The Native Iowan

being prepared is important… this was written for a review of relief services AFTER the 2007 earthquake and tsunami in the West and Choisuel Provinces…

Preparedness in a Modern Society

Protocol: Ministers, PS, Directors, Ladies and Gentlemen…

I thank you for the opportunity to speak to this important gathering. As Vice-Chairman of the SICCI I am honoured and very happy to stand before you today. The involvement of the Private Sector in this “Lessons Learned” workshop is, I firmly feel, both timely and important.

I have decided to restrict my thoughts and comments here to the general heading of “Preparedness in a Modern Society”. To begin my discussion I wish to establish a few general guidelines from which I will direct my discussion. These guidelines are:

1) We, the Solomon Islands, are a modern society

2) Having recently experienced a natural disaster involving both a major earth quake (reported as the 4^th largest the world has seen in recent history) and a resulting Tsunami, we have first hand experience what it means to be less than prepared

3) As an island Nation with major population groups widely dispersed and a “Tyranny of Distances” controlling many decisions it is difficult to effect timely and adequate response, equitably, to all areas within our country

Covering point #1:  A modern society may be classified as one that interacts with and involves its members (it’s citizens) in discussion, dialogue, forward planning and decision-making. A modern society looks at and addresses problems from a societal point of view. We do not simply care for those living in the cities or those who are closest or those whom we personally know. A modern society shares decision-making processes with its members. Everyone has a say, everyone has a responsibly and everyone is important in times of need.

The citizens of Solomon Islands have the privilege to elect their representatives to both the National And Provincial levels of Government. These elected “members” represent the needs and wants of their constituency at their respective levels of government.

Such needs and wants may include issues such as education, health care infrastructure development and, in times of dire need, disaster relief. The point here is that planning and forward progress is a societal issue. The people, through their elected representatives, directly influence the course of events in relation to modern societal planning.

Such social involvement or influence contains both a “Top-Down” and a “Bottom-Up” attitude. Top-Down being represented by the projects and activities that are initiated by the central levels of government and the Bottom-Up being represented by the initiatives and activities initiated by the communal levels of societal interaction.

The Solomons has a strong history of Bottom-Up organization and problem solving. I think it is fair to say that traditionally the Solomons addressed its communal wants and needs from a Bottom-Up approach. In times past when disasters affected our various societies a  ”self-help” or Bottom-up attitude made recovery appear much easier or simpler than we are experiencing today.

It is though important to note that our society is changing constantly. Larger population concentrations, urbanization, dependency on imported goods; etc. takes us away from the “time blo before” and brings us to a new experience with new challenges as well as new opportunities. Perhaps the Self-Help or Bottom-up approach does not always work. Perhaps, as we have just experienced, the Top-Down approach is required to successfully meet society’s requirements in times of trouble. Perhaps there are times when a combination of both approaches are required?

Moving onto point #2: The disaster, which hit the people of the Western and Choiseul Provinces on April 2nd, affected a new, and changed society. Never in our Nation’s history have we seen such large concentrations of population hit by a single catastrophe. This was not an isolated occurrence where a single island or island group was affected. This was a disaster that affected no less that 30,000 people situated on no less than seven major island groups separated by hundreds of miles of water.

We are talking about a modern urban centre, Gizo being effectively “turned off”. We saw thriving communities on Simbo, Rannonga, Gizo Island and Choiseul literally wiped off the face of our earth. We saw both urban and rural dwellers forced to communally address problems which, in the long term, they had no hope of satisfying

We have no modern experience to prepare us for destruction on such a large scale. The distances and the sheer numbers were and still are overwhelming.

Even the cyclone of 1986 brought us less trauma. It did affect vast areas of Guadalcanal, Malaita Makira and the Eastern Islands. There was huge damage and many homeless as a result of the Cyclone. Yet the scale of destruction experienced in April overshadows our 1986 experience.

In a Positive Vein: This new experience offers us a foundation from which to learn and plan for the future. It is, in it’s own way, a good lesson from which to learn. We do mourn the loss of life. We do acknowledge the damage to personal and communal property and infrastructure. As we do acknowledge the need, the necessity for us to learn from this experience and to ensure better planning and response in preparation for, the good lord forbid, our next natural disaster.

I stress this point; we can be allowed a small degree of forgivness for any inadequacies and failings experienced this time. This has been an important yet sad learning experience.  But it would be shameful to allow too much leeway in the future. Let us not repeat the same mistakes twice.

Moving on to Pont #3: The “Tyranny of Distances” we live within our Island Nation makes it essential that we do not, ever again, “take too long” to respond to our community members in their time of need. We must be poised and prepared to respond quickly and efficiently to all future disasters. A combination of Bottom-Up and Top-Down management may be of use to us here. Decentralizing the disaster response controls may pay off in the future (especially if Honiara is hit and the Disaster Response center is non-functioning). Provincial warehousing may be an answer. I see a need for “Community Disaster Management Committees” to be established in all communities throughout the Nation. We can never prepare to soon nor plan too much.

I stress here the need for communications in a time of Disaster. With the distances involved here we must have timely and effective communications in order to quickly inform and be informed and to effect preliminary assessments in an efficient and timely manner. I feel quite positive about the way communications were handled during the April disaster. Solomon Telekom did a great job keeping their stricken exchange in Gizo functioning. Many SW radios in effected areas continued to pass and receive news throughout the times of trouble. I will though mention that I feel SIBC should address the issue of their Gizo station going down. The transmission from Gizo being interrupted left a huge gab in information dissemination.

I also stress a need for forward planning and perhaps some regulation of the use of commercial/ private equipment and vessels in times of disaster. I feel it is important that the central authorities ensure that those who offer assistance are guaranteed compensation for their expense and assistance. Yet to go overboard and to pay foolishly exorbitant amounts, simply due to it being an emergency, makes us all look bad.

Profiteering cannot be allowed in times of trouble. As a businessman poised to help in any and all times of need I call on the respective authorities to implement rules that ensure required services and equipment can be quickly sourced, that such is not done to the detriment of those suffering and needing help, nor to the detriment to those offering to help.

Also: I feel it is important that all monies expended be properly accounted for. The SICCI represents the “Private Sector”. We all thank the private sector for their generous assistance in all times of trouble. Yet, as businessmen and women, we cannot tolerate waste or abuse.  As a businessman I do not wish to give donations, destined for Choiseul or Vela la Vela, only find my assistance did nothing more than inflate the cost of vessel or vehicle hire. If I donate money I need to see that it is used both wisely and effectively.

It is immoral, unethical and should be illegal, for donations destined for helping others in a time of need, to be diverted, converted or otherwise mismanaged.

Lastly: I thank everyone for his or her patient listening to my discussion. I hope it is of some benefit. Some assistance to this gathering. I also offer this gathering the full cooperation and support of the Chamber of Commerce. The Private Sector has many resources… not just cash donations… but expertise, experience, enthusiasm and ideas. We would welcome more direct dialogue with the NDC and other Authorities in relation to Disaster Relief, general preparedness, Risk Assessment and Mitigation.

The SICCI remains, ladies and gentlemen, at your service…