THE Solomon Islands Women in Business Association (SIWIBA) received its first official handover of support from the Pan Oceanic Bank (POB) to support their upcoming 2017 Solomon Islands Women in Business Awards.

The event is earmarked to take place Saturday December 9, 2017, at the Coral Sea Resort & Casino and will be the second since its launch last year.

POB Chief Executive Officer, Mr Suresh Amerasekera officially handed over their support as Gold Sponsor to the SIWIBA Awards Committee Chairlady and Board Vice President, Mrs Julie Gegeu Haro.

The handover took place last week Wednesday at the POB Office that was witnessed by POB staff.

Speaking at the handover, Amerasekera highlighted on the vast contribution by the Solomon Islands women to the economy of the country.

“It is very appropriate to acknowledge SIWIBA who give leadership to recognise women in business in the country and their contribution to the economy.”

“While congratulating SIWIBA on their initiative to recognise women in business through their annual awards event, we hope this recognition will motivate many more women in their business ventures,” Amerasekera said.

He adds that POB is happy to join in the upcoming awards for women in business as a measure to empower women in the country.

In response, Haro expressed gratitude to POB for their positive response to partner with SIWIBA in support of the awards event.

She highlighted that 20 percent of the proceeds will be for the initial set up of the revolving fund for SIWIBA informal sector members.

“These are members who cannot access the financial institutions due to collateral and the requirement for the growth of their businesses or a new creation of a new business set up,” she said.

Haro adds that the 2017 Solomon Islands Women in Business Awards will be officially launched this evening for sponsors and potential sponsors who would like to support a great cause for the local business women and their families.

SIWIBA acknowledge their main funder, DFAT for their continuous support towards its programmes and activities.

–SIWIBA PRESS

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

HONIARA Youth Council (HYC) is now fully equipped with human resource to run its governance to represent the youth’s voice within Honiara city.

HYC has announced four additional young people accepted to join the executive board of four office bearers—President, Harry James Olikwailafa, Vice Christina Ora, Secretary Christina Mark and Hency Charles as member.

The HYC’s new executive board members are Kerry Jionisi from Girls for Change (G4C), Merinda from Bethlehem Chapel, Andrew Taloa from Music Gateway youth and Lemuel from CY community.

Now HYC has eight staffs to man administration.

New interim members were already announced during the reflection workshop organised by HCC-YD and HYC in partnership with Oxfam Solomon Islands which was attended by community youth leaders.

HYC President, Mr Harry James Olikwailafa said now Council started to look at how to strengthen its governance, and since the interim came on board it made HYC in full force to handle its administration.

Mr Olikwailafa also adds in previous years, HYC is running in volunteer concept so whenever members have other commitments they may exit at any time.

But with support from Oxfam’s Statim Faia project and Honiara City Council-Youth Division, HYC manage to made progress in its service deliveries to effectively represent young people in Honiara.

With the past executive, Mr Olikwailafa appreciated them for their commitment throughout the years until HYC has new interim executive board.

“HYC understand their commitment in studies overseas which maybe an added value to HYC on their return,” Mr Olikwailafa said.

Mr Olikwailafa said council believe in one way or the other on past executive involvement and through their engagement with HYC, they have improved in capacity building.

THE much anticipated nationwide Village Resource Survey and Household Listing 2017-2018 first phase is set to start with deployment of field enumerators as of next week.

Headed by the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (SINSO) within the Ministry of Finance & Treasury (MoFT), this is a pre-census count for the 2019 national census.

VRS National project Director, Raphael Aipaina said the first phase will cover whole of Renbel and Temotu provinces with ward one and two in the Shortland Islands of the Western Province and ward 31, 32 and 33 in the Malaita Outer Island (MOI) of Malaita Province.

These two provinces (Renbel & Temotu) and wards were selected for the first phase considering the geographical location and transportation problems they often face each year.

Deployment of enumerators to Renbel and Temotu province and selected wards will inaugurate next week followed with enumeration the week after next week which will run for a period of two months.

The movement of field enumerators to designated provinces and wards a week before the actual enumeration on Monday November 13, 2017 is to give them apple time for traveling and to ensure they settle down in well at their enumeration areas before work (enumeration) can start.

Aipaina said this is a nationwide survey thus every single villages will be enumerated and listed.

He said since the survey is the basis for the national census count in 2019, there’s no exception for any village and household to escape it.

“VRS is coming to your door mouth and your village and household will be enumerated and registered,” Aipaina said.

Phase two set for Choiseul, Central Island and Makira provinces will kick off in December 2017, while, phase three is scheduled to commence in February next year (2018) for Western, Malaita, Guadalcanal and Honiara.

Meanwhile, Aipaina said that whilst this is a nationwide survey including the Honiara City, it is not always an easy task as the diverse nature of the islands has to be taken into account, as well as the logistic support arrangements necessary for the survey such as transportation to outer islands.

The Director then called on every single citizens of the Solomon Islands to cooperate and support the NSO and the officers (field enumerators) who will be deployed into the field to provide them with the correct information.

He said this is a very important survey given the national census is just over a year away thus collective support and cooperation is decisive in this regard.

Government Statistician, Douglas Kimi said this VRS project will be a benchmark for the official/gazetted village names in the country.

He said once the survey (VRS) is conducted and successfully accomplished it will provide avenues to look at pathways to gazette village names.

“Generally the information to be collected in the VRS 2017/18 will also help to ensure the kind of resources that exist in the village. It is a good check to align policy implementation for the kind of development project the villages have received from the government and those who still experience the challenge.

“The information will be more powerful to confirm the development that are happening in the villages and communities. NSO also include questions on climate change and the level of challenge this Climate Change have had on villages and communities,” Kimi said.

The National Statistics Office (NSO) is also calling on development partners and donors to support NSO in terms of funding and technical assistance as they prepare ahead for the 2019 National Census.

–SINSO PRESS