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Showing posts from November 23, 2025

Title: When Peace Becomes the Greater Victory

The whole of last week was both satisfying and relieving for me. The long-standing issue with the contractor has finally come to an end. The final resolution from PPIC was signed, the variations were verified, and the payout to the contractor was raised. For my part, I declined to be a witness to the resolution. This was not because of disagreement or resentment, but simply a personal decision—an exercise of my right to step back after everything that had unfolded. Through this experience, I learned something deeper about working within church institutions like ACOM. In many organizational environments, the focus is often on being technically right—ensuring that every clause, every condition, and every loophole in a contract is addressed. But within a church organization, there is often a higher priority that guides decision-making. Peace. Peace between people. Peace between the parties involved. Peace within the institution itself. Sometimes, from a purely contractual or professional ...

An Unexpected Ending That Touched My Heart

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Tuesday, 25th November 2025, did not end the way I expected. I thought it would be just another ordinary day, but instead, it quietly turned into something meaningful and unforgettable when I attended the SIIP 2025 End-of-Year Cocktail Party . As I walked into the venue, I felt a gentle warmth in my heart. From a distance, familiar faces welcomed me — people I have crossed paths with throughout my career, faces that reminded me of long hours, hard work, struggles, growth, and small victories along the way. In that moment, I felt seen, remembered, and somehow… deeply grounded. It wasn’t just a formal gathering to me. It felt like a quiet celebration of journeys — including my own. I felt grateful beyond words for the opportunity to be there, to stand in that room, and to realise how far I have come from where I started. The speeches by DFAT’s Deputy Commissioner and the SIIP representative touched something deep inside me. Their words were more than speeches — they felt like gentle rem...

When Theory Meets Reality: My Two Weeks Learning Contracts Management in Solomon Islands

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The past two weeks have been intense. Juggling full-time work while attending a Contracts Management short course at SINU pushed me beyond my comfort zone. It ended on 21st November 2025, but the lessons will stay with me much longer. After almost nine years in the construction field, returning to a classroom felt like stepping back in time — to younger days, to familiar lecture rooms, and to that quiet spark of hope that education brings. But this time, something was different. This time, theory met reality. And reality, in the Solomon Islands , it's not always neat. When the Classroom Turned Serious During our sessions, contract management moved from being just textbook knowledge to very real conversations. The classroom atmosphere shifted when we began sharing our lived experiences. Local contractors spoke with frustration. Not anger — frustration. Because what we learnt did not always match what we live every day in the field. That gap was loud. The Reality on the Ground 1. D...