Solomons aid to focus on primary teachers

By HELEN TUNNAH and NZPA

New Zealand's boost in aid funding for the Solomon Islands will mainly be spent on paying primary school teachers.

Foreign Minister Phil Goff said yesterday that a lack of basic education was a root cause of poverty, and fewer than 40 per cent of children in the Solomons finish primary school.

Mr Goff had just arrived in the Solomons for a two-day visit with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, a week after the first of 2250 police and troops began landing in the Pacific nation to restore law and order.

New Zealand has sent 105 soldiers and 35 police as part of the Australian-led intervention team, which is trying to improve stability in the virtually bankrupt nation.

The Government has also increased aid funding, from $8 million a year to $14 million, as part of a rescue package which focuses on improving governance and ending corruption in the civil service.

Of the $14 million, $9 million will be spent on primary teacher salaries as well as school equipment such as books and desks. A further $1 million will go towards building a prison, and other funds will be spent on projects to develop business, leadership and governance skills.

Mr Goff said it was important that underlying social issues which hampered development, such as poor education levels, were addressed.

Solomons Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza, who asked for foreign help for his country, yesterday announced a three-week amnesty for the surrender of weapons by armed criminal groups.

Previous amnesties have had only limited success, but one of Honiara's most notorious gangsters, Jimmy Rasta, yesterday agreed that his men would hand over their guns at a traditional ceremony on August 15.

Mr Goff warned that it was too early for optimism that the nation's woes would be quickly cured.

At meetings with Sir Allan and his Cabinet, he stressed that New Zealand was there to provide the Solomons with the opportunity to solve its own problems.