Reflection on My First Day Back at Work – Lessons in Project Risk and Management

By Ivory waki / Solvoice
Today marked my return to work after the festive season and the beginning of 2026. I did not expect the day to bring such an eye-opening experience — one that made me smile, reflect, and learn. I was confronted by five frustrated workers from the appointed contractor for the JCPU Administration Building project. One of the workers had just been released from temporary detention at the police station after the contractor reported them. You can imagine the emotional state of someone who had just come out of detention — stressed, confused, and upset. I took time to talk with them and quickly noticed several failures in the current project management that contributed to this situation. I believe these setbacks are rooted in the early stages of the project, particularly in the following areas: 1. Procurement system of the project 2. Planning phase, including costing and scheduling 3. Lack of written agreements between the main contractor and subcontractors 4. Incompetence and poor leadershi...
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A Day in Town: Prices Rising, Struggles of women, High Cost Of Living

By Ivory waki / Solvoice

Introduction 

Today was the day I have set in the past days to go shopping for skirts and other new clothes. I was blessed enough to have been accepted as the new project manager for the JCPU ( St John Coleridge Patteson's University.  It is a new University built by the ACOM ( Anglican Church of Melanesia).

Monday will be my first day of work after almost two years of being unemployed due to family problems encountered.

Thus, I am so full of excitement to purchase new clothes. It would be a new working environment and experience for me especially where the rules are quite strict for ladies. 

Women must wear skirts in church areas like this in the Solomons. Wearing short and long pants in church areas like this is considered being disrespectful. 

Hence, I am very much looking forward to this day to shop for decent clothes especially skirts.


Island Clothing in Honiara
Inside Island's Clothing

Island clouthing in Honiara
Outside Island's Clothing 



































Shopping: Rising Prices
As I parked at Point Cruiz Honiara's CBD, locking the car door i went in two shops Island's Clouthing and ZC Enterprise Ltd, it was quite humid and crowded inside as people are browsing through the clothes displayed and ones on the floor.

 I entered Island clothing and couldn't find a skirt of my choice there to my surprise. I then decided to enter ZC Enterprise which was just next to Island's Clothing. I finally found the type of skirts I prefer ( Pencil skirts) so I only got two skirts, which to my astonishment cost me a total of SBD $136. 

Each skirt cost SBD$68 plus a few women's clouthing ( 4x underwear and 2xbras) Totals to $246. With only SBD$500 in my pocket, I use $50 for vehicle fuel, I only have SBD$204 left for other things like my smoke and food for lunch and dinner. 

With limited money remained, I left the shop feeling the weight of how expensive everything has become everywhere i turn.

Inside ZC Enterprise Ltd
ZC Enterprise Ltd


















Unexpected Dramer
Approaching the carpark, I stopped for a smoke, I noticed few women standing and casually walking the park at very slow pacing with weary eyes but strong, patient and hopeful deminour as they secretly selling packs of pallmall smoke. 

As I was about to buy one pallmall from them, instantly they all flee pretending to go shopping in the nearby shops, I then turn to the other woman next to me and ask what the problem was, she said "Town Council". I looked and saw men in brown military like uniforms walking by. Then she said let's wait let them begone before we buy. Few minutes later and the women are back and selling us the pallmall smoke pretending as if we are all just met and passing on the roll (Pallmall smoke to us). 
Women selling smoke at Point Cruiz
Women selling smoke at point Cruiz

Women fleeing HCC
Women returning after fleeing HCC.





































Reflection 
Driving home, and today's experience, i kept thinking- Life in Honiara is not easy, especially for us women. 

We toil and hustle in many different ways just to survive with little appreciation whether you be a working mom, a house wife , a vendor on the streets, the weight of families are still on our shoulders and the hustle is real all across the board.

It made me realize how much strength it takes to keep going in times like these. We all carry our struggles in different ways — in shopping bags, in smoke trays, in silent prayers. But somehow, the women of Honiara still show up every day. And that, to me, is real strength.

💬What are your thoughts? I would love to hear your voice in the comment section below.👇

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