Common country assessment : Solomon Islands, final draft of 23 March 2002

Abstract

The Solomon Islands faces a crucial test of sustainability as a nation. Its component provinces resent the rule of its centralist government. The economy, weakened through a decade of poor economic management and low quality governance, has been pushed to the brink of collapse by a civil uprising between militia of two of the country's main islands. Post-Independence gains 111 health, education and infrastructure are being eroded. The commercial timbers of the nation's natural forest resources are almost spent. A frank and detailed assessment of the country's circumstances is a necessary pre-requisite to identifying the areas where UN agency support can assist recovery.