BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

ASPIRING women who have participated on the recent Practice Parliament for Women in Honiara say they (women) are confident and ready to participate in any election both at the national and provincial level.

The five days mock parliament has proved women are confident with regards to their commitment and participation in all activities set in place throughout the week.

It was developed in a participatory way with the first four days being the training aspect of the workshop and fifth day as practice parliament for the participants

Activities exercised were considering of women leaders from communities who wished to developed leadership, advocacy and policy as well as women who have committed to supporting gender equality in terms of contesting for the national and provincial elections.

The speaker of the National Parliament Honorable Ajilon Nasiu is impressed with the participation of the women and highlighted the government has recognised gender equality.

“Your participation further cements the commitment of the current government ensuring both parliament and an oversight institution of this country recognizes the importance of gender in all sectors of the country,” said Mr Nasiu.

The Practice Parliament for women was made possible through the United Nations Development Programme in partnership with the National parliament of Solomon Islands, the Ministry of Women Children Youth and Family Affairs, Voise Blo Mere Solomons, Women’s Right Action Movement, UNWomen and the Young Women’s Parliamentary Group.

BY ELLISON.T.VAHI

 OUR Culture as a pillar of sustainable development.

The role culture plays in is vital as it ensures quality and inclusive education for future generations, building sustainable cities and communities and giving rise to economic growth through creative and cultural industries.

According to the Isabel Provincial Youth Forum, an out spoken lady Zinnia Leamana stated that she is happy to witness the young Isabel people celebrate in a very rich culture and tradition in this era where western culture is playing a big role in today’s lifestyle.

“I must admit it gives me hope. IPYF is setting a powerful platform for our Isabel youth.

“The importance of having pride in our identity is I believe the basis of making great decisions for our province, decisions that proves we care and we are aware of who we are and the values that makes us who we are,” she said.

She adds, it takes a person with a big heart not only to realize but to execute his ideas in creating an active group of youth to take pride in what they do and to practice many arts of living.

The close integration of culture to development is to champion the role of culture in shaping our collective future.

Zinnia said while sustainable development is often associated with the three pillars of development through; economic, social and environment and whilst there is an increasing recognition of the important relationship between culture and sustainability.

She said that some have termed culture as the fourth pillar of sustainable development because of the role that culture has played in development.

“Our roots as a thriving trade settlement with people coming from different lands, speaking different languages and practising different beliefs go far back in the past years.

“Our multi-cultural identity and unity in the midst of diversity that has been formed through this long history is something we treasure and always celebrate,” she said.

She adds, endeavour to take great care and sensitivity in preserving our past, also, many of our historic buildings have been lovingly restored and their present-day use continues to bring new life and relevance to these places.

“The transformative power of culture also rests in how it touches people and communities, and comprises what we refer to as our way of life traditions, festivals, food and social memories, passed down from generation to generation.

“For instance our cultural institutions should always anchor key festivals and programmes that celebrate our rich and diverse multi-cultural heritage,” she said.

FOR the fourth month in a row, international visitation to the Solomon Islands has shown double digit growth.

Figures released by the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (SINSO) this week reveal international visitation increased for April 2018 increased 11.8 percent over the corresponding month in 2017.

The 2,250 total recorded showed an increase of 237 over the 2,013 achieved in April 2017.

With all major source markets showing good growth, Australian visitor arrivals continued to dominate, climbing 13 percent from 2,689 to 3,038.

New Zealand figures increased 17 percent from 443 to 519.

Papua New Guinea figures increased from 377 to 492, an increase of 30.5 percent while US figures grew 19 percent from 341 to 409.

Interestingly, visitation from Japan climbed by 40 per cent from 207 to 290, a result Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) CEO, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto attributed to renewed interest in the destination following on from the 75th anniversary of the Guadalcanal campaign last August.

European traffic also continued to build, the 338 total recorded representing a 48.9 percent increase over the 227 figure achieved in 2017.

The April result follows the destination’s best-ever first quarter result with collective visitor arrivals for Q1 2018 up 29 percent.

–SIVB PRESS

TWENTY women representing the 14 constituencies in Malaita and organisations in Malaita are in Honiara to present on and dialogue with their members of Parliament on the Malaita Women’s Empowerment and Development Policy 2018 – 2022.

The Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs together with the Ministry of Women, Youth and Sports of Malaita Province are collaborating with UN Women and UNDP through the Peace Building Fund, to organise a Women Dialogue with the Members of Parliament from Malaita province through the platform of the Malaita Women’s Empowerment and Development Policy 2018 – 2022.

The Malaita Women Empowerment and Development Policy was recently launched in Auki, on March 8, International Women’s Day.

The policy is a milestone and first ever for Malaita province, and has set out the priorities – both practical and strategic needs and interest of women in Malaita.

Research has shown that when governments invest in women, the family and community thrives.

Women in Malaita have an increasingly important role in the transformation of their communities.

They have become leaders in their communities seeking to address problems in their areas of community development and other issues.

However, in spite of the many common concerns faced by women there have been relatively few opportunities at the both the provincial and national levels to meet and discuss issues, or join forces with their provincial and national leaders in addressing common problems.

The dialogue will provide an overview of Malaita women’s path over the years through the outcome priorities in the Malaita Women’s Empowerment and Development Policy.

It will highlight issues and plans; and provide recommendations and consensus on key women’s priorities that affect their development and peace.

Freda Tuki Soriacomua says that creating a space for women’s participation in round table discussion with policy makers and leaders is important.

“Our government recognises women as partners in leadership and decision making, and we have articulate this through our National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security; and the National Gender Equality and Women’s Development Policy.”

Our work with partners is to ensure that promoting gender equity and women’s development must be within our context as well as aligned to global best practice.

The women delegation from Malaita are being led by Rose Liata, Minister responsible for Women in Malaita province, Ms Clera Rikimani as the Women Desk Officer for Malaita province and Martha Rurai, President of the Malaita Province Council of Women.

–MWYCFA PRESS

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islanders under the Recognised Seasonal Employers programme to New Zealand have been praised by a NZ grower Mr Van Vleit for their hard work.

Radio New Zealand reports that New Zealand fruit grower, John Van Vleit was full of praise for his Solomon Islands workers for the hard work made.

The statement said the workers filled 14,000 bins and pack 250,000 cartons of apples and pears for export this season with regards to their hard work which was crucial to the success of the growers business.

“This shows that the industry could no longer survive without the Pacific labourers who are brought in each season to NZ under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme,” the RNZI said.

Vleit adds there is no day off for Solomons which means they worked every day whereas the New Zealanders they have got about three or four a day at time they turn up whenever they feel like.

He said he will soon increase his RSE workforce from 55 to 65 and every single who have finishing this season and ready to come over for holiday with their families are welcomed to go back.

Tony Analau who is the longest serving RSE worker at the JR’s Orchard and the foreman of the Solomon Islands men at the orchard said “When I go home, I work on building my house with the thinking that eventually I will be able to rent it out. So am still building. I have finished building one house but I want to build another one.

Hundred (100) seasonal workers had been employed during picking time and half of them are Solomon Islanders.

The statement adds there are a lot more men than women in the Solomon Islands working at the JR’s Orchard.

Mr Van Vleit is known as JR to his workers,he grows and exports apples and pears to Europe and Asia from a 135 hectare property near Greytown in North Wellington.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

A pilot village is to be decided in starting at as an eye-opener to improve healthy standard model villages in Ngella, Central Islands Province (CIP), going in line with tourism activities there.

This is according to CIP’s Provincial Government that is planning to set up public rest houses amongst communities in the province.

CIP’s Premier Hon Patrick Vasuni reminded that this is no easy task as they want landowners to partner with the province because unless partnering with them before they will be able to help landowners to develop their land being the current procedure.

“It is a huge task as we will start with a pilot village approach in which we are yet to agree on which village to start with to be the model one for rest of villages to see and follow,” said the Premier.

Hon Vasuni assured that the Provincial Government is ready for the development.

CIP’s Provincial Secretary (PS), Christian Siale, also contributing to the premier explained broadly that the initiative is a woman driven program being yet to be implemented in the province.

He said they are working on this now to help women through the framework of the National Council of Woman (NCW) and the Provincial Council of Woman (PCW) recently being established.

PS Siale said the province finds that without the NCW and PCW framework, the program will not roll out.

“So the province has established this as funding will come through that framework from the main line ministries and NGO’s,” said the PS.

He said each village must have a public guest house, amenities and proper sanitised rubbish areas which are the bottom line where community tourism goes in being its parts and puzzles, as well as a healthy part of living for Central Islanders.”

It is understood that this initiative is a frontal approach capturing woman, youth and children.

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

YOUTHS in Malaita province have raised their concerns towards the upcoming national general election which they say is a crucial one for the nation.

According to Rex Wane, a concerned youth representative, the upcoming national general election is crucial and is very important for this nation and the future of the people.

“There will be lots of people competing in the national general election but we need quality leaders and educated people that have the concern for its people within our constituencies.

“We need qualified people to represent us in the national parliament to address our issues and making proper policies and Laws for the whole our nation Solomon Islands.

“Currently we the young people and the future leaders of this nation we are experiencing hazards and difficulties with unemployment which causes lots of unlawful activities happened in our societies today.

“Our call and our heartfelt need for the upcoming national general election is all intend candidates must provide their curriculum vitae (CV) and qualifications.

“Even though our country is a democratic country where everybody have their own rights we heartedly focuses on our future.

“Our concern is that when someone is representing us in the parliament he will bring our ideas and concerns in the parliament not for his or her interest.

“We call on all youths in malaita province or other malaitan youths living in some other provinces in the country to have the same concern that we have for the upcoming national general election.

“This election is your future and our future, our country is heading towards a disaster future where it will affect us your brothers and sisters if we cast our votes imprecisely.”