BY GEORGINA KEKEA   A lot of interests are being shown by girls in ICT. For the second time Solomon Islands marked “Girls in ICT” since it was established in 2011. 2018 was the first time for Solomon Islands to commemorate “Girls in ICT” day. But within one year, a lot of interests had been displayed by students to participate in this event.  President of Women in IT Solomon Islands (WITSI) Alice Aote’e said the interest shown by the students is good especially to make them aware of careers they can pursue in ICT. She said the membership for WITSI has also increased significantly. Lisa Cleary, Head of Governance Program (L) Alison Ramsay, First Secretary AHC (R)  Alice Aote'e President WITSI (Center) posing for a photo with girls attending the activities   Aote'e says WITSI saw this day not only as one to promote ICT as a career path for girls but also to raise awareness on the dark side of ICT and its uses. “It is also very important that...

BY GEORGINA KEKEA AT the Pacific Resilient Meeting held in Suva, Fiji, from 1st to 3rd May 2019, the United Nation’s Market for Change project was highly commended by women vendors who are part of this project. Adi Bale, who is a vendor at Nadi Market says the project has changed the lives of market vendors like her not only in Fiji but in other countries which the project has reached.  (Audio) Adi Bale breaks down when she speaks of her experience She said being part of the Market for change project is an opportunity she is grateful for. Bale was part of a panel at the recent Pacific Resilient Meeting held in Suva and spoke of the need to have rural women included in decision making bodies that will affect their lives. She says she had been a market vendor most her life but was not recognized in her role as a market vendor. Adi Bale speaking at the PRM (Photo by Ariela Zibiah) “Not until UN Women came and started including us in the...

BY GEORGINA KEKEA THE recent operation by Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to maintain peace and security did not come cheap. Speaking to local media, Police Commissioner, Mathew Varley says the local police force has encountered many challenges during the country’s elections. Varley says the whole election operation is in excess of 11 million dollars. ”That has been well funded by the Solomon Islands Government and we are grateful for the budget support to enable us to do our job”, Varley said. Audio Mathew Varley on support by Government The Police Commissioner said further unexpected costs were made during the riots on 24 th and 25 th April. “Of course when you see riots like that occur, obviously there is damage to business, there is a cost to the economy and people lose business and lose property and we also saw people stealing property”. Varley said 10 police vehicles had been brought in for repairs after being damaged by rocks and ...