Jonathan Austin
“So what is it like?,” friends ask when they learn I am living in Solomon Islands.  “Hot,” is how I usually reply, for how can you sum up in a sentence such a wonderfully diverse country, a land of such beauty and fascinating culture as Solomon Islands?
It has been both a privilege and a journey of discovery for our family to live and work in Solomon Islands these past two years during my time as RAMSI Deputy Special Coordinator and it is with sadness that we will soon return to New Zealand.
Serving in a regional mission has been a wonderful experience mirrored by the experience of our family in Solomons.
My wife, Salote, is from Tonga but her grandmother was born in Solomon Islands. We have many wantoks here, so it has never felt like a foreign country, just another part of our extended Pacific family.
Our youngest child has spent almost all her life growing up in Solomon Islands and our oldest thinks God Save Our Solomon Islands is her national anthem.
Our family’s links across the Pacific are typical of the pan-Pacific relationships which I believe are one of the factors that at once make RAMSI both strong and unique as a mission. All Pacific Forum members contribute to RAMSI.  
This is something greatly valued in the mission and we recognise that it represents a significant commitment by all countries from the largest to the smallest. Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Papua New Guinea—all have sizeable contingents.
The substantial and ongoing financial backing from Australia is a tangible demonstration of that country’s very welcome commitment to, and interest in, our region.
At the same time, the smallest Pacific Islands Forum countries like Niue in providing two police officers—an eighth of their force—to RAMSI’s Participating Police Force are, on a per capita basis, also making a huge contribution.  RAMSI is a great example of Pacific co-operation, a success of which we can all be proud.  We have joined hands to help a neighbour in need.  
In doing so, we have also learnt more about the effectiveness of working together in our region.
That neighbour we set out to help six years ago in 2003 is now firmly on the road to recovery:  I leave a Solomon Islands which is more secure and more confident in itself. Peace has been restored and governance is improving.  
The economy has been growing strongly although the majority of Solomon Islanders lack material wealth.
There are also dark clouds on the horizon as the revenue earned from the devastating exploitation of the country’s rich natural forests begins to decline sharply at the same time as the global economic crisis is making itself felt in the Hapi Isles.
Central to RAMSI’s success has been the mission’s partnership with the Government and people of Solomon Islands. It is no secret that this partnership has had difficulties in the past, but the relationship now is in excellent shape and we co-operate closely on all aspects of our work.
A Partnership Framework nearing completion will provide a detailed plan for RAMSI: areas of work will be defined together with clear targets, indicative timelines and ways of measuring progress.
All of us in RAMSI are very conscious that we are only here by invitation and that ultimately we will be judged by our legacy. That legacy, we hope, will be a Solomon Islands administration better equipped to take their country forward and a nation that, thanks to improvements in policing, will feel safe and secure.
This is not our country: we are only here to help Solomon Islanders. We will continue helping for as long as we are welcome, and until the job is done. God bless Solomon Islands.