THE West Are’are Rokotanikeni Association (WARA) 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM) was successfully opened on Tuesday at the King George Sixth School Hall after a morning parade.
Hundreds of women took to the Honiara’s Prince Philip highway participating in a colorful parade from Kukum campus field all the way to King George School in East Honiara.
‘Celebrating Growth in Savings and Membership’ is the theme for the 16th AGM in Honiara.
It was a scheduled program for last week but due to the bad weather experienced in the country, it was rescheduled for this week.
As part of the opening ceremony, women from West Are’are, Honiara, Marau, Gizo, Kolombangara, and North Vella La Vella took part in the parade.
During the procession, the women were heard shouting the chant ‘Go Roko Go’ as they matched through the Eastern side of the Honiara city.
At King George school, invited guests were present as they delivered speeches and remarks to officially open the three days of meeting in Honiara, which ward 8 (Honiara) is the host for the 16th AGM.
The program also witnessed the cutting of the AGM cake and also presentation of awards to hardworking women of Rokotanikeni as well as the hardworking women savings groups.
Those that have attended the official opening was the Governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) Denton Rarawa, the Minister for Women, Youth, children, and Family Affairs Jimson Tanagada, the Ombudsman Joe Poraiwai, representatives from the Australian High Commissioners Office (DFAT), representatives of the ANZ Banking group, Non-government Organizations’, as well as members of some Government ministries.
A combine service was hosted at the King George Sixth School Hall last night and the meeting will officially start today and ended this Friday.
The West ‘Are’are Rokotanikeni Association (WARA) provides access to savings services, small loans and financial literacy training including household budgeting, managing finances and basic bookkeeping which also reaches few parts of the Western Province.
By RONALD FLIER TOITO’ONA