By Gary Hatigeva

THE 50 selected youth participants for this year’s 4th National Youth Parliament (NYP) session were given the opportunity to learn firsthand the existence and importance of the three arms of the state.

The 4th NYP started three days ahead of the debate proper to give time for participants to cover key components of parliament and its function, while at the same time understand the roles of parliamentarians.

Yesterday’s session comes as part of these ongoing trainings and preparations for the major debate session due to take place in the chamber of Parliament this Thursday.

Youths were told that the three arms operate as one or are interconnected but are three separate arms known as the separation of powers, and that these are the pillars that the country is operating under.

They are the Legislature, which represents the members of Parliament, the Executive representing the Government, and the Judiciary, which represents the Courts system of the country.

Participants also learnt that one arm cannot interfere with the function of another in their respective roles and responsibilities but can do check and balances on each other.

As Youth Parliamentarians or representative in Parliament, participants get to understand the roles they are taking on as one arm of the system, which is being a legislature.

They were also given the history of the establishment of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands, with insights to how the term parliament came into existence and used by countries that have parliaments, which was derived from a French term of a place where people get together to debate or discuss issues.

Youth participants also get to further understand the insights of a parliament, its structure and how meetings are coordinated for both parliament debates and committee proceedings, where the Speaker is the head of parliament, gets to preside over meetings of the house.

It was also highlighted during these presentations that MPs are not there to supply copper and materials but to represent the voice of his or her electorates to legislate issues affecting the people and the country.

In the presentation, it is revealed that parliamentarians are to represent all Solomon Islanders through their elected MPs and voice of the people

Youths were also informed that only parliament can make, enact, amend and repeal laws governing the country.

Youths were also told of the three groups that make up parliament, and they include the independent, opposition and the government benches.

They have also learnt that within the government bench has two groups of MPs, which consists of government ministers or ministers of the crown, and government back benchers.

Participants were also informed of the importance of making numbers to rule or form government in parliament, a process they will cover in the final day of this program, before the debate session.

Youths get to understand the roles and responsibility of the opposition group, who according to parliament facilitators, does a check and balance on government’s legislations and give alternative views on laws and issues brought for parliament’s deliberations.

Participants also covered ‘The Experiences and Application of Parliamentary Democracy in the Solomon Islands’ during yesterday’s session and the two major topics according to these youths, have really given better insights to what makes the country a nation under a democratic governance system.

Participants and other youth Organisation reps asked questions and other matters of related to parliament and the independence of the three arms.

The session according to organisers, was very encouraging as most the participants were eager to understand parliament and have more formal understanding of governance, which they (organisers) are anticipate a very good debate session comes Thursday.

The NYP is expected to debate a number of topics during this week’s sessions, but are mainly prepared or geared to dig deep into debating the topic, which looks at ‘Introducing Compulsory Voting in Solomon Islands for the sake of peace-building and social inclusion’.

As for today’s session, youth parliamentarians continue with their preparations, and are expected to cover Parliamentary Committees by get the feel of being part of this procedure.

They will also be covering the electoral process, a sample of how motions are brought before parliament for deliberations, and discuss matters surrounding Youth Affairs, both locally and internationally.

By Gary Hatigeva

SPEAKER of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands, Ajilon Jasper Nasiu has given huge commendation to the Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government (SIDCCG) in its support towards youths of the country.

The speaker highlighted this when delivering the key speech to mark the official opening of the 4th Youth Parliament yesterday, which currently underway at the National Parliament.

He told a packed gathering of mostly youth participants and guests that the current government is a strong supporter of youth participation in decision making, and it is also reflected in its recently launched National Youth Policy.

“So, with the recent launching national youth policy, I would like to commend the government through the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs for ensuring that our youths have a place in your policy agenda,” Mr Nasiu stressed.

In acknowledging the Ministry’s representatives present at the official opening, the Speaker pointed out that the group’s attendance gives a clear picture of the government’s high recognition for the youths of this country.

“Your attendance further cements the commitment of the current government, in ensuring that both parliament and other oversight institutions recognise the importance of youth engagements in all sectors of the country.”

On the same note, the Speaker extended his commendation to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its Peace Building Programme and the UN Women.

“Your support is another fine example of the ongoing commitment towards youth inclusiveness in the region and more specifically, in Solomon Islands,” he added.

Nasiu also acknowledged both the Oxfam and the Australian High Commission office for their support, which he thought will go a long way in shaping the participating youths, whom he is certain, some will become future leaders and better citizens of the country.

“I have no doubt that your support will not go empty handed as the knowledge and skills the participants will learn on parliament and leadership, shall go a long way in preparing them for the future,” the Speaker said.

Before declaring the official opening of the event, the Speaker took time to wish all youth participants the best of luck as they will deliberate and discuss in the remaining days of the programme.

A separate bureau to coordinate the 2019 National Population and Housing Census operations will be soon be established.

The office will be located within the current National Statistics Office (NSO).

Government Statistician, Douglas Kimi said establishing of the office will happen by next month, November.

He said once the office is establish, there will be a lot of administrative activities, secondment and appointment of staff to be done not only from the NSO but other departments within government to supervise the Census office positions.

Meanwhile, Mr Kimi said since this is a biggest nationwide census survey envisioned to take in records of every citizens no matter what age category and cultural background, it is important that everyone must support and collaborate with the NSO and field officers who will be out in the field for data collection.

He said this is a crucial undertaking to ensure the country have an updated population counts thus collaborative effort and support is indeed appreciative in this regard to guarantee a successful census.

Kimi said unlike other big events in the country like the Election registration which targets only specific age group with other surveys/events, Census is different and the biggest ever occasion as it take record of every individual citizen of a country. The date for the 2019 national census count is yet to be set.

The NSO is also calling on development partners and donors to support the coming 2019 Census in terms of funding and technical assistance.

Also as part of the 2019 census planning and preparatory work, the NSO is currently undertake the Village Resource Survey 2017-2018 and the Household listing exercise.

The VRS has a long history in the NSO.

Initiated in the 1980s, it was then con¬ducted in 1995-1996, then in 2007- 2008 but due to resource constraints the results were only used internally in preparation of the past censuses; the present VRS 2017- 2018 is the fourth one in the series.

The VRS and household listing col¬lects information on services to the village including mapping and also collect information on the location of households by GPS and the number of people per household by gender.

This is the basis for Census enumera¬tion areas (EA) demarcation in 2019.

The survey will play the role of assist¬ing the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) in providing quality data at the village level, which is essential, to see the impact of development, and guide its development efforts and pol¬icy – makers in the future, to improve the livelihood and standard of living for all Solomon Islanders.

The survey now in its final phase and nears completion.

The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) through the Ministry of Finance & Treasury (MoFT) is funding the VRS 2017/18 project.

–SINSO PRESS

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

MINISTRY of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) is calling for young people’s engagement in the Sustainable Development Goals.

MWYCFA’s Permanent Secretary Dr Cedric Alipendava voiced this during the opening ceremony of the opening of the 4th National Youth Parliament yesterday.

He said Solomon Islands have been embarking on new sets of SDGs officially known as Transforming Our World: the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and 2016—2035 National Development Strategy.

Alipendava said young people also play a significant role in the process of implementing the SDGs and NDS because they are the ones who will benefit.

“It is important to recognise the role of young people as key stakeholders in achieving these development goals—SDGs and NDS.

“Today’s generation of young Solomon Islanders will inherit and must drive the future development.

“They have a vested interest in creating a future Solomon Islands that is to be prosperous and peaceful,” Alipendava said.

UNDP Solomon Islands Country Manager Ms Azusa Kobata said creation of the National Youth Strategy aligns with the National Development Strategy and also resonates well with the SDGs which young people are a part of.

She said with the 17 SDGs, about 193 countries including Solomon Islands have signed up for these goals.

“It shows we all want to address challenges of today’s world in respective where you are and who you are.

“We want to tackle poverty, inequality, climate change, and we all want to have a world that is defined by prosperity, peace and justice,” Kubota said.

Kubota said UNDP is working very closely with the government of Solomon Islands and other partners in the country to make concrete progress of the SDGs.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

TODAY is a great day for all women in this city. You are an important part of all our lives. You are our mothers, wives, daughters, sisters and friends.

Honiara City Council’s (HCC) Deputy City Mayor, Eddie Ngava said these words before launching “International Rural Women’s Day” three-day programme at the national museum’s auditorium yesterday.

Speaking on the day’s theme “Transforming rural and urban women’s life for better future”, he said women are central to the development of rural areas and national economies.

Ngava said women make up a significant proportion of labour in agriculture, play a key role in food production, especially in subsistence farming and perform most of the unpaid care work in rural areas.

He also stressed on the challenges women and girls in rural areas face.

Ngava said that they often face restricted access to productive resources such as land, agriculture inputs, finance and credit, extension services and technology.

He added that traditional and cultural norms have also made it more challenging for women and girls in rural areas to gain access to public services, markets and institutions, social protection and decent employment opportunities.

However, Ngava encouraged women to unite and work together to help overcome this challenge.

“I encourage you all to participate, celebrate, share, bond, network and strengthen in unity as we all work together, both parents and government to listen to our women’s cry. This is our challenge. Let us unify and overcome this challenge,” he said.

In further remarks, the Deputy City Mayor acknowledged the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, (MWYCFA) Honiara City Council and DFAT for funding the project.

He also thanked other supporters, representatives of the Honiara Women’s Network and all Women Service providers for supporting the project.

Ngava noted that he is pleased to see partnership unfold and looks forward to producing more projects with them in the future.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

GENDER inequality is the root cause of violence against women.

This statement was made by the Coordinator of Vanuatu’s Women’s Centre (VWC), Merilyn Tahi whose three member team travelled to Solomon Islands to conduct a two-week training session on eliminating violence against women with Family Support Centre (FSC) that ended last week.

She said the second training, “Male Advocacy Training” a first of its kind to take place in the country involved finding out what participants thought about men and women, stressing that this is the root cause of gender inequality.

Tahi added that after gender inequality there is discriminatory attitude and behaviour in men because they have been taught and provided the thinking that they are supreme beings over women.

She said wherever you go in the Pacific you will hear that the main area governments are working on to end violence against women is gender inequality.

Henceforth, Tahi emphasised that gender inequality must be addressed and be ridden of in order to end violence against women and children.

She referred to the participants as male advocates who will be advocating for women’s human rights, ending violence against women and promoting gender equality.

Tahi was accompanied by fellow VWC colleagues, Lyn Rose Tule who is the Centre’s Counselor/Supervisor and Kristine Keasi, the Centre’s Mobile Counselor.

She was speaking at a function on Oct 12 attended by participants from the two trainings, FSC, SAFE NET and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) representatives.

In her closing remarks, Tahi thanked the Family Support Centre’s (FSC) Manager, Lynffer Wini Maltungtung for having them come over to do the trainings and the Solomon Islands government for funding the training.