Our Telekom clarifies mobile money service saying locals dominate the 2,100 active agents
BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
M-SELEN the mobile money service offered by Our Telekom in the Solomon Islands is for everyone and is not designed for a particular individual, group or race.
Manager key accounts of Our Telekom’s M-Selen Team, Christina Palusi and Sean Hiele, Our Telekom Marketing Manager made this statement in response to recent social media criticisms of a post showing a training session attended by all foreigners.
The M-SELEN Team conducted the training session for the group of Bangladesh M-SELEN Agents to equip them with the skills to provide seamless financial services to their communities.
Speaking to Island Sun in an exclusive interview Palusi said that 70 percent of the 2100 active M-Selen agents are locals. Foreigners include Bangladesh and Chinese.
She said that three other local M-Selen agents also attended the training in the contentious social media post, however they were not seen in photos.
“The Bangladeshis are here as all the other business partners, so we have different business people operating in our country,” said Palusi.
“In actuality, M-Selen has around 2,100 agents and has grown in number. That is not only within Honiara. It is national, as far as Shortland, Tikopia, Lord Howe, Renbel,” she said.
Palusi stressed that the M-Selen Team has been conducting training since the M-Selen service was introduced.
She said that the training is usually conducted every Saturday and is based on the availability of the agents.
“They operate a business. They come for training when they are available. Some come in groups. For some who have a sabbath, we take them on weekdays. For some, we offered one-on-one training. So, on our FB page, you will see some single or group posts. So, this is when our group of Bangladesh businesses are available and come for the training,” she explained.
“We do not do it for one particular group and segregate it. It is based on their availability. I mean we can’t pull them out of their business operating hours. We also make sure that when they are available to facilitate their training,” said Palusi.
She said that most local agents are mainly based in key commercial centres like Noro-Munda, Auki, Kirakira etc.
“One Chinese agent was in Kirakira. The rest are all locals,” she said.
Hiele also shared the same sentiments stating that similar training has been provided by the M-Selen Team for agents since the birth of M-Selen for both locals and other nationalities.
Hiele told Island Sun yesterday that the M-Selen service does not target a particular group – it is for everyone including locals.
“It aims to serve our people, the economy. We do not take sides. As long as you meet the requirements to become an agent we are here to serve. it is not based on segregation, colour, foreigner, No. M-Selen is for everyone.”
He said that he did not see any issue with the photo when it was uploaded however the public overlooked every training the Telekom M-Selen team have been conducting throughout the provinces.
“All alone M-Selen goes in every segment. Somehow, just one training session was provided for the Bangladeshi group, and the public overlooked every training session since the birth of M-Selen. It is not a good perspective from our people because these people also contribute to the economy.”
For feedback, contact:[email protected]
