[deccan]

Originally posted by Loser:
Thanks, deccan. How are things in the Solomon Islands?

The good: the streets are safe, the economy is picking up due to greater security, crooks and corrupt cops are in jail.

The bad: despite RAMSI's (Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands) claims that they will do something about the big fish, i.e. corrupt policians and senior government officials, no one really high profile has been arrested. A few weeks ago, a scandal at the Ministry of Mines and Energy about civil servants making huge claims from public funds emerged and a Permanent Secretary at the office was suspended, but nothing else, no criminal charges, no politicians handcuffed.

The ugly: after years of neglect, the Australian-reformed government is getting around to properly running the country, including gathering proper statistics, getting the courts and various government agencies working properly, and auditing companies. It's ugly because it means lots and lots of extra work for me.