Nishimura's Pen

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO CHIEF Benjaman Samanea of Numbu community in North East Guadalcanal has encouraged women and girls of the community to save money whenever they can save. Solomon Islands women engaged in saving money initiative: PHOTO Supplied  He expressed this statement in a recent visit made by Mrs Gale Commence, president of the Women of the World’s Pacific Region, to the women of Numbu and Marava communities. Samanea urged all women and girls of his community to save money as they are vulnerable to ‘several hazards’, for instance the pest African snails, climate change, cyclone and earthquake. Samanea said with the introduction of this saving scheme he has seen with his own eyes and come to realise that women and girls of his community can also make money to save to secure the future of their families. “This because in today’s world, money is the most important resource which gives strength and confidence in any situation which you are not...

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO LAND owners of Ontong Java airstrip have called to reopen the airstrip of Ontong Java to ‘help breathe life back into the communities of the forgotten people of Malaita Outer Islands’ (MOI). This call has been made because there is no access to air travel and this year there has not been a ship in months, leaving the landowners struggling. The airstrip was closed down more than a decade ago due to land dispute. What used to be the Ontong Java airport which has been overrun with vegitation However, the situation has been resolved by the courts and landowners have approached Mrs Wendy Mount a female intending candidate for MOI in the upcoming National General Election to help them to get the runway back operational. Speaking to Mrs Mount about this matter, she said since the airstrip was shut the people of MOI have had a lowered standard of living, and have been denied regular access to delivery of goods and medical assistance. ...