I just spent the week at the Sanma Festival near Luganville, and honestly, the energy was incredible! Between the kava circles and the volleyball matches, you really feel that 'Yumi tugeta, yumi strong' spirit. But as a marketing officer who spends her day promoting our 'Happy Planet' image, I can’t help but notice a glaring gap in that community strength.

While we were celebrating our culture, a review of the National Gender Equality Policy in Port Vila just confirmed what we all feel: women are still sidelined. We have 101 provincial council seats in this country and not a single one is held by a woman. Not one!

As a social democrat, it frustrates me that we have the frameworks but zero political will. I’m tired of hearing that 'women aren't ready.' We are leading our families, our businesses, and our tourism sectors. We need those reserved seats and the candidate support fund now, not in another decade. If we want 2029 to be different, we have to stop just talking about equality and actually legislate the space for it.