IT was a day of celebration for more than 90 Solomon Islanders who graduated with qualifications in 15 technical and vocational programs from the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) in Honiara on September 26.

The new graduates trained in a range of programmes including air conditioning and refrigeration, carpentry, commercial cookery, community services, early childhood education and care, electrotechnology electrician, engineering (mechanical trade), hospitality, individual support, light vehicle mechanical technology, painting and decorating, patisserie, tourism, wall and floor tiling and community development.

They now join more than 1,200 Solomon Islanders who have graduated from the College.

In his keynote address, Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency, Mr Roderick Brazier, commended the graduates for their hard work and encouraged them to apply the skills they have acquired at their workplaces and in their communities.

HE Brazier added that APTC’s skills-based training is meeting national labour market demand for a wide range of vocational careers, which is supporting Solomon Islanders gain employment to raise their standard of living and contribute to economic growth.

APTC was established in 2007 after it was announced by the Australian Government at the Pacific Islands Forum.

Since then, it has delivered Australian skills and qualifications to over 11,000 Pacific women and men.

HE Brazier also applauded APTC for successfully reaching the milestone of successfully delivering technical and vocational education and training (TEVT) in the Pacific for 10 years.

“The contributions made by APTC are a remarkable achievement. The Australian Government is proud to support APTC as a training centre that upskills Pacific Islanders.”

APTC continues to partner with national TVET institutions like the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) to provide quality training to Solomon Islanders.

Through this collaboration, 14 students who graduated with Certificate III in Hospitality at the ceremony, had the opportunity to train in the newly refurbished SINU kitchen and bar.

APTC also collaborates with Don Bosco Technical Institute as well as various industry stakeholders including Solomon Power, Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and International Finance Corporation that has resulted in staff professional development.

“Through such collaborations in the Solomon Islands as well as in other Pacific Island countries, the Australian Government through APTC is helping make a lasting contribution to the development of the Pacific by providing their citizens with a learning environment that is aligned to international standards,” added HE Mr Brazier.

Another APTC graduation ceremony will be held today, September 28, for 66 Solomon Islanders working within the industry in supervisory and training roles.

These graduands will receive certificates in Leadership and Management, Training and Assessment, Carpentry, Automotive and Civil Construction Supervision.

The graduating class will also include students of APTC’s innovative Master Trainer programme, which will enable them to deliver training to Australian standard.

–APTC & AUSAID JOINT PRESS

SPEAKER of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands has introduced to the Forum the Parliamentary women’s initiative, the “Young Women’s Parliamentary group (YWPG)” as another initiative to progress gender mainstreaming in Parliament.

He said this in his remarks on Tuesday, September 26, to open the Pacific Women’s Parliamentary partnerships Forum currently underway at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara.

While he acknowledges the Parliamentary Outrigger workshop as a means for progressing out strategic object on gender mainstreaming he also spoke of the Young Women’s Parliamentary Group as another initiative in Parliament similar to the Parliamentary Outrigger.

On June 23 this year Parliament launched its Strategic Plan 2017-2021.

The Plan was done in consultation with the Parliamentary House Committee and one of the objectives of the plan is to ensure that gender will be mainstreamed throughout the activities of Parliament both in terms of the work of parliamentary staff and the work of members of Parliament.

“This is not an easy undertaking but I have no doubt that we can learn from your experiences and your parliaments especially through programs and events such as this,” he said.

Initiatives such as the outrigged workshop not only build staff confidence but also help broaden their knowledge on gender and parliament.

“Another important initiative in our parliament is the Young Women Parliamentary Group,” he said.

Formed in 2010, with the vision to create a space for young women to actively participate in leadership, the group has just over 40 registered members both in various sectors.

The group is engaged in a lot of activities but a notable one was in 2013 when the group presented a signed petition to Parliament on the issue of short bus routes in Honiara.

Parliament debated the issue, and established a Special Select Committee and one of the outcomes of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee was the recommendation for improved roads.

“I am delighted that the Young Women Parliamentary Group will be part of the forum and I hope they learn from vast knowledge and experiences that are present here in this room.”

“Partnerships are a two way process and so we too hope that you will take back something positive from our experience. “

Present at the opening were: Hon Manasseh Maelanga, Deputy Prime Minister of Solomon Islands; Hon Freda Tuki Soriacomua, Minister of Women, Youth Children and Family Affairs; Hon Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services, Australia; Hon Dr Jiko Luveni, Speaker of Parliament of Fiji; Hon Francesca Semoso, Deputy Speaker House of Representative, Autonomous Region of Bougainville; Hon Nikki Rattle, Speaker of Cook Islands Parliament; Ms Joy Burch, Speaker of CWP – ACT; Hon Ro Teimumu Kepa, Leader of the Opposition, Fiji Parliament ; Honourable Members of Parliament representing Pacific Parliaments including Australia and New Zealand; His Excellency Roderick Brazier, Australia High Commissioner to Solomon Islands; Ms Fiona Hoggart, First Secretary, Australia High Commission; Staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Canberra, Australia and Ms Fiona Way, Project Manager Pacific Women Parliamentary Partnership (PWPP).

The forum ends today.

–PARLIAMENT MEDIA

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

WOMEN in the Pacific Island Countries are most victimised and vulnerable on climate change impact.

This was revealed by Honourable Member from Fiji, Salote Radrodro yesterday at the Pacific Women Parliamentary Partnership Forum held at Heritage Park Hotel, in Honiara.

Speaking at the PWPP Forum yesterday, Hon Salote Radrodro says disasters, rising sea level, agriculture and aquaculture are the three critical areas women have negative impacts on climate change.

“Research has proven and as we know ourselves that women and children are much more vulnerable in times of disasters.

“Loss of lives, loss of livelihoods leads women and girls in experience more tangible losses,” said Hon Radrodro.

She added rising sea levels, erosion and Stalinization are direct attributed to climate change, which will likely lead to less land for living and less arable land for growing food as well as less fresh water.

“As we only know too well that we (women) are responsible for water collection.

“In regards to this (climate change) issue there will be a decrease in the availability of fresh water will also lead women and girls in spending more time collecting water for their families,” she said.

She furthers that women are also responsible for caring for those who fall sick with water borne diseases.

“This increase in work load means that women and girls have less time to spend on earning an income education and contributing to community level decision making process, including climate and disaster risk reduction,” said Hon Radrodro.

Moreover changing rainfall patterns and salinity intrusion (salt water) are likely to be having significant impact on Agriculture.

“Women and girls are affected the most when traditional crops fail, this is because they have particular skills and knowledge when it comes to growing certain crops and foods preservation , which can help address reduced crop yields,” she said.

She added Pacific Island countries rely heavily on aquaculture for nutrition and income.

“However, ocean warming as a result of climate change affects healthy coral growth and along with coral bleaching reduces fish stock.

“Women are key stakeholders in fishery management yet our contributions are often unrecognised, as these are done for home consumption rather than economic gain.”

Attending the PWPP Forum are Hon minsters, senators, members of Parliament, opposition leaders, country representatives and participants from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Bougainville, Kiribati, Palau, Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, New Zealand and Tonga.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

The adverse effects of climate change on the land and sea will hinder women’s opportunities to sustain their livelihoods.

This is according to Cook Islands Member of Parliament, Hon Nikki Rattle who was speaking at the Pacific Women’s Parliamentary Partnership Workshop at the Heritage Park Hotel yesterday.

She emphasised that because of climate change, women in Cook Islands will not be able to rely on their islands resources as how much they used to.

Hon Rattle explained that women depend very much on the natural resources to support their families whether it is crafting an island necklace from little shells that hover beneath rocks that rest in the shallow waters to sell in the main island to looking for wild leaves that rest in the deep forests turned into garlands for student graduations in Hawaii, women rely heavily on what their islands naturally provide.

In this regard, she stressed that due to climate change and it’s adverse effects they are looking at ways of reviving their resources and one example is the idea of using nurseries to cater for their soil grown resources.

The workshop not only paved way for the Pacific region’s female leaders to enlighten others of their island struggles as it also created a path for them to come together as women, mothers and leaders of their country to work together towards discovering the alternatives and strategies on how they can vigorously address the climate change issue in the present day and in the days to come.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

THE Pacific Women’s Parliamentary Partnership Forum which kicked off on September 25 2017 continued yesterday with discussions focusing on climate change.

Among key speakers who spoke at the workshop was Fiji’s Opposition Member of Parliament, Hon Salote Radrodro.

In initial remarks, she stated that climate change is a global issue affecting humanity in many different ways.

Moreover, Hon Radrodro highlighted that climate change is a political issue because it requires political will to sign and ratify international agreements, the Paris Agreement for example.

She added that this will subsequently mandate and require each country to enforce and comply with the associated articles for the effective implementation of the climate change agenda.

In relation, Hon Radrodro stated that the United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement will strongly impact and influence climate change goals under the scope of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on a national, regional and international level.

She mentioned that climate change and gender equality on national and international levels also affect the achievements of SDGs and future development goals.

However, according to Hon Radrodro gradual steps have been taken in effort to address the harsh realities of climate change.

“Regional bodies like PIF, SPC have programmes in Agriculture, Fisheries, Health, Development and Empowerment of Women and other areas that link up to the achievement of SDGs in regards to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

“Kiribatis bought land in Savusavu, Fiji and I am given to understand that the plan is to relocate her people if and when the need arises.”