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Everybody needs
good neighbours
By EKONIA PENI
Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare treasures the
fact that he is a Papua New Guinean by birth. He was born in the
Oro province on January 17, 1955.
Members of his family still live in PNG including his elder
brother Pastor Moses Sogavare of the Sogavare Memorial SDA Church
at Gerehu Stage 5 in NCD.
One of his brothers John lives in Rabaul, while his other brother
Pastor Samson Sogavare passed away in Lae some years ago.
His extended family members who live in NCD were delighted to meet
him during a special church service at the Sogavare Memorial SDA
Church on May 26.
The small church on that Sabbath was packed to capacity. Adding to
the congregation numbers were members of the Solomon Islands
community including students from the Pacific Adventist University
(PAU) and the University of PNG Waigani and Taurama campuses.
Hugs and tears were shed as the Sogavare family reunited with
their kin and his wife Emmy.
Beyond his family commitment is the reality that Mr Sogavare is
mandated with the enormous responsibility as prime minister of his
country.
As prime minister he is concerned about the education of students
from Solomon Islands.
He highlighted the fact that PNG through the University Waigani
and Taurama campuses and the Pacific Adventist University (PAU)
have been tremendous in educating Solomon Islanders.
And he thanked the two institutions which play vital roles in
training human resources needed by Solomon Islands as well as
other Pacific Island countries.
"We don't have that much resources", Mr Sogavare said.
"Therefore it is important for us (Solomon Islands) to invest more
in the education of our children so that we can be rich in our
human resource.
According to Mr Parai Tamei, PNG's High Commissioner to Solomon
Island and Vanuatu, the government of Papua New Guinea has been
sponsoring Solomon Island students in the last two years.
He said in 2006 PNG assisted Solomon Islands with K2 million and
this year the amount was increased to K4 million.
Mr Tamei confirmed that there were 130 Solomon Island students
currently studying in PNG under the national government's
sponsorship.
Mr Sogavare told a lunch at UPNG's Drill Hall last Saturday hosted
by UPNG Vice Chancellor Professor Ross Hynes that Pacific
countries must study why countries without resources are wealthy.
"We need to study countries especially like Singapore and Taiwan
and find out as to why they are wealthy today although they do not
have natural resources.
And we come to realise that they have invested heavily in their
human resources. That's what I want Solomon Island to do", he said
As our closest Melanesian neighbour PNG should be proud that we
are contributing towards the future of Solomon Islands in
education.
In July UPNG will start offering courses for Certificate in the
Tertiary and Community Studies (CTCS) when the UPNG Open
College-University Centre is opened in Honiara.
Then next year (2008) the program will be expanded with the
introduction of diploma and degree courses.
Professor Hynes announced the UPNG's commitment during last
Saturday's lunch.
That's what Mr Sogavare appreciated and said he also aware that
PAU is planning to also open up a similar PAU centre in Honiara so
that the human resource build up he wants can be achieved in the
near future.
He told UPNG and PAU Solomon Island students during the lunch that
the future of their country was in their hands.
"You are already leaders in your own rights. And when you graduate
from PNG, you must come home and continue to be good leaders.
A word of thanks to Solomon Island High Commissioner to PNG Mr
Bernard Bata'anisia and his staff for arranging the luncheon and
meeting with Mr Sogavare.
 
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