NATIONAL unity is crucial in addressing the pressing issues of corruption and climate change in Solomon Islands.
This was highlighted in the winning speech of the Intermediate Category of the 2023 National Oratory Contest in Honiara last Friday. The intermediate category saw the participation of nine contestants and Ellen Soni, a Form Three student of the Catholic-owned Saint Joseph’s Tenaru National Secondary School emerged as the winner.
The Intermediate Category contestants were given to present their imaginations on the future of Solomon Islands.
Ms Soni in her speech said often people wonder or imagine what the future of Solomon Islands would be like and people hold different imaginative views.
She said Solomon Islands is well-known as the Happy Isles but this label is not an appropriate label any more due to the lack of good leaders, resulting in corruption becoming a major issue.
“Take for example, in the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Report Solomon Islands is ranked as the 24th corrupt country in the Pacific and that on social media, newspapers and radio broadcasts people complain about the allowing of so many foreigners into the country by the government.
Ms Soni said foreign logging and mining operations threaten sustainable natural resource use as the government and landowners never care about the risks of allowing such activities.
On climate change, she said Solomon Islands is in a crisis situation, facing the threat of submersion by sea-level rise.
“In science research, climate change is caused by heat temperature from greenhouse gas emissions and the melting of polar ice caps which lead to sea-level rise. Well developed countries such as USA, China. Russia and Australia have many large industries that produce too much toxic gas into the atmosphere.
“It is also heartbreaking when we see our own people carelessly throwing plastics and bottles along the streets and our once beautiful sandy beaches washed away by toxic salty ocean.
“But in every situation, there are consequences and solutions. We Solomon Islanders are one big happy family and predicting the future is not an easy job. So, let us put all our differences aside, work together hand-in-hand, soul-to-soul to fight against corruption, fight against climate change to make Solomon Islands a better place to live.”
First Runner-up Leaba Karovo, a Form 2 student of the Anglican Church of Melanesia-owned Saint Nicholas College, highlighted responsible learning for leadership excellence.
He said leadership excellence can be achieved in Solomon Islands through goal-setting, management of changes and smart learning.
“My imagination is for schools to help students set a goal, purpose and value in life as soon as they enter schools. For example, set a goal to become a social worker. The purpose is to help people live a successful life. The value is to serve others.”
By IAN LADDS
Solomon Star, Honiara
