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From: B-Haile (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Sun Jan 16 2011 - 16:11:24 EST
Holistic Development and Economic Emancipation Based on A Golden Principle Not Gold
Tuesday, 11 January 2011 13:21 Written by Kidane Eyob
Eritreacompass.com
A holistic development approach is being implemented and poverty will soon be made history in Eritrea not because of the gold mine but rather as a result of 20 years of hard work, massive investment and sacrifices made by the Eritrean People and the Defence Forces led by the visionary and selfless leadership that has a Golden Principle - 'Political and Economic Independence'.
Therefore, this holistic development approach adopted that is based on this Golden Principle is the cake that feeds the Eritrean People and the Gold is the icing on the cake. Eritrea is reliant for its development on its proven Golden Principle not Gold.
Since before independence, the EPLF leadership adopted this Golden Principle of political and economic independence that is free from external interference. In my opinion, the policy of 'self reliance' essentially stemmed from this Golden Principle during the armed struggle for independence. However, this does not mean that the EPLF did not accept humanitarian and other assistance from interested parties. Indeed, the EPLF maintained an open mind and actively sought assistance and recognition from the international community for as long as there were no strings attached. Fundamentally, the right of the Eritrean people to self determination was never compromised by the EPLF even during the darkest hours of the armed struggle.
This Golden Principle, and the heavy sacrifices made, therefore, guaranteed the Eritrean People their right to self determination and independence after 30 years of protracted armed struggle against one of the biggest armies in Africa that ironically enjoyed financial and material support from both the West and the East during the Cold War. Furthermore, this Golden Principle helped the EPLF foil several plots and conspiracies that were masterminded by various governments, organisations and individuals that consistently tried to sabotage the right of the Eritrean People to self determination.
After independence, the Government of Eritrea (GOE) maintained this Golden Principle and made pragmatic social, political and economic policies that put the Eritrean People and Social Justice First. Both short and long term plans that are smart were made in order to achieve the desired holistic development that is sustainable and one that can create wealth. These plans were effectively implemented using local resources and when required in collaboration with other governmental and non-governmental organisations who were willing and able to work in equal partnership with the GOE. The GOE vehemently and consistently rejected donors that wanted to create an attitude of a master-servant relationship as well as implement their failed carrot and stick foreign policy in Eritrea. Thanks to this Golden Principle, the GOE was also able to foil several plots and conspiracies that were masterminded by various governments, organisations and individuals that consistently tried to intimidate and corrupt the GOE and undo its independence.
In order to achieve this holistic development, the GOE recognised that this can only be made achievable and realistic by making massive investments in human resource development and capacity building through provision of education and training. As a result and 20 years later, the number of schools and students from nursery to university education has increased dramatically particularly in the rural areas. Equally important is the significant increase in the number of trainees in vocational and technical courses throughout the country.
Additionally, the GOE recognised that, to ensure a holistic development and achieve the desired human resource development and capacity building, the population has to be in good health. To make this vision a reality, hospitals and clinics were constructed using locally available resources and doctors, nurses and other health care professionals were trained as a result of the aforementioned human resource development and capacity building policy that was implemented effectively. The provision of clean and safe potable water to the people in rural and urban areas is also being addressed effectively and as a result, the vast majority of the people have been able to get access to adequate and safe potable water.
Furthermore, the GOE acknowledged Eritrea's strategic location in the volatile region of the Horn of Africa and recognised the imperative of safeguarding her sovereignty and independence. It was mainly for this reason and to support the holistic development of Eritrea that the national service was born in Sawa in 1994 and it would not be an exaggeration to state that Sawa has made men and women who performed miracles in safeguarding Eritrea's sovereignty and nation building.
All of the above policies cannot be implemented on an empty stomach, so obviously food security was essentially recognised as a paramount policy if Eritrea is to achieve all the aforementioned objectives and maintain the Golden Principle. Any country that fails to achieve food security is vulnerable to external interference, blackmail, manipulation, corruption and can be held hostage when it fails to obey orders given by the donor countries that have hooked it like an addict.
Therefore, the GOE made massive investment in developing modern agriculture which does not rely on seasonal rainfall. God as always, is on Eritrea's side by blessing its people and land with plenty of rainwater. The investment that was made in order to develop the fishing industry cannot be underestimated either. However, it must to be noted that, the efforts of the GOE to develop the fishing industry at the desired speed was sabotaged by those who consider Eritrea as a Good Bad example of a successful country in Africa against all odds.
At the heart of all of the above developments is the requirement of various vital infrastructures that had to be constructed urgently but in priority order and in recognition of this fact, local resources were mobilised to build these infrastructures through a Marshal Plan famously known as Warsay Yika'Alo. These infrastructures include but are not limited to the construction of schools, colleges, hospitals, roads, bridges, dams, factories, warehouses, ports, airports etc. To sustain this aspect of the development, a new cement factory will soon be operational and other factories that will produce various construction materials are also in their final stages of their construction process.
All of the above developments could not have been achieved without the Golden Principle of the GOE considering all the challenges, conspiracies, plots, obstacles, hostilities and conflicts that had to be overcome in the last 20 years. These developments and investments that were made in the last 20 years are based on this Golden Principle and are beginning to bear fruit. Therefore, this holistic development approach adopted based on this Golden Principle is the cake that feeds the Eritrean People and the Gold is the icing on the cake. Eritrea is reliant for its development on its proven Golden Principle not Gold.
The icing on the cake will obviously make the cake more delicious and to the dismay of those who tried to sabotage the mining project, this is what was recently stated by Nevsun's President Cliff Davis, "... we are on time, under budget, and will considerably further the country's development with the realisation of Eritrea's first modern day mine. In the face of difficult capital markets during 2008/2009 and other obstacles overcome in 2010, we are proud of this significant accomplishment. We look forward to substantially growing Bisha in the coming months, in terms of reserves and throughput."
What Nevsun's President Cliff Davis rather diplomatically refers to as obstacles in 2010 in his statement above could possibly be to do with the following statement that was made by The Global Mining Newspaper The Northern Miner which one could also refer to as sabotage:-
On its March 8 -14 2010 article titled, '' Defining Mining in Eritrea'', The Northern Miner made the following statement: -www.nevsun.com ''The United Nations' late-2009 decision to impose limited sanctions on Eritrea, because of the country's unwillingness to abide by regulations on its dealings with Djibouti and alleged arms dealings with Somalian rebels, looked set to derail Nevsun's efforts earlier this year. Bank insurers balked at the sanctions and the company's recently-negotiated debt facility fell through. Nevsun's determined management team went to the equity markets instead, and raised the funds it needs to complete Bisha mine construction. And, of course, with equity funding the mine's cash flow will no longer be impeded by financing costs and debt repayment. So Bisha is on track, on budget, and set to become Eritrea's first operating mine before the end of the year.''
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