BY LORETTA B MANELE
UNDP is hopeful that through the current survey on electricity and panel discussion on energy with stakeholders, a platform can be created for further engagements and discussions on energy.
Raluca Eddon, Deputy Resident Representative for UNDP, Solomon Islands highlighted this last Friday at a panel discussion on “Pathways towards better electric power availability, affordability, and sustainability” at the Heritage Park Hotel.
“So, our hope is that through the survey, through the panel discussion, and going forward into the next year, we will create a platform foR engaging and discussing a critical barrier to development, and the need for accessible, affordable, and sustainable clean energy,” she said.
Eddon expressed that they hope that the panel discussion will really spark a discussion around Solomon Islands, about how a stronger energy sector can change lives.
Addressing the panelists, she said they would like them to really think of it as something that speaks to their minds and that as anyone who has been involved in campaigns, they should do it with their heart and gut.
“So, my last message to you is that we really would want you to think of this as something that speaks, of course, to your mind, but as any campaign, and as any of us who have been involved in campaigns will know, you campaign with your heart and you campaign with your gut.
“So, we will have succeeded when you feel the need to take the message to people and speak to their hearts, and take the importance of just participating, doing the small part, to the bigger discussion about the development of the country and of future generations,” she said.
Eddon also shared a quote from former United States President, John F Kennedy famously known as “JFK”.
“So, I will end with a quote, which most of you maybe are familiar with.
“It comes from President Kennedy, also a long-standing connection to the Solomon Islands. You will know that he was shipwrecked and then swam to Kennedy Island, but today is Kennedy Island, during the Second World War.
“And so, he had this message for the people of his own country, and he said, think not what your country can do for you, think what you can do for your country,” she said.
Eddon voiced that today, what we all can do for Solomon Islands is to start filling out the survey.
At the panel. were experts who shared their views on energy and their perspectives of why it is important for energy to be accessible and their work regarding energy.
In attendance at this panel discussion, a first for both UNDP and MMERE (Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification) were; Chris Vehe, Permanent Secretary for MMERE, Delilah Homelo, CEO, Solomon Power, Qila Tuhanuku, representing the SICCI-Manufacturing Industry Working Group (MIWG), Peter Luke Iroga, Journalist and CEO of Solomon Islands Business Magazine and Casper Fa’asala, CEO, Disable Peoples of SI.
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