BY CHRIS ALEX
IRENE Vaukei, a senior lawyer, will contest the Ngella constituency in the Central Islands province in the 2024 joint election on April 17, citing her choice to enter politics as a result of her expertise in the country’s legislative process and her strong connection to Ngella customs and commitment to its rural populace welfare.
As a native of the Central Islands, Vaukei, in an exclusive interview with SOLOMON WOMEN, said that her primary goal is to bring about revolutionary change for the people of Ngella constituency.
“I am a woman born and raised in Ngella,” she acknowledged. “I know the meaning of hospitality, the Ngella way, and the approach a woman takes in her own home.”
The independent candidate is vying against six candidates (5 male and 1 female) for the parliamentary seat of Ngella constituency. Vaukei said her primary goals for contesting the national election are to make significant changes to the existing development status quo and future directions of the Central Islands.
She said her campaign platform is centered on the fair distribution of Constituency Development Funds (CDF) without bias or discrimination. She also acknowledged the challenges posed by the size of the constituency, which worsens the limitations of the available CDF, but she remained confident in overcoming these problems.
Vaukei aims to address the shipping infrastructure, including ships and wharves, connecting the Central Islands as a top priority. She said that the Ngella Constituency is not served by a ship and promised to address this problem head-on.
Furthermore, she expressed her commitment to empower women and youth by providing access to economic assistance through training and life skills programs.
As the election approaches, Vaukei urges voters and residents of the Ngella constituency to cast their votes with serious thought and prayer.
“Be wise with your choice,” she urged, emphasizing the key role of each ballot as a voice, power, and ticket for catalysing development and progress within the constituency.
