By EDDIE OSIFELO
UNITED Nation wants to see more youths and women participate in provincial and national political levels.
United Nations Resident Coordinator (UN RC), Sanaka Samarasinha told the media after he met with Speaker of Parliament, Patterson Oti in Honiara last week.
“One of the key areas for us ensure young people are engaged, have jobs, political participation at provincial and national levels is key,” he said.
Further to that, he said they need to ensure greater participating of women in political and decision making.
“Example in Parliament to increase those numbers,” he said,
Furthermore, Sanaka said they talked about the need to ensure Parliament exercises oversight and legislative role in a robust manner, so they can provide support in analysis, data and research.
Sanaka had visited Solomon Islands for the last 22 years. He led a team of UN agencies to the Solomon Islands for the first time since COVID-19 forced its borders closed in 2020.
The team engaged with key Government counterparts, the Parliament and development partners.
During discussions with Government, the UN Team discussed key priorities of the Solomon Islands and highlighted potential support by the UN, including in the areas of sustaining peace in Solomon Islands, achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), governance reform, better coordination, a scale-up of the UN presence and assistance in the Solomon Islands.
Other issues discussed were Least Developed Country (LDC) graduation, job creation, service delivery, especially in the provinces, as well as disaster preparedness and COVID-19 response.
Sanaka had returned to Fiji on Thursday.
