BY JOY OFASIA
FLORENCE Kealau Alalo, a woman candidate, has launched her 2024 joint election campaign to end discriminatory treatment of Malaita Outer Islands (MOI) people as second-class citizens.
Alalo is set to contest the national parliamentary election on April 17 under the Green Party of Solomon Islands against four male candidates for the Malaita Outer Islands Constituency.
The 49-year-old candidate, with roots in Ontong Java Atoll (commonly Lord Howe Atoll), is a pro-environment person who is passionate about addressing the pressing issues of climate change (sea level rise, coastal erosion, extreme tides, land shortage and weather conditions, food security, saltwater intrusion, and many more) collectively on the low-lying atolls of the Malaita Outer Islands.
As a woman who deeply cares about the well-being of these low-lying atoll communities, Alalo’s campaign aims to raise awareness about the issues facing MOI individuals and advocate for equal rights and opportunities.
“I give up my freedom and my wonderful work because I see my people treated like second-class citizens in this country, and I want to put this right for my people.
“Seeing the tears of a mother crying over food for her children, anger over the dignity of our traditional chiefs belittled in seeking food supplies from the Solomon Islands government, and seeing our people’s plights (climate risks, islands, education, medical, transportation, food security, etc.) not addressed urgently are the reasons why I am running for office,” she exclusively told SOLOMON WOMEN.
Alalo, a former lawyer, is urging atoll residents to unite against the second-class treatment of MOI people in her campaign.
She said her aim is to end the unfairness in development that is causing hunger and poverty in the low-lying atolls of Ontong Java and Sikiana by lobbying with important stakeholders like the Solomon Islands Government (SIG), regional and international donor partners, NGOS, etc. for the development of MOI.
Alalo is urging the people of MOI to exercise their right to vote responsibly.
“Vote wisely. Don’t vote for a bag of rice or money that has been given to you because a candidate wants your vote. Vote for the good future of your children. An unwise vote means more complaints in the four years after April 17, 2024,” she warned.
She said that together, they can build a more just and inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.
“To do this, I am to target the weak areas in the laws that are a blockage to MOI people’s right to life and survival. Laws need to be amended to address this. I am to work on the laws to be fair and open the doorway for our people to be free from poverty and hunger and to be treated equally in all development areas.
“The millions of dollars in marine products that have left MOI shores yet MOI islanders are still left hungry.
“As you can see, millions of dollars in marine products (beche de mer, trochus, tuna, etc.) have left MOI shores, and yet our people are hungry year in and year out. Transportation is inconsistent to the point that sometimes it takes 3 months or more for a ship to go there.
“I will be knocking on donors’ doors, inclusive of international NGOs and organizations, to address development in MOI. So get ready, SIG, donors, and international organizations, for I am coming like a storm to your doors for my people,” she explained.
Over the past decades, Alalo has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service, having participated in civil society during the country’s ethnic tensions and facilitated teacher training on Solomon Islander rights. She had previously supported the National Council of Women and provided free legal advice to the House of Chiefs on Ontong Java. In the early 2000s, she traveled to Australia to advocate for Solomon Islands women.
One focus area of Alalo’s campaign is women and youth empowerment initiatives in the country. She aims to highlight the economic and social challenges faced by women, children, youths and the disability community in MOI’s low-lying atolls.
“Our women need consistent transportation for their products to be sold; our women need accessible markets for their products; our women need technical training on the different areas of expertise they are good at, etc. Thus, by opening up current blockages via laws and institutional structures and negotiating doorways locally and overseas for those development and business areas, our women will be in a better position to flourish.
“Most importantly, I will be inclusive in making decisions on the targeted areas of concern. That is, any action I take is due to inclusive consultations that came from women in rural and urban areas, inclusive of girls, boys, and people with disabilities,” she expressed.
She added that discriminatory laws and policies in the Solomon Islands must be removed and action taken to place women of capacity in the right positions.
