Comments on: Donors reinvent the resilience ‘wheel’ for Pacific islands*

By: Hannington Alatoa

Hannington Alatoa — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 22:26:19 +0000

Good day to both Ms S Asanuma and Mr Johnson,

I appreciate reading both the comments and the article.

Very simply, I humbly suggest that we turn the following around:

‘Whereas the North keeps and protects wealth jealously, and gives out information freely, the South gives out wealth and keeps information jealously, why not doing the opposite, in order to address the post 2015 MDGs for the SDGs????

By: Grant Percival

Grant Percival — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 20:33:27 +0000

The goals of the ADB are in contrast to the realities on the ground and represent the lack of local knowledge. Small isolated Island states are an impossible economic model to develop easily. Private sector is expected to take the lead in creating opportunities for growth; Very difficult because the costs of doing business are very high and resources are very limited and the resources that are available usually require high capitalisation which is beyond the ability of the local businesses.
The next goal of substantial infrastructure investments in communications, seaports and airports to reduce the high cost of doing business; actually increases the costs of doing businesses substantially as aligned with this development is the requirement by the bank to recover the cost of the development from user pays. The isolation from the markets, low utilization, high development costs especially airports make this an impossible cost benefit analysis example and represents the twisted thinking that exists in addressing these issues.
The next goal of institutional and policy constraints such as barriers to imports and slow and complex customs procedures to be addressed; is unrealistic because the import constraints into New Zealand, Australia, USA etc are even more demanding. These import constraints have been the subject of constant tinkering mainly in an effort to reduce resilience and independence and increase dependency on importation of inappropriate food sources when there is available food resources that are under-utilized. So we are constantly being asked to make it easier for imports whilst our exports are facing constantly increasing trade barriers. Who is ADB serving in this instance.
The goal of expand opportunities for education which can promote innovation and develop the skills required for Pacific countries to engage globally; has created an unbalanced education system that sets out to fail 98% of its participants. Home skills, carpentry, trades and farming training at the primary and secondary levels have all disappeared and instead we are expected to develop intellectual skills in an environment where a basic trade skillset across a range of trades is absolutely critical to survival and a modicum of development. Again this is driven by the needs of the community and this has been discarded to the detriment of the development of the communities. We do not need more lawyers etc but more tradespeople translating science into practical development in the PICs. The final statement is classic misdirection because for the Pacific islands to keep their unique cultures, social fabric and environmental beauty as they aim at greater integration requires they also keep their communal values and the bank pushes the Western values of the rights of the individual over that of the community. Given our vulnerability and isolation this model is never going to be sustainable. Continued failures shall perpetuate the aid community and ensure that we continue to fail and hand wringing continue for time to come.

By: Santy Asanuma

Santy Asanuma — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 11:11:39 +0000

Alii Mr. Johnson,

One thing that I believe the islander possessed as natural and ingrained trait was not only to live but to survive in a constant environment of minimalism. In a small environment naturally all resources were always scarce. This made people resilient through all elements of nature. Unfortunately, modern economic developments that have reached our shores have made us rely on many benevolent and over-jealous donors thousands of miles away from our physical environment. They want us to live life with the same conveniences as they expect from their respective societies like U.S, Japan, and Japan. I believe diversity expressed in different cultures that have been tested in millenniums can aptly provide resiliency for humanity including environments in which they live in.

I am so glad that someone has courageously articulated this reality as you have in this article. Though you wrote for Marshalls, it is quite relevant for all Micronesian islands especially Palau. It is necessary that proper narrative be presented so all stakeholders whether here or far will come to realize the dire consequences of their actions regardless of their good intentions.
Sulang from Belau and you are free to use my response to your article in any way you see fit.

Santy Asanuma