficial and relevant, “because some aspects of Malaysian local government had been adopted by the Solomons". Mr Bataiofesi recalled that, before independ ence, a Solomons parliamentary team had visited Malaysia to study the country’s local govern ment structure. “Some of the ideas they learned there were processed and can now be seen in our Provincial Government Act,” he said.

The minister said one thing that had struck him most strongly was that although Malaysia is

developing rapidly, the people

still maintain their cultural and traditional ways. He said there was an important lesson there for Solomon Islands, as it faced its

own development challenge.

Mr Bataiofesi said he had noted that it has only been in recent times, 25 years after inde pendence, that the government of

Malaysia has moved to redirect its economic policies towards, and provide incentives for, its disadvantaged sector, mostly na tive Malayans living in rural areas.

He asked the government to arrange more such trips for the decision-makers of Solomon Is lands, especially at the provincial level.

The trip had its origins in a brief conversation between Sol omon Islands Prime Minister Mr Mamaloni and Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir when the latter’s plane made a brief re fuelling stop at Honiara in mid -1982.

Chinese puzzle

for Solomons

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Solomon Mamaloni was in Taiwan in March to discuss the establishment of diplomatic rela tions between Solomon Islands and the Taiwan governments.

Taiwan is interested in investing in the Solomons, and has offered to help establish a para-military force in the country.

While Mr Mamaloni was in Taipei, accompanied by Foreign Minister Dennis Lulei, the Sol omons Minister of Finance, Bart Ulufa’alu was in Peking heading a delegation for talks with the government of the People’s Re public of China over aid for the Solomons, including finance for a new National Parliament build ing in Honiara.

Before going to Taiwan, Mr Lulei said it was hoped to estab lish relations at ambassadorial level with the People’s Republic of China and at consular level with Taiwan. But, if the experi ence of other governments over establishing diplomatic links with both Peking and Taiwan is any guide, the Solomons will be told by Peking that it will not agree to a diplomatic exchange if the Solomons recognises Taiwan as an independent state.

A few years ago, Fiji had to choose between Peking and Taiwan over the establishment of diplomatic missions. It chose Peking, which now has an am bassador in Suva, while Taiwan has an unofficial “trade" representative.

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