PÉRDIDAS DE CARGA DE CONDUCTOS Y TUBERIAS

Nine of the ten national officials interviewed have at least utilised the MPGIS for the exercise of respective functions. At the provincial level, all officials interviewed have at least channel

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negotiations via the MPGIS. However, it was noted during the interviews that quite a number of national ministries have bypass the MPGIS as illustrated in this statement by a national official:

Only a few line ministries come via the MPGIS when dealing with provincial governments. The majority tend to go directly to the provinces without the prior knowledge of MPGIS. This makes oversight as the key role of MPGIS difficult (SOL3, 1).

This view concurs with those expressed by many national officials and a few provincial officials. Using the education sector, a provincial official described how the negotiations of central-local relations have minimum involvement from the MPGIS. A good illustration was provided on a recent incidence which involved a fire at Auki Primary School. First, a two member team was mobilised by MPGIS just a few days after the school was burnt to undertake an assessment of the situation. A few days after the MPGIS team left, a similar team from the Ministry of Education arrived with the exact terms of reference. According to the provincial official:

This is a total waste of time and tax payers’ money. This situation could have easily been avoided if the two parties have consulted or collaborated with each other in the first place (SOL4, 3).

While the majority of officials both at national and provincial level share similar experiences, others particularly those from MPGIS felt that most national line ministries did not fully understand MPGIS’s role as illustrated in this national official statement:

I believe that the lack of clarity in MPGIS’s role is a contributing factor as to why most line ministries have not utilised its services (SOL3, 2).

It was explained by MPGIS that communications from line ministries to the provinces are supposed to be directed through the MPGIS and national government agencies are accessed by provinces through the MPGIS. However, MPGIS officials seemed to be well aware of the fact that most national line ministries bypass the MPGIS. As a national official puts it:

In most instances, we learn about what is happening in the provinces when something has gone really wrong in the relationship between a particular line ministry and a province, or when we are requested to provide inputs on important cabinet papers prepared by other line ministries involving a province (SOL4, 1).

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The only official at national level who had not utilised the services of MPGIS explained that this had nothing to do with his preference of what institution to use. As he puts it:

I have not used the MPGIS because of the portfolio and nature of my job. It was not my responsibility to carry out negotiations with the MPGIS or the provinces (SOL1, 1).

Despite a few exceptions, officials both at national and provincial level channel negotiations via the MPGIS.

Due to logistically challenges in accessing the provinces, a few national officials said that they have utilised the MPGIS when negotiating with the provinces on important policy matters. However, they confirmed that there were instances where they preferred to approach the provinces directly especially on matters requiring urgent attention and action. A national official gave an example of when government had to carry out urgent consultation at the provincial level to satisfy donors’ requirements which normally come with tight datelines.

Interesting differences with regards to the utilisation of the MPGIS as a mechanism for central- local relations were noted during interviews with provincial officials. Seconded staff who regard themselves as representatives of their national ministries tend to communicate directly to their ministry at national level. Thus any negotiations are usually channelled through and carried out by national line ministries on behalf of the province. According to a high ranking provincial official, this is particularly common in heavily centralised sectors such as Health and Agriculture. As such, they rarely use the MPGIS.

In contrast, direct provincial employees of the provincial government reported that in most instances, their entry point to national line ministries is through the MPGIS. While this is the case, a provincial official said that:

There are occasions where we have attempted to directly approach some national line ministries because of delays by MPGIS. While in a few cases, we were able to successfully do this, there are cases where we are told by national line ministries to go through the MPGIS (SOL4, 4).

With regards to the PC, very few national officials have admitted to using the PC as a platform for central-local relations. A few national officials said that their attendance at the PC is dependent on whether agenda items require responses from their ministry, while other national officials

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stated that their attendance is mandatory. Despite these differences in views, many national officials felt that there are huge potentials in making the PC an effective platform for central-local negotiations. As noted by a national official:

The PC provides an excellent opportunity for the negotiations of central-local relations. However, for this to be effective and constructive for both national and provincial governments there is need to strengthen the PC’s machinery (SOL1, 4).

Most national officials expressed their desire to see changes in the process of selecting agenda items for the PC. While acknowledging that the PC is a meeting of provincial leaders, hence provinces should take the lead role; there should be some guidelines to limit agenda items to only matters that are likely to affect the majority of the provinces. According to a national official:

The majority of agenda items for discussion at the PC are crowded with administrative matters concerning the provinces. Because of this, we often feel that our attendance is irrelevant (SOL2, 3).

Notably, most national officials spoken to believed that they could usefully utilise the PC if agenda items are strategically selected to involve high level policy matters of mutual interest. For instance, a national official described that decentralisation plans by MPGIS with line ministries could be an example of an agenda item that is likely to affect most parties both at national and provincial level. Since high level policy is weak in this area, meaningful negotiations can be carried out with national counterparts to gain support in its implementation.

Consequently, those who have attended the PC described the experience as unique in that it is the only time in a year when national and provincial governments sit face to face to discuss issues affecting the provinces and the entire nation. As this provincial official puts it:

Currently, this is the only collective mechanism we have with the other provinces to meet with the national government. Generally, we use this opportunity to rally support from other provinces on important matters affecting the provinces (SOL4, 1).

Many provincial officials share this view stating that the PC is an effective mechanism in sending a clear message to national government on provincial issues. More importantly, they see this as an opportunity to meet with other government officials from national and provincial governments,

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discuss important issues, share experiences and lesson learned, as well as develop important networks. One provincial official said:

The networks and relationship developed from these meetings is extremely important in assisting us perform our day to day tasks. It also comes into handy in gaining easy access to important information and people (SOL4, 2).

A national official who previously attended the conferences supported this explanation:

Relationships formed during these meetings are invaluable. As the case is in the Solomon Islands, it’s who you know. It takes less time and effort negotiating with people you know (SOL3, 4).

6.3.2Assessment of Institutions and Procedures by Government Officials.