Solomon Islands Royalty!
By John Roughan
Solomon Islands doesn't have a king. Its Queen resides more than 10,000 miles away in another country. But we certainly
do have Royalty! Our Royal Family comes about not through birth or adoption but by being elected into parliament. Once a
man reaches this exalted position, he (over the past 27 years, a single woman, while 300 men, made it there) begins to
think and act like royalty.
Once a national politician makes it to the Big House on the hill, he fondly expects the Public Purse to keep him, his
family, relatives and cronies in a life-style that they quickly grow accustomed to--world class medical attention (at
St., Vincent's Hospital in Sydney), guaranteed university scholarships for off spring, varied allowances often exceeding
monthly salaries, etc. Even failed national politicians are routinely guaranteed Public Purse backing (appointment to
the Prime Minister's Office, board membership on state owned enterprises--electricity, water, ports, etc--position on
special commissions with hefty sitting allowances, etc.).
In Solomons' history it's rare for failed national politicians to return to village life or to former work patterns.
Once a Royal Family member, he is guaranteed on going support by a system worked out by the rest of the royalty.
The most important thing, however, to retain Royal Family membership is to strictly follow a major rule: never publicly
criticize, poke fun at or in any shape, manner or form call into question the dictates of the reigning monarch and his
princes, the PM and his Cabinet. Can that explain why former parliamentarians have said so little about the sale of the
National Art Gallery, forestry bill never making it to parliament's floor, the Pacific Islands Forum report, etc?
What really upset the Solomons Royalty during the nation's Social Unrest years (1998-2003) was not that the state was
placed in mortal danger but that their perks, allowances and, heaven forbid, their life style, came under threat. That
peasants' lives (read villagers) came under serious attack, that village life grew harder and future prospects more
bleak hardly registered on the Royalty's radar screen. What mattered most was that the Royal Family's life style was in
danger of being undermined..
School teachers' salaries, for instance, were left unpaid for more than three months; nurse, medical staff and doctor
salaries were conveniently overlooked so that the Royal Family's many kinds of allowances and perks were always paid on
time and in full.
When compensation claims for lost property, land holdings and burnt out homes were paid, Royal Family members not only
received full compensation but were normally found at the front end of the line. Peasants' homes and lost goods, if
compensated at all, were paid at reduced rates and late in the day. To this very day, many genuine sufferers of stolen
and burnt out properties still wait for compensation payments!
These facts of life are surfaced at this time, not so much to remind the nation of our recent history, but to insure
that concerned outsiders--financial donors, RAMSI personnel, leaders of other nations who speak with local partners
about national recovery plans--must extend dialogue partners wider than talking to only members of the Royal Family.
I notice that the Pacific Forum's Eminent Persons' Report which was much more critical of government than RAMSI, will be
reviewed only by those closest to the Royal Family. Peasant, serf or outsider need not apply! However, when the
peasantry do become too noisy--showing anger at the re-sale of the Art Gallery--, great promises--a multi-level
performing arts building to be erected--are unveiled.
It reminds me so much of government promises over the 1995 give-away program to an Asian logging company of Pavuvu's
tree wealth. At the time Russell Islands people were solemnly promised their own secondary school, large clinic, roads,
etc. Now ten years down the road, Pavuvu's people have yet to see a single promise kept. But continually they are forced
to experience a land scarred by loggers who took away their tree wealth! Many Royal Family members of those days are
with us still making the same promises.
Our Royalty live by making promises to the peasants. Next year's election should, however, see a shift away from the
Royal Family view of the world to one where a new leadership is interested in working for the welfare of all the people.
Solomons Founding Fathers never intended a Royal Family . . . there is no room for such in these islands!
J. Roughan
Honiara
ENDS