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EELS LEAD ROUND ONE

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Taromane Martin
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Eels
Eels

By TAROMANE MARTIN

Henderson Eels FC will finish round one the 2020-2021 Telekom Soccer League (TSL) seasons in first position after picking up a ninth win in the competition.

Eels picked apart Real Kakamora FC for a 4-0 win in the second half of their week 10 mid-week clash yesterday at the Lawson Tama, to see them extend their lead to competition table with 27 points.

Joses Nawo gave Eels the lead in the 46th minute, courtesy of a Raphael Lea’i assist, with his head, before doubling the lead in the 55th minute from a 20-yard free kick, after Lea’i was sliced down recklessly by Kakamora defenders.

Real Kakamora tried to repair their attack after those two goals, but with youngster Chris Hatarau missing out yesterday, Adrian Mara had a hard time going forward.

Second half substitute Augustine Waita added Eels third goal of the day in the 58th minute after being teed up nicely by Raphael’s lay back.

With three assists to his name, there was no denying the 18-year-old Lea’i from adding his name to the score sheets.

Lea’i grabbed his 19th goal for round one of the TSL in the 74th minute, after being manhandled by Real Kakamora’s team captain Richard Raramo in the 73rd minute.

Eels Head Coach Eddie Marahare said he was pleased his side managed to achieve their aim and earn maximum points, saying this is history for the club since joining them from KOSSA FC.

“The points we have now for us is history especially for the past two seasons I’ve been with the club,” he said.

“We finish this round with only one loss and percentage wise its ninety-percent which is a big bonus for the team.

“I’m sure that kind of result gives a very positive impact not only to the management but also for the players.

“It shows what we work on as a team is working out. So hopefully if we continue intensity in training and do some more things, I’m sure players will pick things out.

“I think for round two we will make one or two changes to the squad. At this stage I won’t be naming players but we are looking at changing one or two new players,” Marahare said.

WorldFish celebrates rural womens’ participation in fisheries

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Thursday 15 October, 2020: WorldFish celebrated the International Day of Rural Women in Western Province by bringing together women’s leaders to discuss their role in fisheries.

While rural women catch 50% of all fish eaten in households in Solomon Islands, they are the minority of leaders in community, provincial and national organisations responsible for fisheries management and development. In community-based fisheries management, 68% of the local fisheries committees are dominated by men.

At Gizo, representatives of women vendors, community based fisheries management committees, the Australian High Commission, provincial government and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs came together to discuss the current situation and their vision for women in fisheries. Panel discussants also shared difficulties and changes caused by the COVID19 situation in 2020, and ways forward for women in fisheries.

A short film and a factsheet viewable on https://www.worldfishcenter.org?country-pages/solomon-islands was also prepared to help profile the role women play in fisheries and the need for more inclusion of women in decision-making.

Activities were conducted as part of the Enhancing Livelihoods Project funded by SwedBio and the Pathways for change in CBRM project funded by the Australian Government through ACIAR.
Lisi Wong, Womens Division, Western Province, said:

“IDRW Rural women have a huge contribution to our society, communities and families and this day celebrates and reinforces achievements of rural women. It’s good to see that rural women and other sectors too like fisheries and WorldFish recognizes this day, agricultural sector, recognizes this day, as many women are crucial to these sectors. The Division has a submission to the Executive for gender mainstreaming and women in agriculture, fisheries, economic empowerment is part of this, we have to address gender mainstreaming in every sector.”
Margaret Batalofo, WorldFish, Auki Office said:

“WorldFish and WARA has done research on livelihoods and innovation in West Are Are. We found that while marketing is the major activity, but lack of cash flow was a major challenge, another one is transport, there is no road network and the cost of boats and it makes carrying of goods and then competition of vendors selling the same things at the same time. However, WARA had led to changes in their lives, increased knowledge and power to make decisions about income.”

Vido Nao, Treasurer of Santupaele CBFM Committee and women’s leader said:

“We conserve our reef and fishery. Through our conservation efforts, WorldFish came down and built a Fish Aggregating Device (FAD). The benefits we have taken from the FAD and the conservation benefits are protein and food for children and families. It has contributed to development of us, we need to develop every day and every time, through development we can also provide income to our families and women in fisheries. It exposed us to changes, and before we did not hold leadership and membership roles in our community and now we do.”

-World Fish Media Release

Photo Caption: Group photo with Western Provincial Minister for Fisheries Hon. Alesina Redfern

12 Solomon Islanders undergo International Skills Training with APTC

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Twelve Solomon Islanders recently underwent a two-week introductory session on International Skills Training (IST) with the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) in Honiara to enhance their skills in training and emergency management.

The training, organised by APTC in collaboration with the Pacific Islands Emergency Management Alliance (PIEMA), was aimed at improving the competency-based training skills for APTC staff and leaders from various disaster management stakeholders in Honiara.

The Australian and New Zealand governments support the PIEMA project under the Pacific Community (SPC) as part of efforts to strengthen coordination when preparing for, responding to and recovering from disasters in Pacific Island countries.

The IST training aimed to improve the competency-based training skills of the participants from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) Solomon Islands and staff from APTC in Honiara, Malaita and Western Province.

Country Director for the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, Abigail Chang, said the content of the IST training package is important for locals to meet expectations of providing quality skills, particularly in training and emergency management.

Vocational Training Manager for the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, Glyn Milhench, added that the IST training is important for the professional development of the participants to replicate in their respective organisations.

“Quality skills, quality products, quality of life. Good vocational trainers enable good vocational training. It all comes down to improving Solomon Islanders’ way of life,” Mr Milhench said.

APTC National Trainer, Raj Kapoor, who delivered the training remotely, said the IST knowledge and skills will benefit the participants in developing their capabilities in designing, developing and delivering competency-based training within their organisations.

“Appropriately skilled trainers will have the confidence and capacity to make reasoned judgments when training, including adapting teaching materials and learning techniques to meet industry and learner needs. Competent assessors will help to meet the needs of the industry and enterprises through assessing learners’ skills and knowledge for the workplace,” Mr Kapoor said.

He said the two-week training was a positive learning experience for the 12 participants, with their sessions adapted to meet the leaners’ needs.

Human Resource Coordinator for ADRA Solomon Islands, Elizabeth Tangisi, said she learned useful skills and knowledge in time management and new ideas to conduct trainings and workshops.

She plans to demonstrate and share what she has learned with her colleagues.

“As a Human Resource Coordinator, when I conduct training to our volunteers and staff, I will consider training sizes and creativities to engage learners. I also need to take into consideration the skills and experiences of learners and what expectations they will have in their learning,” Ms Tangisi said.

The virtual training was delivered in two blocks, during July and September 2020.

The IST is an initiative of the Australia Government aimed at addressing critical competency gaps, supporting skills needs in the global workforce, and providing Australian registered training organisations (RTOs) the opportunity to support overseas stakeholders to meet their diverse skills needs.

  • APTC Press Release

RSIPF arrests 23 suspects following incident in Western Province

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Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in Western Province on 14 October 2020 arrested 23 suspects following an operation at Patmos Island in the Roviana Lagoon after an alleged incident of arson, threatening violence and malicious damage on 11 October 2020.

Provincial Police Commander Western Province Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu says, “According to initial reports received by police more than 30 people went after a leader of a group within the Christian Fellowship Church (CFC) religious group. The leader of the CFC group and his family are now the victims of arson, threatening violence and damages of the victims’ properties.”

“The victims escaped to another village for their own safety as the group of boys allegedly vandalized their family properties while they were in their house. The group of boys reportedly burned down the house of the victim.”

“When police arrived at the scene of the incident the suspects did not resist arrest. It is sad to know most of the suspects are juveniles,” says PPC Lenialu.

He adds, “The situation at Patmos Island is now under control with the presence of a police operations team on the ground. Police will have to make sure that all the suspects in the incident are arrested and face justice for their actions.”

“I call on people of Patmos Island and Nusa Reregana in the Roviana Lagoon to assist police with information that will assist the investigation into the sad incident which has seen properties destroyed and people living in fear for their lives,” says PPC Lenialu.

  • RSIPF Press Release

LEADER OF INDEPENDENT GROUP SUGGEST DISSOLUTION RATHER THAN EXTENDING PARLIAMENT

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Hon. John Dean Kuku

The Leader of the Independent Group, Hon John Kuku calls on the National Government to promptly slam the door on its idea to extend the life of the National Parliament from 4 to 5 years.

Hon. Kuku said that it is crucial the government objects to its own proposal, while it is at its planning stage, given that rationale against it outweighs those for it and the wide-spread outcry from all sectors of our society.

He said: “The justification cited by the government to extend the life of the house is feeble, inadequate and simply outlandish if it were simply because of the 2023 Pacific Games.”

“This is simply outweighed by the simple fact that the Pacific Games Council had already made the decision to move the Mini Games to 2022, which simply means that the writing is already on the wall, that a similar decision could be made towards delaying the Pacific Games.”

The Leader said that while such an assessment is inconclusive, the matter is best left to postponement because to assume that our pacific friends will be willing to spend their money in our country when we are in Post-Covid 19 and recovery mode is misguided.

“Any government must work in accordance to the rules, regulations and principles that are laid out in the constitution. The constitution is a national treasure and must be respected and guarded. Any amendment to the constitution must be to advance its principles. The proposed amendment is an extension to accommodate a two weeks event. By extending parliament for an additional year is delaying the right of the people to choose who should govern them for another year.

Clubbing one’s way to tamper the constitution on a very trivial matter and reason is equal to theft. The constitution belongs to the people of Solomon Islands.”

“In this regard, it is only appropriate that we take the matter by way of a plebiscite or referendum so that our people can have a say on the proposed amendments.” He said.

The leader added that if we consider our regional surroundings, most of our neighbors had opted for a 3-4 life term for their legislatures, hence the idea of pulling it to 5 would seem bizarre at best.

“The best option to take in order to accommodate what the DCGA wants: the SP Games 2023 without tampering our constitution is to have an early dissolution of the National Parliament rather than extending it for another year. This is the option I recommend and call on government to consider and make preparations now.” He said.

-OLIGP Press Release

CSSI Commissioner Congratulate Ms Wasia

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Commissioner of Correctional Service Solomon Islands (CSSI) Mr Gabriel Manelusi has congratulated Ms Bernice Kamou Wasia for graduating with a Diploma of Correctional Administration from the Queensland Corrective Services Academy (QCSA), at the Correctional Headquarter, yesterday 14 October 2020.

This professional development programme is an ongoing initiative embraced through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which was signed between CSSI and Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) in 2018. This MOU includes twining partnership deliveries of professional training programs to selected CSSI officers and these programs provide access to international “best-practice” training and development opportunities, as delivered to all staff of the QCS.

Speaking during a short graduation ceremony, Commissioner Manelusi congratulate Ms Wasia for successfully completing her program and graduating with a Diploma of Correctional Administration Certificate.

“I recognised the value of the international partnership and I fully support the continuation of the Early Management Development Program (EMDP) with QCSA. The cross-twinning development strategies in these programs are benefitting for both agencies in terms of cultural awareness and developmental understanding needs” says Manelusi.

He added, “I’m delighted to continue investing in my officers’ professional development opportunities with QCSA to ensure officers are trained in modern “assessed and evidence-based” practises to deliver effective and efficient corrective services to the Solomon Islands.

Commissioner Manelusi highlighted that QCSA has played a key role in the professional development of CSSI emerging leaders since 2016, and to date 43 CSSI officers have undertaken the QCS EMDP, with 18 officers awarded the Diploma of Correctional Administration, Ms Wasia being the most recent recipient.

Commissioner Manelusi further reiterated to those officers who graduate in all professional programs through QCS to put into practice, and continue to practice, what has been learnt during the duration of studies. I am confident in your ability to meet whatever challenges are ahead and look forward to serve with you to make Solomon Islands a safer place to live and work”.

Commissioner Manelusi acknowledged his counterpart from QCS, Commissioner Peter Martin for recognizing the value of international partnerships and the support for the continuation of the programs.

Meanwhile Ms Wasia acknowledged the CSSI Commissioners’ office for the moral support in this training programme and thanked the Australian Federal Government for funding the programme through the Office of the Australian High Commission in the Solomon Islands.

Ms Wasia was enlisted in the service, in 2003 and currently she is the Supervising Director Human Resources Department at the Correctional Service Headquarter, Rove

-CSSI Press

Red Cross Successfully Held General Assembly

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Honiara, 15th October 2020 – Solomon Islands Red Cross Society (SIRC) has successfully held its General Assembly on Wednesday 14th October, 2020. The General Assembly which is the highest body of the National Society is usually held after every two years.

Attending the General Assembly includes the Patron of the National Society, the Governor General of Solomon Islands His Excellency Sir David Vunagi and Lady Vunagi, General Assembly members including representatives from Ministry of Education, Ministry of Home Affairs and Chairpersons from six (6) Solomon Islands Red Cross Society branches throughout the country.

In delivering his key address in opening the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society’s General Assembly, His Excellency Sir David Vunagi expresses the unfortunate situation leading to the General Assembly being held in October. “By virtue of our Constitution, the General Assembly is the highest governing body of the National Society and which accordingly, “shall take place every two years in the third month of the second year”. Unfortunately, this General Assembly as you may have realised is now held in October, which reflects the challenge the National Society and the country at large is now faced with, especially in the ongoing fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic”, Sir Vunagi said.

The Governor General also took the opportunity to thank the National Society volunteers, who have worked hard in ensuring those who are affected by the recent Tropical Cyclone Harold are assisted. “In addition, I am proud to have learnt of the great work carried out by our volunteers in responding to the needs of those who are affected by the recent Tropical Cyclone Harold at the beginning of the year”. He also thanked the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society volunteers for in their work of assisting the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in carrying out community wide awareness in communities within Honiara, Malaita, Western, Temotu and Rennell and Bellona provinces.

The Solomon Islands Governor General in his address also calls for government recognition and support to the work of the National Society both through assistance as well as by helping to review the Solomon Islands Red Cross Act 1983 to provide for government support. “While the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society has had a wonderful relationship over the years and has been a great partner to the public authorities, the government is yet to fully recognise its role in providing support to the National Society”, Sir David Vunagi said. “All these are areas of concern to the National Society regarding the Act that I hope the Solomon Islands government will look at in helping to address by way of updating the current Solomon Islands Red Cross Society Act 1983”, the Governor General further added.

President of Solomon Islands Red Cross Society Mockson Aaron in making his remarks also highlights the need for creativity and innovation as a means to move the work of the National Society forward. “Being creative and innovative means doing what we have always been doing, but in a different way. This is because, we are now in an era where just existing is not enough. We have to be relevant while at the same time be able to remain to perform our mandated role both now and into the future”, he said.

The highlight of the General Assembly was the election of the new President, Vice President, an ordinary member and the confirmation of co-opted members who will also serve in the current board.

Meanwhile, the former SIRC President, Mockson Aáron was re-elected to take on the President position while Dr.Jillian Tutuo was elected as the new Vice-President. James Lapoe was unanimously placed as the ordinary member in the new board after he was nominated twice and was unopposed.

Newly confirmed members of the board include Richard Sakiri who is currently serving as the Treasurer to the board, Dr. Dunstan Aleziru, Shenthel Soaki who is the Youth representative in the board and Stanley Aupai.

-SIRC Press Release

World Food Day commemorated

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16th October is the World Food Day.

An international day celebrated yearly around the world in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945.

The celebration today also coincided with the 75th Anniversary of FAO.

Theme for this year’s annual celebration is: Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together. Our Actions are our Future.

However, with the impact of the global pandemic, countries were advised to chose alternate ways to mark the important day.

For Solomon Islands, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) is organising a talkback show over the National Broadcaster, SIBC from 9am-12pm today.

The program will be broadcasted live and livestreamed on SIBC News facebook page.

MAL Under Secretary Technical (UST), Michael Ho’ota said due to the state of public emergency (SOPE) and Covid-19 safety measures, the ministry opted to use radio instead of organising public shows like they always did for past events.

“This is an important event that we have to commemorate as it is the only day in the year that we highlight issues affecting agriculture nationally and globally.

“ However, with the impact of Covid-19 pandemic as well as financial limitations it affected the implementation of this important annual event therefore we have to resort to a low key but fitting activity to mark the day,” he said.

The Program will involve speech presentations from the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock and speech from the FAO in-country office.

Invitees from government line ministries, stakeholders, reps from donor partners, NGO reps and farmers representatives are expected to be part of the program.

-MAL Press Release

PM ANNOUNCES NEW COVID-19 CASES

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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. Photo supplied.

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has announced new COVID-19 cases.

These include four new cases in the Philippines and one new case in the Solomon Islands.
These means we now have a total of three cases in the Solomon Islands and 22 cases in the Philippines.
All the positive cases are our local students studying in the Philippines.
The Prime Minister announced one of the four cases in the Philippines was a pregnant mother who just delivered her baby.

Prime Minister Sogavare said both the mother and infant are in hospital and will be transferred to the Philippine Red Cross facility to undergo their quarantine.

“The other three positive cases in the Philippines are already at the Red Cross accommodation to complete their quarantine,” he said.

As for the third case here in the country, the Prime Minister said the person is a student that came on the repatriation flight from Philippines.

He said contact tracing has commenced to establish the possible source of infection.

“The person has been transferred to the National Referral Hospital Isolation Unit for further observations and management. Like our first two positive cases, this person does not show any signs of illness,” he said.

Prime Minister Sogavare reiterated that this positive case did not come as a surprise because there had been mingling and congregating between the students at the quarantine facility.

“We are therefore relieved that we only recorded one additional positive case, because there could have been more. Therefore, we thank our Heavenly Father, He is still looking after our nation and our students,” he said.

Prime Minister Sogavare said the results of the upcoming fourth round of testing under our testing protocol arrangement will take place between days 19 and 21 from the day of arrival in the country, which will be between Sunday 18th and Tuesday 20th October.

“This will give as a better indication on the status and the likely projection of the Covid-19 infection in the country,” the Prime Minister said.

-PMO

RSIPF warns communities of bomb blasting at Alligator Creek

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The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team will conduct a live demolition of bombs at Hells Point, in the Alligator Creek area East of Honiara tomorrow (Friday 16 October 2020).

Officer In-charge (OIC) of EOD, Inspector Clifford Tunuki says, “The Hells Point Demolition Range in Central Guadalcanal will be active as from 8am to 2pm tomorrow (16 October 2020).”

“Fishermen, farmers, hunters and the general public in the Henderson area, Alligator Creek and Tenaru School areas are kindly warned to keep out from Hells Point while the Operation is in progress. Safe evacuations of people and road blocks will be enforced within these areas from east Henderson to Tenaru School bus stop.”

“This is a normal EOD task aimed to reduce the amount of Unexploded Ordnances stored at the site to a minimum level,” says Inspector Tunuki.

He says, “The Air Traffic Control Tower at the Honiara International Airport will coordinate the firing of each serial. An EOD Operator/Technician from the RSIPF EOD Team will be posted at the control tower during this operation from the actual times of the demolition and completion time.”

-RSIPF Media

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