BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
ANNA Vota, a self-employed mother and advocate for good governance, has announced her candidacy for the North Guadalcanal Constituency in the upcoming 2024 joint election on 17 April.
Vota, 57, from the Nguvua community in the northern region of Guadalcanal province, who graduated with a diploma qualification in management information from the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) in Honiara, is contesting under the People’s Liberal Democratic Party (PLDP).
As a female candidate, if elected, Vota has pledged to be a voice for the voiceless and to work towards creating a more equitable and prosperous future for not only the residents of North Guadalcanal but the rest of the country.
In an interview with Sunday Isles, the self-employed mother said her motivation for contesting the election is not for political gain but to make a commitment to fighting for better governance that will prioritize healthcare, education, and job opportunities for all residents of her constituency.
“In 2010, after years of understanding the politics, economics, and development of the Solomon Islands, I realized a vital need for good leaders and governance in the country.
“The country’s government system has led to increased unemployment, corruption, and increased dependency on foreign aid, with people receiving Constituency Development Fund (CDF) funds as a means to help alleviate poverty in the country,” she highlighted.
Vota claimed that the CDF is a system adopted from Africa for third-world countries to rely on foreign aid.
“Consequently, even though the Solomon Islands is recognized to be a resource-rich country, 60% of our economy or budget comes from foreign aid and 40% comes from domestic sources. What, then, is the issue here?
“Our elected leaders are chosen to understand the country’s needs and enact the necessary legislation.
“Do the laws we have serve to safeguard the citizens of our country or our resources? What does it tell the country? Have our former politicians accused of corruption in the country been taken into custody? It’s a result of our poor governance.
“It’s vital for voters in the country to vote for wise and righteous leaders with an honest and nationalistic mindset to lead the country out of the misery of bad governance and corruption.
“The country remains one of the most corrupt in the world. It’s you, me, and our children, the youth of the nation, to choose the right candidates and party to rule the country in the right direction in this 2024 joint election on April 17,” Vota sa
