BY JOY OFASIA
LOCAL businesses including carvers, weavers and craft makers and paint artists in Honiara have profited in the sales of their products from the recent arrival of the U.S. navy officers on board the hospital ship USNS Mercy under the Pacific Partnership Mission 2022 in the Solomon Islands.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, local carvers, weavers and craft makers and paint artists at the national art gallery in Honiara have experienced zero sales of their artefacts and paintwork paintings due to the closure of the national borders which forced no tourists’ arrivals in the country.
Over the years, the arrival of tourists and international visitors in the country has benefited the sales of artefacts, crafts and artwork paintings produced by local artefact, weavers, craft makers, carvers and paint artists’ in Honiara and other provinces.
Young artist and vendor, Jennie Tagini told Solomon Women that she has gained a lot of profit from the sales of her artwork paintings, which were purchased by the U.S. navy officers on board the hospital ship USNS Mercy.
“Most of my artwork paintings were sold out since the arrival of the U.S. navy hospital ship USNS Mercy early this month of September 2022.
“Despite the financial challenges ignited by the COVID-19 pandemic, most of my artwork painting sales have been cut off because of no tourist arrivals, however, things have turned out profitable since the arrival of the 17th Pacific Partnership Mission 2022 in Honiara.
“A lot of my artwork paintings have been purchased by the navy officers on board the USNS Mercy.
“It was a blessing for me and others whose livelihood mostly rely on the purchasing power of tourist arrivals in the country,” Jennie said.
Meanwhile earlier this month, the Deputy Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Honourable Manasseh Maelanga also highlighted that the local business community have benefited greatly from the 17th Pacific Partnership Mission 2022 in the country.
“Our local carvers, weavers including other handicraft makers in the country have confirmed that they have made tremendous sales.
“Some restaurants and bars have reported large increases in their revenue in the past 10 days,” Honourable Maelanga said.
“The Pacific Partnership mission has truly lifted the lives of our people; it has also injected life into our local economy,” Honourable Maelanga said.
