BY LIONEL TAORAO
IN spite of his heavy loss in this year’s joint elections, one of the losing candidates contesting the Ulawa/Ugi constituency parliamentary seat still did not give up on his vision to assist his people, especially his devoted supporters who have faith in his aspirations for the Ulawa/Ugi constituency.
Raphael Oli sits in the seventh spot with a total vote of 87 out of the nine candidates contesting the Ulawa/Ugi constituency in this year’s Joint Elections.
His loss has inspired his team to initiate and establish a group for his supporters’ just moments after receiving the election results to see a way forward for his supporters.
Candidate Raphael Oli, who affiliates with the Solomon Islands United Party (SIUP), led by Peter Junior Kenilorea, says that he has initiated and formed a group for supporters where they can continue to work side by side to see a way forward for them after they did not manage to win the elections.
Mr. Oli says that on April 19, after the election results were announced, he and his group of supporters met at his father’s residence at Su’u Moli, and that is when the group, The ‘United 87′, was formed.
Raphael Oli of Su’u Moli says that the idea came up because these 87 voters of his felt that they would not receive any form of assistance now because they did not vote for the winning candidate, and as a result, the United 87 was formed.
“We have agreed to form this group and have merged to work on any or every development idea that we can tap for ourselves based on some of the ideas I preached during my campaigns,” he says.
“The group’s name, ‘United 87, signifies the total number of voters who voted for me, and these 87 voters are my devoted supporters who have trust in me,” Mr. Oli adds.
Mr. Oli continued to say that this is to ensure that they develop a positive mindset for his supporters and engage in real self-sustaining projects rather than crying over spilled milk.
“We will keep uniting and moving forward to tap the best in life for us, and we believe that our struggles and positive mindset will have an impact on our lives and later on the rest of Ulawa Ugi constituency and the country in the years to come,” Mr. Oli adds.
He further adds that his group is still yet to elect their chairman and other posts and finalize a few more things before he returns to Honiara.
Candidate Raphael Oli is the first candidate amongst other constituents to publicly congratulate the third-time Member of Parliament re-elect for the Ulawa/Ugi constituency, Hon. Willie Bradford Marau, for his success in this year’s joint elections and calls on Honorable Marau to support his group in the days ahead. At the same time, he thanked all the people in Ulawa/Ugi constituencies for their support and attendance during his campaigning on both islands.
