BY LESLEY FOINAGWA
SOLOMON Islands is famous for producing many outstanding raw talents in the country’s formal, informal and non-formal sectors.
Just recently, Sunday Isles met Vincent Fa’alata, a popular figure, known as a carpenter in his home village of Ngarilaberua in West Kwaio in Malaita province.
Vincent, 40, has no qualified background in carpentry, however, his experience and talent in constructing traditional to modern designed homes came from a very young age whilst accompanying his uncle, an unskilled carpenter (known in the Solomon Islands as look and learn carpenter).
“Although, I left early in my primary level of education. I continued to pursue a new interest in carpentry that was greatly influenced by my uncle who is an unskilled carpenter back in the early 90s.
“I was aged 10 when I started to accompany my uncle. I am always willing to follow him everywhere he was tasked to build a house.
“I am often willing to carry my uncle’s tool bag.
“I desired to learn the basic measurement skills and carpentry knowledge on how to build a house from my uncle,” Vincent recalled.
He said, for now, it’s more than 30 years of building houses in his home community in West Kwaio.
“Today, building a house is my hobby and a way to earn a living for my family – I can build whatever simple style of house – from a sago palm thatched roofing house to a permanent copper roofing house,” Vincent said.
He later thanked his uncle, who is still alive and continues to advise him on his work as a carpenter, and for believing in him from a young age until now.
