The Information Society Solomon Islands (ITSSI) has witnessed considerable debate surrounding the comments made by the Chairman of Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption, Sir Frank Kabui.
In his comments, Sir Kabui spoke about two same computers being sold at SBD12,000 and SBD5,000 – the latter he personally bought at a shop in Honiara. It was an example of what he suggests as the burden of corruption on businesses and individuals in Solomon Islands.
ITSSI is not in denial. There are loopholes. There are exploitative business practices. We support and applaud the esteemed chairman in his efforts to bring much needed national dialogue around corruption. However, we must have such debate with substantive facts - it is a necessary ingredient - even in the court of public opinion. To that end, we submit that there is not enough information to draw any conclusions.
There are many factors affecting the cost of computers. Two similar brands can have different prices. Different chipsets or RAM or graphics cards are some of the components that affect price. For example, two same brands can be offered for different prices if one has 8MB of RAM and the other has 32MB. Proprietary software such as Microsoft Office and antivirus software when bundled with computers and laptops can significantly change prices especially when purchased for single use. There are also clones built from sub-standard or second hand parts with pirated software installed. Purchasing a computer is an exact science – you must know every detail.
ITSSI is concerned that this debate can undermine the credibility of legitimate businesses providing much needed service. The society is also concerned that insistent ill-informed public debate can perpetuate unnecessary allegations.
So, we urge the media fraternity to thoroughly investigate stories before publication. The media can also provide information it has to a trusted professional in the industry who can help to substantiate their stories. This will greatly improve public debate.
The long-term solution is for the Solomon Islands Government and the private sector to continue investing in improving procurement processes to eliminate areas which make it susceptible to abuse. The Society also recognizes an opportunity to invest in Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), thereby, eliminating expensive licenses for proprietary software. These efforts require prudent investment, well thought out policies and dialogue between multiple stakeholders.
The society is encouraged to see public discourse on ICT and will closely follow them while providing guidance on issues of public interest. We are also available on social mediums Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Our dedicated website is https://www.itssi.sb. It is also the very first point of contact for those who wish to consult the society. We encourage the public to provide suggestions on how we, as a society, can improve outreach and dissemination of helpful information.