MY DIARY: 30.09.14 [Classification: UNCLASSIFIED] Maintaining Focus This morning I woke at 7.30am and prepared myself, reading my briefings and emails. I sat at the table and the Chef cooked a delicious breakfast of bacon and hard-poached eggs. I checked my phone. The wife of the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands had messaged me to let me know the Governor-General had not called an election date. I messaged her family and the Prime Minister the best of luck with their election campaign. Breakfast was inhaled as my in-country host, Agnes, was briefing me on the arrangements at the Eratap village, while my driver, Bob, discussed today’s route and times of departures from Port Vila and Eratap. Our car travelled through suburban Port Vila. I made internal assessments of the nation’s economic state of affairs along the road. It is clear the two speed economies which pervade the capital, yet it continues to show new construction every time I visit. There is notably a greater presence of the Vanuatu Police Force. Pacific Policing is an area of intrigue to me, as I experienced working with officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in April. We toured Eratap Village and surrounding areas before making our way to the Jean Marie Yanie School in Eratap village. I met with Chief Kasalre briefly, who discussed with me their unfortunate predicament that the school had not received its funding from the Vanuatu Government. This was to hinder their commitment toward purchasing bags of cement for mixing concrete the following day. This is disheartening as it is not the fault of the school management or village, however problem solving is a deficit skill of many island communities. Empowering the community to identify and respond to their issues and needs forms part of best-practice community development, so I was insistent that we must actively raise funds in a short time. I explained a raffle or BBQ may be appropriate at the festival in Port Vila tomorrow. I abruptly left headed for Port Vila to make emergency fundraising arrangements. I am renowned for tactics and creative solutions. I headed for Digicel Telephone Company. The main provider of telecommunications must service Ministers directly. My suspicions proved correct and the representative gave me the Minister for Lands’ mobile telephone number and office address. I took a taxi across Port Vila to the Ministry of Lands. He was organizing the Nap Festival tomorrow and we may be able to secure a stall to fundraise. I creatively managed to speak with the Minister’s Secretary who arranged a meeting with the Minister. I sat outside the Ministerial Wing awaiting his return from a meeting. Unfortunately Government Lawyers arrived to brief the Minister on urgent bills for parliamentary sessions next week. My meeting was to be delayed by an hour. I left the Ministerial Wing and taxied across Port Vila for the Hardware Store. The Hardware Supervisor was supportive of our fundraising efforts and asked for a signed letter to request subsidized or free cement with 1 day turn-around. I accepted his negotiation and stated I would have a signed letter to him at open of business the following day. I met with the Vanuatu Police Force and introduced myself. The Vanuatu Police Force escorted me across the capital in the Police Vehicle with representatives of the Vanuatu Police Academy. During the trip I asked to be briefed on the types of major threats and crime they struggle with, and resourcing issues. I was provided this brief as well as the opportunity to tour the Academy and speak with graduating police force trainees. I then met with the Deputy Commissioner of Police who discussed with me professional development needs. I committed to providing professional development workshops in 2015. The Vanuatu Police Force then escorted me to the Ministry of Lands building again. I entered and awaited the Minister’s delayed meeting. I met with the Minister and his Wife. Negotiations were not fruitful. There was an expectation to pay 40,000vt (AUD$400) for a stall in the festival, which was aimed at being used for fundraising only 15,000vt. I rejected the Minister’s offer, leaving the Minister surprised, and abruptly left the Ministry of Lands. I attended AUSAID who were not able to assist. An entire day with little more than inhaled light breakfast, I was light headed. I forced myself to continue. I appealed to the Minister for Education for assistance, who apologized as he was in Fiji. He offered me a meeting with the First Political Advisor to the Minister. I accepted and have made arrangements for later in the week. I taxied again across the capital to request permission to hold a raffle. An exemption or affordable permit was not offered. I sought the assistance of a local organization. Again this was not fruitful. I persevered in the hot sun and tired eyes. Apart from water, concrete is the most consumed material in the world. Exhausted from hours of pounding the pavement, I taxied back to the hotel to refresh and consider my options from a fresh perspective. I telephoned Mr. Tony and Mrs. Louise Pittar who own Eratap Beach Resort as they had provided assistance to another Eratap School. Similarly to the supervisor at Vila Hardware, he requested an email. I emailed a request straight away. I must get not stop walking until Ive exhausted all opportunities, I thought. I received the evening news before taxiing to The Waterfront, a popular evening dining location on the picturesque seaside location, attracting many westerners. I rallied westerners who wanted to know more about the village, but little direct assistance can be provided in a bar. From my hotel room, I worked long into the night, inhaling dinner, accessing my contacts, until I was advised of two Coconut Plantation and Oil Production businesses that could be approached to seek assistance. I emailed one business and placed the other on my list of businesses to visit in the early morning. I worked on completing the calendar for the Professional Development Twilight Series Im planning in June, booking PD, checking work and personal emails, and then worked on an essay for my postgraduate degree. Following a shower and light dip in the hotel pool, I retired for the evening at 10.30pm only to find myself thinking of all the favors I could call in that were owed. I remembered during the 2013 January Bushfires in Tasmania, I had telephoned the Mayor to express my condolences and had asked Adeel Ahmed, former United Nations Development Program consultant whether he would assist me in the event I decided on a community development initiative. Adeel was most supportive and very passionate of my classroom project at the time and had stated if I required help to contact him. I started searching my very famous ‘international travel bag’ which still amazes my colleagues and family, as you never know what you’ll find. From backup phone SIM cards to international currencies in separate envelopes for various nations, to every type of electrical wall plug-in, the bag is a crisis support resource for any traveler. Walla! My old Australian telephone was still there and when plugged in, the battery had survived. Time to hunt his telephone number down and give him a midnight message requesting urgent assistance for funds, or at the very least, whether he could make a donation that would reimburse an outlay. Knowing I was likely to receive a discount rate at Vila Hardware, and possible donation from my family, one of the businesses that Aunty Jane or Audrey-May had put me in touch with, or from Adeel Ahmed, I took reassurance that I was allowed to sleep without guilt and feeling pride in my leadership today to ensure the project continued as promised. Reflecting, I hope that in the future I will provide better leadership to communities than what I witnessed in their current political leaders. It is easy to take credit when its smooth sailing. Leadership is about accepting responsibility for the bad, forging through it and taking people with you on the journey. Goodnight from Vanuatu. 11.30pm GMT+11 (Vanuatu) 10.30pm GMT+10 (AEST - Brisbane) (I dont often share my confidential diary, however in this instance I thought it may give a little insight to our current situation)
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 12:36:39 +0000
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