SOLOMON IS: Call for collective leadership by PM
Updated
The Solomon Islands chapter of Transparency International wants to the country's new prime minister to adopt a collective style of leadership, and to listen to what the people want. The Executive Officer of Transparency Solomon Islands, Joses Tuhanuku says at the same time Prime Minister Derek Sikua should be firm and in control. Mr Tuhanuku described the leadership style of the former Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare as dictatorial. He says Prime Minister Sikua's recent fence-mending trip to PNG, Australia and New Zealand was a good initiative to start with.
Presenter: Sam Seke
Speakers: Joses Tuhanuku, Executive Officer of Transparency Solomon Islands
TUHANUKU: First of all I must say that I would like to congratulate our prime minister for taking the initiative to visit Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and I understand that he was also going to visit the headquarter of the Pacific Forum.
Now our former prime minister was successful in almost destroying the relationship of Solomon Islands with all these countries and it was a very good move before we talk about anything that he had to get ourselves back to a normal relationship with those countries before we start to talk about aid program and bilateral arrangements of any sort and whatever.
SEKE: If there was no change of government both in Solomon Islands and in Australia. Do you see the relations between the two countries ever improving?
TUHANUKU: I would not comment on change of government in Australia, but I would say it was a very good thing that there was a change of government in Solomon Islands, because a change of government in Australia I do not say there will be a improvement to the relationship, because our former prime minister would expect the new government to do exactly what he wanted. And I know for a fact that it was not going to happen. So it was very good to start with that we have a new government in Solomon Islands.
In Australia, it's a different issue and I don't have any comment to make on the change of government in Australia.
SEKE: There was an outcry in the Solomon Islands for a change of government and you were at the forefront of it. And now we have a new government in place, so what do you think the government now should be focusing on?
TUHANUKU: Let me say there is no quick fix to the problems that we have in Solomon Islands. But the important thing is that any government must focus on our problems. The problem with our former prime minister is that he used up his energy, his time, his mind, his thinking on the wrong thing. For example, Julian Moti. He was spending a lot of time trying to defend him and this and that and the relationship between Australia and Solomon Islands suffered because of Julian Moti.
Now as I say there is no quick fix but our prime minister now needs now to focus on our programs. We have problems with our health system, we have problem with our public service, we have problem with our police force, we have problem with our provincial government system, we have so many problems. There is no need for us to look for new problems, we have so many of them. And what the government needs to do is to focus on those problems and stop getting involved in things which have nothing to do with the interests of Solomon Islands, like the former prime minister did.
SEKE: Some of the former prime minister's cabinet ministers actually defected resulting in his downfall, because they did not like Mr Sogavare's style of leadership. Now, how do you think Prime Minister Sikua should govern?
TUHANUKU: Well, the new prime minister needs to ensure that there is collective leadership in that they, they cabinet, the ministers, are involved in the running of the country. There is a need for our new prime minister to listen to the people of Solomon Islands. You cannot claim to govern on behalf of the people of Solomon Islands if you don't want to meet them, if you don't want to listen to what they have to say, if you just dismiss whatever criticism or suggestions they may come up with. Unlike the former prime minister, his style of leadership. It was dictatorial in my opinion, so I think that this is a lesson that the new prime minister must learn, but at the same time, the prime minister needs to be a strong leader. It does not mean that you just do what anyone like. You should be in control. The prime minister should be in control, but he's got to listen peoples opinions, be sensitive to the thinking of the people of the country or what is happening and so on.
