Prime Ethical and Governing Issues Emerged
Discusss about the Ethical and Governing Issues Emerging In Vanuatu Island.
In March 2015, Tropical Cyclone Pam struck Vanuatu Island as a to a great degree ruinous Category 5 tornado, with assessed twist paces of 250 km/h and wind blasts that topped at around 320 km/h. The aggregate financial estimation of the impacts caused by Tropical Cyclone Pam was assessed to be around US$ 500 million. Of this, US$ 300 million is inferable from harm, and US$ 180 million is owing to the loss.
This is proportionate to 59.6% of the total national output (GDP) in Vanuatu, giving a sign of the size of the effect. Due to information impediments, in any case, it is likely that these figures disparage the aggregate effect. Regardless of very excellent endeavors by the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment group to gather information amid the brief span casing of this evaluation, the group confronted ethical challenges, as in numerous occasions information was either not accessible or had not yet been handled.
There are numerous main ethical and governing issues emerged in the video. They include corruption, unaccountability, and lack of social services.
First, corruption is so rampant in Vanuatu’s Wala Island. At different times of the year, tourists visit the island and bring with them lots of money. The money is acquired through local businesses like local brew, pictures, and portraits among other items. The money collected from such activities is not enough to cater for development in the island; it is money from port and cruise fees that supposed to be for development. Nevertheless, the locals do not benefit from these profits in any way. As a matter of fact, they have no idea of where the funds go to; and even if they know, they are too powerless to speak about it (Adeolu & Afolabi, 2010).
Furthermore, there is no development in the island at all. Tourists bring in a lot of money to bring development in the island. However, the funds are usually squandered (Firth, Maye & Pearson, 2011). In ten years, the only project evident is the basic water system located beside the graveyard. However, this water system only supplies water to the tourists’ toilets. The local people only depend on rain-water. There was foreign aid worth more than $800,000, a grant to the island with a prime purpose of developing its facilities. However, only one luxurious toilet was built, specifically for the tourists. It is unethical to cater only to tourists because locals would also wish to have such toilets to improve the people’s health, a dream that has never come true (Evans, 2011).
PO Cruises Actions
In addition, tourism seems to be the main economic activity that can earn the locals a substantial amount of money. However, for all the years the tourists have visited, there is no noticeable improvement in the livelihood of the locals. No one is really accountable of the money brought in through the foreign exchange. From 2010 to 2014, account records about the money earned have never been published. No one knows where they are, maybe apart from the top leaders. It is not really clear on who is managing the funds (Hardcastle, Powers & Wenocur, 2004). It’s unethical because of the lack of transparency.
Moreover, good health, clean water, electricity and a good health/toilet system are some of the developments the locals would wish to have. Currently, there is no gas for cooking and only a few people own generators, of course with no fuel. This is unethical due to inequality in resource allocation among the people in the island.
In this video, the P & O Cruises are seen flocking into the island to have fun. It is a private company that transports tourists to the island at different times of the year. The tourists bring in cash every time they visit. However, PO cruises do not bother to follow up on who is benefiting from the money. As much as the toilets built are exclusively meant for the tourists, they do not seem to be bothered about this. Foreign aid granted to the islands for development does not seem to have been spent appropriately. The Cruises, however, do not ask how the money was spent.
As much as the PO cruises are not responsible for how the foreign exchange earned is managed by the local government, they should at least inquire to know given that the island has very poor facilities. For example, they should have taken the foreign aid initiative in their own hands by co-coordinating the construction of basic facilities required in the region. This way, the funds would have been spent wisely, including building a fancy toilet system for the locals too. There are standards and a growing need to be responsible.
The ethical and governance issues brought out in this video mainly affect the locals of Vanuatu. However, each party involved has a responsibility in fixing the issues. Basing on the Pentecostal island as an example, the locals of Wala Island should get up and fight their way up. Barnabas has personally taken an initiative of improving the locals’ livelihood by bringing up things like the micro-financing banking facility, a school, and a government building. He has also encouraged locals to build houses along the roadside for easier meetings whenever he visits.
The responsibility for fixing the issues
The Vanuatu government is also responsible for fixing the issues mentioned in the video. For example, the new government has set measures to curb corruption in such a way that those involved are punished. The former government was not accountable for any of its actions. For example, squandering funds for private benefits and cheaply selling good sites to favorite people was the order of the day. The Vanuatu government should set strict measures and laws to govern all the social, economic and political activities in the islands. There should be accountability and reporting of information in a timely manner. It should also hold responsibility on how the foreign exchange funds are spent (Hardcastle, Powers & Wenocur, 2004).
Being a private company, the PO Cruises seem to be operating legally. The Australian government should ensure the control of all activities done by its locals in foreign countries. For example, foreign aid grants should have been responsibly offered and managed by the government itself. An assumption that the island leaders would spend the money wisely should not have happened. Finally, the PO Cruises company should ensure an equal treatment between the tourists and the locals. For example, they should ask for the reasons why the toilets are exclusively meant for them alone, and why the locals do not have toilets of their own. They should also ask why the basic water system does not benefit the locals.
However, some islanders insist on the slogan, “Do not ask for what the government can do for you. Instead, ask yourself what you can do for the government”. In the midst of all this, some enlightened people have started fighting back for the change they want. Barnabas is one of those people. He has opened a micro-financing facility where locals can bank their savings without difficult policies. His island also has a school where children attend and a government building still under construction. Barnabas also holds forums and meetings to enlighten the locals on development issues (Firth, Maye & Pearson, 2011).
To prevent the unethical issues happening in the Wala Island and in Vanuatu in particular, both the Australian and Vanuatu governments should come with clear methods to resolve the issue (Linda & Bhishna, 2015).
Vanuatu Government
Basing on historical events, the former government officials of Vanuatu squandered the locals’ money and spent it on personal interests. No one benefited apart from them. This led to so many years of nondevelopment in the island. The current government should instill strict laws to govern the accountability of money earned both from foreign aid and foreign exchange. It should put the locals’ lives ahead of the foreigners’. Furthermore, the Vanuatu government should establish forums and initiatives aimed at educating the locals concerning putting their welfare ahead of every other thing. This forum could help in enlightening the locals to even turn away from things like black magic, which most politicians depend on to win the seats.
Australia and Vanuatu’s Governments’ Resolution
Australian Government
Historically, the PO Cruises ships have been visiting the Vanuatu Island for many years now. However, the level of development does not seem to go up even after all the dollars they bring in. The Australian government should ensure that their visits through the PO Cruises bear fruits and make the Vanuatu Island better. They should also appoint one of their own to be a representative in matters to do with development in Vanuatu. The money given to the locals through trade should also be kept safely. Furthermore, the local banks should loosen their policies to provide a suitable place for banking by the locals. This can happen through Australian intervention and a dialogue between the two governments.
Patience, Alison & David (2009) agree that preventing such issues from emerging in future, the locals of Vanuatu should go the Barnabas way. They should support themselves financially by the little they get. They should aspire to build facilities like microfinance offices to aid in banking their savings. That way, they would be empowered to start their own projects like building good toilet systems for themselves. Secondly, the choice of leaders they make determine the future living conditions. The locals should do away with all selfish leaders and choose responsible ones. This will guarantee accountability of public funds management.
Lastly, the Australian government should collaborate with the Vanuatu government on matters to do with development and partnership. This may happen through dialogue and proper follow-up on foreign aids and grants. In addition, the Australian government should monitor activities undertaken by the PO Cruises ships when they visit the island. Policies should be implemented to restrict them from practicing inequality. For example, facilities like public toilets should be shared with the locals, at least if none is built for them.
In conclusion, all the three parties working hand in hand can bring all the unethical and government issues happening in Vanuatu to a halt.
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