BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO
THE United Nations Resident Coordinator is currently here in the country to familiarise himself with some of the burning issues that Solomon Islands is facing.
Mr Sanaka Samarasinha is here for a short visit since he made inclusion and the empowerment of women and girls a high priority when he took on his new role.
In an interview with Samarasinha, he said he is here purposely to familiarise himself with issues affecting Solomon Islands and to identify ways on how UN system can assist to address them (issues).
“I came here purposely to familiarise himself with some of the burning issues that Solomon Islands is facing as country to be able to identify how the UN system can help addressed the priorities of country and your people.
He said in terms of the meeting he had on Thursdays with few women leaders he had gathered information in relation to a lot of good works that have been done in this country – “but need greater collation and coordination”.
Samarasinha said people are doing good work but not necessarily together.
He said this is true for the development partners and structures of the government which is common in other parts of the world.
Samarasinha adds, another thing he came across is there is a must in much more work to be done in terms of connecting provinces and communities with the global, regional and national frame works and plans and so on.
He voiced the above sentiments at the short meeting this week with few women leaders from the existing Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) in the country.
Samarasinha is UN Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme – UNDP Resident Representative for Fiji and other Pacific Island developing states, including Solomon Islands.
