Transcript
SENOVEVA MAULI: The aim of the gathering was, it was to give an opportunity for women, intending candidate women who intend to contest for the upcoming national elections, or provincial elections. It was more giving them a practice of what it is to be like in the house, working on legislation, deciding on the laws. And it's giving them a feel and more so understanding the Solomon governance system in terms of the three arms, the judiciary, the legislation, yeah just functions of the parliament. So that was the main objective of the meeting.
JENNY MEYER: And how did the women who attended respond to it? How many were there and how did they respond to this kind of practice run as it were?
SM: Well it total there were fifty to take up all of the seats, it's a fifty member house, so there was fifty in total coming from across the country, from as far as Shortland, and further down as far as Temotu. So there was a good representation from across the country. And a lot of the feedback was on, it was a very informative session. It gave them a lot more information, a lot more understanding. And interesting there were two, two other women who are currently on the roll at the provincial level, so they too did share their feedback in that it could have been an induction training they had prior to contesting. When they got into the executive it took them a while to understand the systems of the parliament and also the provincial assembly. So a lot of women said it was just an eye opener, and an experience, a one time life, and it would have given them the reality and the understanding of being a member or leader should they succeed in any of the elections.
JM: And what about for you, are you considering running for parliament next year?
SM: Oh that is a good question. Well I was thinking earlier this year if that was a pathway I would have taken. So I have been part of some of the sessions. I wouldn't confirm as yet if I intend to run for next year's election. But it's given me another thought into the idea of contesting.
JM: Ok, and how many women are there in parliament in Solomon Islands?
SM: Today there's only two. There's one who came in at the start of the elections and the recent one who came in the by-election. So there's only two, in the fifty member composition.
JM: And what are they hoping for?
SM: They sat in a panel which was on the second day. So they sat on a panel to present to us their time in the house and their experiences. So they have a long plan which is to maintain their seats and contest in the upcoming. They shared their experience in how it was being they're the only two women and how they got in. They talked a lot more on their campaigning tactics. It was more on how they did their campaigning their entry point. So they were more on the process to getting in.
