Amiki Bongirara hails from Fo’ondo village in North Malaita, Malaita province recently made headlines on social media after he was captured in a smart formal attire.
A humble but spirited Amiki called himself a “pencil break”, a common description for the uneducated, but said he is not ashamed of his dress code because he hopes to make a difference with what he is doing.
Amiki is not new in making differences. He is the founder of using a whistle to signal to pickup truck drivers to stop and take off. It started in his northern region but now commonly used everywhere in Malaita.
So, Amiki’s post went viral after a passenger took his photo and posted on Facebook. This forum also reposted it and generated a lot of discussions. It also received a lot of positive feedback from members, however, some challenged Amiki to wear a shoe instead of flip flops or thongs [slipper as commonly referred to here].
“I saw some people making negative comments about a young man who is trying his best to make a difference, so I decided to donate a shoe for Amiki”, Kingsley Awa Managing Director of the family business Kingzawah Enterprises told YTTF today.
“When a fellow Solomon Islander is trying his best to make a difference, we should support and encourage him/her instead of discouraging him/her”, Awa added.
But the spirited Amiki is full of positivity about what he is doing.
“I came from my village to submit my application for the Labour Mobility Scheme but decided to work as a bus conductor while waiting for the outcome of my application.
“This month would be my two months in Honiara, and less than two months as a bus conductor. My experience as a crew of pick up trucks in Malaita helped me understand the need of passengers and how to keep them entertained during their journey.
“I used funny but entertaining and educational terms and expressions during my trip. For example, I coined names for places but also remind them not to smoke and not to throw rubbish outside the bus. As a service provider, I have a responsibility to do this.
“But my first impression with Honiara bus conductors is their poor dress codes. This is not good as far as a public service worker is concerned. The proper dress code is one fundamental requirement every drivers and conductors must try their best to meet’, Amiki explained.
“It’s funny for many and will be discouraging for some but making changes require sacrifices”, he added.
But Amiki quickly read the Facebook feedbacks from the public after his story went viral, so today he bought a perfume and a new necktie.
When asked about the kinds of reactions he received from the public, Amiki said he got mixed reactions.
“I got ridiculed and subject to name-calling from some bus drivers and conductors, whilst my passengers admired by dressing and made positive comments.
“But although I got negative reactions from other drivers and conductors, I remained calm because I already knew this is coming, but consider it as a challenge. I am prepared to face it”, he said.
He has an advice for other bus drivers and conductors: “It’s time to make a change, a difference. We can’t be the same all the time. We serve the public therefore we must show respect and do as they wish. As public transport service providers, our passenger is the most important thing because the passenger is the core subject of our business”, he said.
He thanked Kingzawah Enterprises for recognizing what he is doing and the need for a shoe. “I wish to sincerely thank Kingzawah Enterprises for donating this new pair of shoe and this new shirt, with new pair of long trousers to be donated later”, he said.
Kingzawah Enterprises, a locally owned merchandize shop specializing in imported fashion clothing and general merchandised goods is situated at Room 30 at the AJ City Mall, Lungga.
“We are happy to donate to a young man who is trying to make a difference against all odds. This is a small donation but we hope it will go a long way to help Amiki continue with his good deeds towards making a difference”, Awa told YTTF.
- Benjamin Afuga/ Yumi Toktok Forum (Facebook)
Photo: Mrs. Freda Awa handing over the pair of shoe and a shirt to Amiki at the Kingzawah shop. (PHOTO: BENJAMIN AFUGA/YUMI TOKTOK FORUM)
