During the official opening of Parliament last Monday, His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir David Vunaki, GCMG, give an address from the Throne and spoke to Members of Parliament on their role in serving their constituents by honouring the pledge of leading by example, and he quoted Solomon Island’s motto. “To lead is to serve.”
In recent weeks, I have given reports of how newly elected MP for Northeast Guadalcanal, Ms Ethel Lency Vokia, has, to my knowledge, given several examples of what is expected of Members of Parliament, serving by example.
Prior to Christmas 2020, Ms Voika delivered essential farming tools and equipment to her constituents in time for harvesting of important crops.
More recently, Ms Vokia paid out the school fees of children in her constituency when their parents were struggling to pay the outstanding school fees.
Today, I learned from a piece in the Solomon Star newspaper that Ms Voika has, quote, “Saved Ruavatu School from Closing Down.”
The particular news story read, and again I quote.
Northeast Guadalcanal Constituency’s recently elected MP, Ethel Lency Vokia, has ‘saved’ Ruavatu Provincial Secondary School from closing down, according to its Principal, Sister Veronica Poki.
This fate of the School – said to be one of Guadalcanal Province’s premiere schools – was revealed by Sister Poki earlier this week.
Sister Poki said early this year the Guadalcanal Provincial Government visited the school to assess whether it should continue.
“From the assessment, it was decided to close down the school due to its run-down condition as well as lack of funds to do up the school.
“My staff and I decided not to close down the school but to look for other alternatives to keep the schooling going. The idea prompted us to write to the Guadalcanal Education Authority for any available funds, but they told us they had no funds,” Sister Poki said.
“That’s when we decided to approach the newly-elected MP for North East Guadalcanal to help us keep the school open. Hon Vokia agreed just like that in providing chairs and plywood, which would be used for desks,” Sister Poki said.
Sister Poki has acknowledged Hon Vokia’s leadership, saying she has the vision that would leave behind a legacy for Ruavatu School.
One hundred plastic chairs and plywood for desks were delivered to Ruavatu Provincial Secondary School on Monday this week. Classes began at the school the next day.
According to the North East Guadalcanal Constituency Officer, Melina Sese, MP Vokia is proud to champion education-centric development as it is part of her development plan for her Constituency.
Ms. Sese said with the short notice given to them it was quite a challenge to organise everything for the handing over ceremony on Monday.
The donation has created an enabling environment to assist the students in their learning.
End of quote.
Comment:
I too would like to thank Ms Vokia for her assistance to Ruavatu School and for the example of the kind of leadership exemplified by His Excellency the Governor General, leadership one expects of all those Members of Parliament elected by their constituents to serve by example, but sadly in past years so often been seen as absent by many rural constituency people,
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
