THE Six young women contesting for the Miss Solomon Islands Pageant (MSIP) 2024 crown met with the Young Women’s Parliamentary Group (YWPG), Clerk to the Parliament (Ag), Jefferson Hallu and the Parliamentary Staff yesterday.
The meeting was held in the Paul Tovusia Complex Conference Room.
In her opening remarks, Solomon Host Events Manager Lynette Adomea acknowledged the official staff of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands and members of the Young Women in Parliamentary Group (YWPG) for the opportunity to allow the contestants to learn about the role and functions of both the National Parliament and the YWPG.
“The visits we have organized for the contestants does not only provide an opportunity for the girls to learn about the places we visit but they also to highlight these organizations and institutions while the spotlight is on them.
“One of the places we thought important to visit is the National Parliament and YWPG to be able to see young women that look like themselves (contestants) in these important positions and roles with the hope that may be inspired careerwise” Ms Adomea said.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the young women to briefly state their advocacies that essentially support this year’s pageant theme, “Women Empowerment for Sustainable Development.”
While sharing their advocacies with YWPG members and Parliamentary staff, the contestants were able to emphasize the importance of utilizing this platform to step up, speak out and find solutions to addressing the pressing issues affecting the country such as the effects of climate change, Non-Communicable Diseases, violence against women and girls, basic legal education in schools, women’s health literacy and a range of issues that women and girls primarily face.
YWPG Chairlady Nauna Revo, in her introduction, commended these young women for taking part in the pageant and being role models for other young women in the country.
“I encourage you all to continue developing your confidence, intelligence, charisma, and advocacy towards your goals, and on behalf of the YWPG members we would like to congratulate you all and we look forward to work with you in the future.”
The Clerk to Parliament (Acting) Mr Hallu took the opportunity to brief the contestants about the functions, structure, systems and plans of the National Parliament. A good question and answer ensued the presentation by Mr Hallu.
The session was followed by a tour of the Parliament House, during which the contestants were introduced to the Heads of Departments and moreover, the Speaker Patteson John Oti.
In parting, Mr Oti encouraged the organizers and the contestants to work together with the right government ministries and sectors to mitigate the pressing issues they are advocating on.
The contestants for this year’s Miss Solomon Islands Crown are are Ezinma Keni Kausua (Miss Guadalcanal), Kerrie Faradatolo (Miss Tourism), Sharllyma Aruhane (Miss Coral Seas Resort & Casino), Elsie Polosovai (Miss Lauru), Azarinna Zolela Stevens (Miss SICAN – Solomon Islands Climate Action Network) and Jayn Zayniellar Soakai (Miss Tulagi).
The crowning is set for Saturday 24August at the Pacific Crown Hotel and it will be preceded by the Pre-Pageant Speech and Float on Friday 23August.
The winner will represent the country in the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) which will be hosted in Honiara in February 2025. This will be the second time for Solomon Islands to host the MPIP. The first MPIP it hosted was in 2012. The MPIP will bring pageant queens from across the Pacific region to contest for the Miss Pacific Islands Crown.
Solomon Host, under the leadership of the company owner and Pageant Director Joyce Konofilia, has run and managed the Miss Solomon Islands Pageant for the last seven years and counting.
By RAYMOND HULANGA
Solomon Star, Honiara
