Dear editor, the Governor General's new year speech alerts us of the reality of the challenges that 2009 will bring our people as a result of the the global financial crisis which has been causing economies tumbling around the glope. Even the strongest economies are shaken and economists warned that it's going to be the worst financial crisis ever since the great depression in the 1930's. Many countries have since started devising ways to lessen the effects of this looming economic slowdown but the fact of the matter is every country is going to suffer in one way or the other. we as a country must be aware of how we can deal approriately with the effects of this on our people. In the developed world, US, EU, Japan, Australia, etc etc, where the economy is cash-based, this recession has weakened the job markets leading to many people becoming unemployed. Many people lost their jobs and it is anticipated that many more are likely to become unemployed if this continues. No jobs, no income, no money means the cash economy dries up. this is the weakest point in the cash economy, i.e the inability of a consumer or worker to buy goods in the economy- hao for live nao ya.
In our country, we are less dependent on this cash economy. ours is another, the village economy. this does not mean that we can't feel the aweful efects of this, of course we will. but the Governor General's call on our people to remain in our villages can help us deal with this crisis. in the village, we grow our own food, fish our seas build our own houses and don't have to pay for water. these are the basics that sustain life.
the challenges that this global financial crisis is bringing will surely be felt in the whole country. if life has been difficult in these past years, it will be even harder in 2009. Hence, we must heed the the Governor General's call and advice our people, especially the young ones not to be lured by the false green lights of Honiara but to remain in our villages where life is more sustainable.