THE 'HAPPY ISLES': SHED A TEAR, ANYONE?
or - the state of play in Solomon Islands
with help from Ambrose Pereira sdb
HONIARA: 17th July -- Once known as the 'Happy Isles', the Solomon Islands have been to hell and not quite back these past three years. Within the next three weeks some 2000 foreign police and armed personnel will descend upon Honiara, the capital, to help set things right in the 'law and order' department. These men and women will come from Australia (the bulk), New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and PNG though one quickly notes that both PNG and Fiji have to be careful not to call this particular kettle too black!
So where do the Salesians fit into all this? They are praying for some stability that will enable their fledgling Technical Centre at Henderson (opposite the airport) to do its job, even just to ensure students can arrive on time to class in the mornings. Don Bosco once indicated that prayer alone does not meet every neceesity we are faced with - some of it requires us to push ahead with good solid works. In a bankrupt nation it is not so easy to push ahead with new work, but the Salesians have begun work on another Technical school for boys at Tetere, a parish further out from Henderson and more or less at the end of the viable road on that side of town. Local villages are putting in their share of 25% of the contribution towards this venture.
The Salesian community in Solomons has received much help from Japan, its 'home' Province, and Fr. Loro Piano's gift (from the parish at Meguro) is a godsend in these days of frequent power cuts - a generator no less. There is little point in bewailing the state of affairs when so much can be done by people of good will. Tears are not shed at Don Bosco Honiara!
