I WISH to join my colleague Dr Transform Aqorau (SST5315), or he has happily beaten me first, in paying my sincerest tribute to a great leader I respect most. His passing away was a shock to me when I was told of the news after work Thursday night. I was lost for words as my…
DR JOHN Roughan left us yesterday. He was a giant of a man and a ceaseless campaigner for the cause(s) of the grassroots. He will be sorely missed. He came to this country as a Priest and through his work many in this country have been helped in more ways than one. Many are where…
HOW does one evaluate RAMSI? I am not sure how, although there are various Reports, Consultancies and Surveys that have attempted to address this question. These Reports have endeavored to evaluate the effectiveness of RAMSI against the three pillars of its stated mission, namely, a) restoration of law and order, b) improving the machinery of…
YOUNG women leaders in the Pacific have banded together and called for efforts to be speeded up to combat physical and sexual violence against women. A newly formed alliance representing the region’s 15 to 24 year olds say such violence is one of the biggest issues facing the region’s one million young women. The…
HIGHER education for young women in the Pacific is not translating into more and better jobs. That’s according to the latest tracking report on Millennium Development Goals for the region. A deputy Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Feleti Teo, says most Forum Island countries are on track to achieving gender parity, or…
ESTIMATING the costs of gender-based violence is vital as it brings to light the hidden costs to society and the resources needed to end violence. This was the message from participants at a side event to better understand the cost implications of gender-based violence and inequality, at the 12th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women in…
Last week marks the YWCA Week without Violence. YWCA of the Solomon Islands joined other YWCAs around the world in recognising the week which falls on 14 to 20 October. The theme of the week focuses on the campaign to end early, child and forced marriage. Child marriage is defined as marriage under the age…
WHEN girls are not assured the same opportunities as boys, whether one speaks of the level of ones’ education or which profession one would like to pursue, we as families, villages, societies and nations are short-changing ourselves. For when girls suffer such realities, economies deprive themselves of half their potential professionals — scientists, innovators, socio-economic…
Dr Patricia Rodie’s address to teachers on World Teachers Day I feel honoured and privileged indeed to be given another opportunity to speak to you on the occasion of this year’s World Teachers’ Day, organised by SINTA. May I take this opportunity to thank the World Teachers Day 2013 Organising Committee for inviting me to…
THE Solomon Islands National Council of Women (SINCW) yesterday congratulated Jane Tozaka, who is the newly elected Provincial Assembly member for Irigila, ward 10, in Velala vela. General Secretary of SINCW Lorio Sisiolo said SINCW was delighted with the victory. “A saying goes “behind a successful woman, there is always a man” and as such…