To lead is to serve yourself

Letters

Other letters: From the Solomon Star To lead is to serve yourself

Dear Editor, Why is it that every time we read in the newspapers of a new business starting up in Solomon Islands there are Politicians or other leaders involved?

Are our national leaders such brilliant businessmen that they are sought after by foreign investors or are they simply allowing themselves to be used by those foreign investors? Many of our politi cians have their first exposure to the out side world on overseas trips. There they are wined and dined and made to feel

important.

They are easy targets for unscrupulous people whose only motive is to make money and who have no interest, other than financial, in this country. Instead of promoting the national interest, our politicians are only serving themselves making a nonsense of our national motto.

It seems to be common nowadays when governments look for overseas funding not to go to recognised sources, but to seek assistance from more dubious institutions and individuals.

The reason for this is that internation ally recognised and respected lenders do not give kick-backs. So once again self interest is put before national interest. It is now time for all of us to say what king of leaders we want. Members of cabinet should not be allowed to have business

interests as there is so often a conflict of interest.

Cabinet ministers should be concen trating on their jobs and not running

supermarkets or logging companies. Part

of the problem is caused by prime minis ters creating an excessive number of min istries in order to secure slim majorities in parliament. As has been said many times in recent months, the number of min istries should be reduced.

Many ministers do not have much to do and so it is perhaps not surprising that they are tempted to look elsewhere. What we need in the next parliament is men and women who genuinely put the Solomon Islands first and who are not necessarily interested in being ministers but who want to serve their constituents and their country. We need people of integrity and the strength of character not to be drawn into the web of corruption that seems to be getting larger year by year.

Wilfred James

Honiara.

Dear Editor, Obviously, politicals and ministers of the crown here taken free ride in abusing their respectful offices long enough while we watch in silence.

The last seven years of our nation

have been marred with allegations of cor ruption, abuse of the high office of the land, leaders depriving people of their land to foreigners for an insignificant sum of money and cans of beer. Yet we watch in silence.

Health and education needs of our people are far from being met. Each day we are tossed further and further way from any glimpse of a hopeful future for our children. Yet we remain silent.

Obviously, our leaders have lost visions of a meaningful future. They seem to have eyes but do not see. Visions have long been burned in pursuit-of their own welfare - like free trips overseas, becoming consultants for commissions and other privileges from foreign compa nies.

Why should a few men of deplorable characters be given a free hand to destroy the image, the resources and future of our nation for us while we wait in silence?

Wake up Solomon Islands. Let us do something for God to save our Solomon Islands we have to speak out, join hands together and fight against corruption, injustice in all possible ways.

Wake up. Our children deserve a respectable future. A future of hope.

Patterson Toenunu

Honiara.