“I feel that my win is not my win, it is a win for the voiceless and the forgotten…” – Cathy L. Nori, MP Maringe/Kokota constituency, Isabel Province
by William Kadi
Hailing from Kmaga village, East Maringe, Isabel Province, Cathy L. Nori was declared as the incoming MP elect for Maringe/Kokota constituency as their representative in the 12th Parliament of Solomon Islands.
In this exclusive piece, I have the opportunity to briefly sit down and Tok Stori with her.
The new MP-elect highlighted that she was still recovering from an intense campaigning period when the declaration was made in Buala on late Saturday 20th April 2024.
“To be honest, I was still in a relaxed mode…the stress of the campaign period did have some toll on me…so, I just want to take some time and relax a bit and I leave it with my team to deal with the counting process…”
Cathy highlighted that her time with Isabel Development Company (IDC) shipping around 2010 through to 2014 had a significant impact for the communities, and women in Isabel especially were the major push for her to give it a try during the 2014 elections.
She mentioned that there was mixed reaction at the start, basically from the fact that there were some real excitements for IDC then, and people were not ready for her to leave for politics.
Come 2019 elections, she contested again from the support she had gained from women and communities.
The 2024 Maringe/Kokota MP elect mentioned that the perseverance in the 2019 elections was anchored on her vision for infrastructure development, as that is critical to allow room for growth in the local economy base of Isabel.
“We are missing basic infrastructure…roads, bridges…so from running shipping in Isabel, I could see that; without the roads, shipping costs is very high”.
Cathy also reflected on the challenges and barriers women face in the space of politics with some positive references to the development contributions of Lilly Ogatina Poznanski, and the legacy she [Lilly] left for Isabel Province including her contributions to the development of Buala Hospital and Fera airstrip.
“There’s even more barriers as a woman coming into politics, but I also see a lot of positive connections…there is also the trust element from our people, and I had to acknowledge that, considering the fact that I go up against respectable male figures in our communities as well”.
Regarding the timing to enter politics, the female MP elect who is also a mother confidently stated that “the timing is right, not only based on the factor regarding the long space between what Lilly has done as a woman then and now, but also with the changing relationships with the international communities…I think women’s voice need to be heard…I feel that my win is not my win, it is a win for the voiceless and the forgotten”.
She also reflected on recent issues including the 2021 riots and expressed her view; “as a woman and a mother, I need to take up concerns of people on the ground to that level, to express the views from the lens of a woman. That also really pushed me too because no man is an island, and who we choose to have diplomatic ties with can also affect our lives and our living on these Islands”.
Running as an independent candidate for the elections, she confirmed that it was based on the circumstances around the nomination period but confirmed that she is with the Solomon Islands United Party (SIUP) and looks forward to the 12th Parliament.
The MP elect highlighted that her development approach in her constituency is “one very fundamental issue that touches peoples’ hearts” and that she took note of the new arrangements under the CDF Act going forward into the 12th Parliament.
Her plans include conducting a holistic constituency assessment to know and understand the needs in communities based on where the outgoing MP left off and to design development plans going forward.
Sharing her views on the representation of women in the context of logging and mining, she asserted the culture of Isabel recognizing land tenure and women.
“It’s funny because in our Isabel culture, women own the land, but the decisions are made by men.
“Whilst we respect men to carry our decisions that would be beneficial for all, including women and children; unfortunately, it does not happen that way all the time”.
Her further comments in this space concluded as “I for one don’t entertain logging and mining if it’s not in the best interest of the people, the Island, and the country”.
The charismatic and entrepreneurial MP elect also reiterated that apart from the need for infrastructure development, cooperation in the leadership space with the other two elected national representatives of constituencies in Isabel is critical: “it is one of the key reasons why I want to try again in this 2024 election…the developments that I’m talking about, you cannot do it alone. The things that I’m talking about will affect the whole of Isabel. What I look forward to is to work together with them. The three of us in Parliament and work together with the Provincial members. In order to develop this Island, we have to work together”.
For young girls and women in Isabel and throughout Solomon Islands, the well spoken newly elected MP closed with a positive message of hope, stating: “don’t see being a woman as a barrier or hindrance to achieving your dreams.
“We are created under God’s image. Don’t ever let being a woman or girl hinder you. Also, you deserve respect…and you earn that respect. Respect is earned, so earn that respect from your family, communities, your people, and your country.”
