Allowances problem for SI students in Cuba

Hello again,

I wish to comment briefly on the above item which was highlighted in the media recently.

I understand and do acknowledge that sending money to Cuba, a communist country isolated and economically barred by some of the capitalist giants of the world, is difficult and hence the delay. But what took the authorities so long to react?

 I am really surprised to hear that after almost a year without allowances responsible authorities have only recently started to take the matter seriously. As reported, the students have not received any form of allowances from the government since June 2009. My question is; why does it have to take the responsible authorities seven solid months before they can be serious about addressing the issue?

According to media reports, it was only recently that serious formal high level arrangements were initiated between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to identify the best possible ways to send the money to our students in Cuba. Why have you taken the issue so lightly? I am sure that the authorities will say that they are taking the matter seriously. But it was only after the students threatened to boycott their exams that they were shaken.

Regardless, for such an important issue which involves the lives of Solomon Islanders, seven months is just too long a time for it to be properly addressed and resolved. I see this as grossly unacceptable and a total ignorance of duty by relevant authorities.

I would have thought that such arrangements, such as the means of paying the students allowances, would have been high in the agenda when the deal was sought and made between SIG and the Cuban government to initiate such a programme. However, it is now clear that these vital issues may have never been part of the discussion, or if they do, have been greatly understated and underestimated.

I only hope that the issue does not prevail over the years and is sorted once and for all so that in the future our students will not have to worry about such issues that are outside of their academic responsibilities.

And as sad and frustrating the issue can be, the lessons learnt from it must not be taken lightly. The government must tread carefully in the future when making deals with foreign countries, especially those known to be hostile to the Western world. And when entering into bilateral contracts with other countries, especially when dealing with training such as the case of our students in Cuba, all dimensions of the case at hand must be taken into consideration. For a good deal is not only measured by its economic merits but also its moral and social values.