hi all,
The recent media reports of a female Solomon Islands chinese being ivolved in illegal brewing of kwaso is worrying. To me it raises questions on the procesures and processes through which they are brought into Solomon Islands at the first place.
I mean, in many countries there are tighter criterias to satisfy before ones PR or visa application forms are approved. For instance, one has to have a prove that there is a job offer at hand. Also, in some countries there are immigration requirements based on financial position of individuals who are intending to emigrate from thier home countries into a new country.
I am not questioning the financial viability of the chinese immigrants, but the recent events (as well as past cases of passport fraud) makes me to wonder whether allowing more chinese into our country is really helping economically or not at all. We all remembered how Chinatown looked prior to the riots and its burning down and how it had been like that for many years.
Honiara is full of chinese products which are literally dumped into our economy from second-class chinese manufacturers. And with these products and merchandise came human beings; Chinese who come via Solomon Islands to Australia or USA. They love coming to Solomon Islands because they know its an easy access to Australia. And believe me many of them were not that sad during the riots because it gave them stronger backing for thier applications for overseas visas and PR.
One of their main means of economic contributions is through taxes, duties and rates which they have to incurr in order that they continue to survive in their wholesaling and retailing enterprises. Through that means they have contributed a great deal in the generation of revenue for the national economy. However, even with the paying of taxes and duties, evidence have shown that they even at times have tried to bribe their way around these legitimate processes. Ask any customs officer and he or she will confirm this to you, unless of course if he or she is thier associate or partner in crime.
Having said all that, I think it is time that the government through the relevant authorities start imposing strict measures on the entreprenual behavoir of our Chinese population and impose restrictions where necessary. I believe business activities such as pubic transport should be restricted to locals only. Today in Honiara many of the buses and taxies which are driven by locals are infact Chinese-owned. And as police findings have shown, they are also in the illegal economic activities of illegal brewing of kwaso and prostitution. Only God knows what they are going to do next. In many countries there are Chinese mafias and mobs that literally become too powerful to wipe out as they are too entangled in the politics of those sovereign nations.
From the above points, it is my opinion that Solomon Islands should start imposing restrictions on the "importation" of Chinese and their merchandise and impose stricter regulations to oversee the entreprenual behavoir of those that are alreadyin the business.
Having said all that, I must state however, that there are few 'good' Chinese out there who are just as committed as Solomon Islanders in rebuilding our economy and so stereotypical prejudices should not be the predominant culture of our reasoning and understanding.
It’s really shocking to know such revelation and also at the same time should bring some questions that the relevant authorities should answer. I was just wondering whether the applications of such people really fulfill the requirements put in place. If that is not so then the relevant authority has a lot to answer.
ReplyDeleteWhat happen to those people who were charged with the responsibilities of ensuring that applicants fulfilled all the requirements before they are given the ok to stay here? I am of the opinion that they are not really doing what is really required of them. Had they carried out their responsibilities with care, then they should be able to determine which applicants had fulfilled the requirements and those that had not fulfilled the requirements.
I think they are a bit slack in carrying out their duties thoroughly. We know there are rules and regulations put in place to cater for these things but the problem in my opinion is to do with the people manning those offices to ensure that applicants fulfill all the requirements before allowing them to stay that long. May be those people manning those offices responsible for this are given some kind of bonus (under –table dealings as commonly known back home) to approve such applications. May be they were given just a few thousand dollars by those applicants and they just approved such applications knowing too well that it was not right.
If that was the case, then this is corruption in broad day light, and these people are not looking after the interests of our beloved Solomon Islands. These people should know that corruption is what wrecked and brought Solomon Islands to its knees in recent times and we are still having the effects. Our recent experiences should be our greatest teacher. When will we ever learned? Bae umi continue for osem olowe nomoa na ya. Hem problem that should not be taken lightly nomoa ya oketa wantok.
Our right conscience should dictate what cause of action we should take and above all the procedures and processes are there and the custodians of the relevant departments should adhere to those, and not cheaply putting the interests of their country aside for our a few thousand bucks. Too bad! Isn’t it?
These things happened because some people are not being honest in carrying out the responsibilities given to them and they are a traitor to their own country.
Thats true and it is sad to realise that these things are happening. I have spoken to a few people in the Customs Office who have been involved or knows somebody (collleague) who has been involved in the dirty game of 'under-table dealing' with the Chinese.
ReplyDeleteThese people are dangerous and must be taken seriously in thier actions and intentions. Thier survival instincts are so strong and dteremined that thier actions are to me seeminly always dubious and suspicious.
The onus now lies on the goverment and RAMSI to deal with the matter effectively and if necessary fire local staff that have been "chinesely brain-washed'