Dear Editor – I would like to also contribute along with vast majority of Solomon Islanders, who wants to see a leap forward in our nation’s development.
In saying so, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the former members of parliament. You in your own right are voted leaders of this nation. I personally applaud you for your hard work so far.
I will not question your efforts and your performance in the last 4 years as you alone in your own heart, as true leaders of this nation should know how much you have done for your people and yourself.
The people can only measure your achievements in looking at the key areas of Health improvement and accessibility, education achievements & support, Rural energy advancements, telecommunication advancements, transportation systems (exciting one) and off our backbone Agriculture to name as few.
For us citizens of Solomon Islands, we know and can feel whether we have advanced forward or backwards. This equation is simple and not rocket science. The real fact of the matter is we can’t turn back time, but we can change the future. It happens only every 4 years.
What makes a good leader? I stand to be rebuked or challenged, however I have put together certain characteristics that one should possess as a good leader.
There are certain qualities that can be developed or naturally part of someone’s personality that one can identify as a good leader. To me these are the characters of leaders we should be looking for. You cannot formulate them overnight and if you are not a leader you cannot possess them, it is simple you are trying to wear a shoe that is much bigger than your feet.
- A good leader is someone to be trusted to lead others. He lives a life that is known to be honest and with integrity. He walks the talk and strives to achieve what he believes in. Hem no leader for wetem RCDF fund olowe. His people believe in him because he can open new doors and improve living standards.
- A good leader is confident; he draws clear boundaries and does not live double standards. He/She inspires confident in his team to complete the task at hand. He is practical in his/her approach and hence able to set practical goals where he/she can achieve in the 4 year term in government.
- A good leader is someone who is passionate and dedicated to his or her role as a leader. He or she is inspirational and motivational to the people. A good leader inspires his people in the developments he initiate, and is not afraid to roll up his sleeve and get dirty with his community. How many politician blong yumi nao save go long vilij and pulum line blong wata wetem ogeta long vilij community or go visit and givim inspirational talk long olgeta school pikinini blong yumi long community blo hem?
- A good leader functions as a team, regardless of which side of the government he is in. His desire is to solve the problem that matters most to his people & the nation. He appreciates the balance of all functional duties in the community he represents, and the government. In times of uncertainty, he is orderly and purposeful in manner. People see reassurance and security in his leadership. Hem no leda for luk afta olgeta wotim hem nomoa!! Siki nis yah must stop na!!!
- A good leader is steadfast and composed; he is not moved by external influences. Such leader cares about our resources and resource owners. He will make sure that the resource owners get the rightful benefit from their resources, he will intervene on their behalf as a leader of the constituency. How logging kilim yumi go go pain yah barava tumas nah!!! How any intervention from leader too? Logging company drinkim blood blo land owner go go hem dry nao. Lo wea moa ba ole?
- A good leader thinks analytically. He sees the forest and also can single out the trees in the forest. He can be able to break things down into manageable steps and oversee the progress into achieving the end result. His organizational skill is proven to be a track record and his ability to delegate responsibilities has seen him meeting deadlines in the past. Big seleni nao ba yumi luk afta for people, nogut no save how for usim den ba full up go lon pesenal account nomoa. Yu meanim part yah. Bae go long ship blo constituency or blo memba nomoa. Ke ogeta save wat for doim long seleni blo pipol too!! No lukim narawan bae sipi den yu laikem sipi too…there has to be a strategic approach through proper consultation and seeing what the future holds before investing. Remember, the fund belongs to the people.
- A good leader is committed to excellence. He embraces achievement of individuals and community initiatives at large. He will sustain the rural developments that will sustain his people (he is not a copy cat leader) and improve their standard of living. He is an enabler to his people’s development. There are certain instances that we see leaders embarking on the same investment that the people are already engaged in. why can’t the leader embrace the investment by adding value to the existing investment than re-inventing the wheels, how no save tingim any new incentive nao?
To summarize, I urge us voters to listen and critically scrutinize the intention of our incoming leaders and outgoing leaders. For the outgoing leaders, if you are doing all that is within your capacity to help our good people, then there is nothing for you to worry about…
People have seen the fruits of your works.
For our good citizens remember, your vote will determine where we will sail in the next 4 years. We need leaders who have passion for change and open direct market overseas or to other regional member countries. Collectively, we can meet demands from outside market but we need to start now, today not tomorrow.
We need leaders that see connectivity within the region, remember Solomon Islands is a tiny dot in the pacific and hence our economy is so fragile in a lot of ways. In saying that we can also see significant improvements if we focus on the few priority areas that lead to greater output to the overall health of our economy- I believe it starts in the rural areas and not in Honiara town.
To all our chiefs in the constituencies, I urge that you organize an open forum, where by all our candidates stage their aspirations to us in public at the same venue. Remember, this is our only chance and lets make use of the time we have right now.
Humphrey Tura
