With the High Commissioner accompanying Prime Minister Wale on his Guest of Government visit to Australia, it was my great pleasure to visit Isabel province this week to take part in Second Appointed Day festivities – and to open a very special project!
The new Buala Market, a SBD25.6m project funded by Australia, is now open. The market, which was built by local firm Tropic Group Builders and employing 39 workers from the surrounding community, will host up to 180 vendors, and features 38,000 litres of water storage, a solar power system, and toilets and showers for both men and women, as well as for people with disabilities.
That’s not the only infrastructure Australia has supported in Isabel recently – in March, we also opened a hybrid solar power system at Sir Dudley Tuti College, enabling better lighting for students at lower cost.
In fact, Australia is proud to be Isabel’s nambawan partner in infrastructure, with over 30 health, education and community infrastructure projects delivered in recent years. Like all our infrastructure support, these projects were carefully designed to build skills and create job opportunities for local contractors, suppliers and workers.
Partnering with communities
Maximising local impact and addressing the needs of communities is at the heart of the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership. Since 2020, 41 Community Partnerships projects have been awarded to Isabel for essential infrastructure, including water supplies for Regi, Beakesa and Tajirigi (REBETA), shoreline protection at Horara, and sustainable energy projects for Putukora and Tatamba.
And just last month, Isabel was successful again in being awarded solar street lights in Tanamuki and Aluali, water supply projects in Gurumei and Gnulahage, and a multipurpose community hall in Kolomola.
A big thanks to Isabel’s Members of Parliament who have worked with us to deliver local infrastructure which truly transforms lives.
Towards a healthier province
Since 2016, Australia has provided nearly SBD 21m in grants for health services in Isabel, with an additional SBD 948,000 this year, improving health access and delivery for Isabel communities. The team was only recently in Buala for the Provincial Health Summit, listening to the community about practical ways to improve health services.
Our health partnership in Isabel Province also includes the national scabies program, which has reduced infection rates from 23.2% in 2021 to 3.9% this year, the HPV “Big Catch Up” program which helps protect young girls from cervical cancer, measles and polio vaccination, and advisory support to local staff to strengthen planning and service delivery.
Australian Acting High Commissioner Andrew Schoeffel at the Buala Market
Strengthening education
Australia is a longstanding support of education in Isabel. We have recently supported infrastructure upgrades to a girl’s dormitory and ablution block at Allardyce Provincial Secondary School, a dining hall and kitchen at Garanga Senior Secondary School, and a new science laboratory at Lilika Community High School.
I am particularly pleased that Australia is improving access to education in Isabel. In partnership with Blind Visually Impaired People Solomon Islands, we have reached 2,535 students with disabilities across 10 schools to increase school attendance.
Gender equality and civil society
Women in Isabel are benefiting from our investments in women’s leadership across Solomon Islands, through our support to the Women’s Rights Action Movement, funding for women’s savings clubs and financial literacy training, and our partnership with UN Women’s Markets for Change program supporting vendors in Isabel markets. I know all these investments are making a real difference in communities.
Buala Market vendors Association Members Food Safety and Hygiene Training participants.
Supporting business and employment
Supporting local businesses is one of Australia’s core economic priorities. Our partnership with Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands has strengthened cocoa and coconut supply chains to help increase sales locally and overseas. We’ve also partnered with Kagata Surf Camp to expand accommodation and transport and attract more surfers and tourists to the beautiful Hapi Isles!
I am also glad to see the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme continuing to build skills and improve the lives of many Solomon Islanders, including 260 Isabelians who have worked in the meat, horticulture, tourism/hospitality, agriculture and aged care sectors, with another 207 ready to go in the Work Ready Pool.
I know the High Commissioner is looking forward to updating you on Prime Minister Wale’s visit to Australia in his next column, so on his behalf I will say – lukim iu neks taem!
You must be logged in to post a comment.