Woman who took part during the prayers of intercession on yesterdays
service.
BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO
Woman who took part during the prayers of intercession on Sunday’s service.
A ‘break the silence’ Church Service was held on Sunday to begin the 16 days of activism against women and girls.
The Church Service was held at the All Saints Anglican Church in Honiara.
Rev Nigel Kelaepa, Mission Secretary, Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) says today (yesterday) is a great day because Solomon Islands and other countries are joining the fight against violence.
Rev Kelaepa said the service is a call for justice, fairness and equality for all God’s people in society.
“I hope this 16 days of activism that we are embarking on starting from today (yesterday) will have something that will promote awareness against evils of violence against women, girls and children and the innocent society. That it will help break the silence over evils that we see,” he said.
Kelaepa said being committed will help to mobilise certain collaborative action towards making greater impacts in the fight to reduce and eliminate violence against women and girls.
He said to advocate for justice for the vulnerable is very important and that one recognizes God’s word.
Rev Kelaepa said this is what God expects of his people.
“With that I appeal to all Solomon Islanders and friends from elsewhere especially the perpetrators to take time and listen to the word of the Lord and follow what it requires us to do,” he said.
The theme for these years 16 days of activism celebration is ‘hear my voice and hear my cry’.]
THE traffic congestion experienced in the city is still of concern to Honiara residents.
A concerned citizen is questioning if Honiara City Council (HCC) law enforcement officers and traffic police are doing their job.
Galorick Irota, a former police officer expressed his concern in an interview last week.
He said roads are jammed with vehicles with no traffic officers present to control or monitor the situation.
Irota adds even the newly built bus stops and bridges are harbouring buses and vehicles that are queuing for longer periods of time.
“This is causing school children and working class people to arrive late to schools and workplaces”, Irota said.
He said buses are not parking properly at their designated bus stops especially at both east and westward Central Market bus stops and at White River’s 01 bus stop.
The concerned man said, at Central Market buses are parking at the end of the bus stop leaving the upper section empty and some can be seen parking near the walkway pavement.
As for the White River 01 bus stop, he says buses at times tend to stop right in front of the road leading inwards, blocking vehicles exiting or entering the road.
Irota voices that it is the duty of HCC law enforcement officers and traffic police to ensure that vehicles are steadily passing through and not stuck in traffic.
He calls on the Head of HCC law enforcement and Commissioner of Police to ensure that their responsible traffic officers are out on duty ensuring that vehicles are not stuck in traffic, something he says has been experienced every now and then.
THE Chairman of the Public Account Committee and MPA for Ward 18 South Rendova, Hon. George Solingi Lilo says Western Province need to have a Provincial Fiscal Strategy that guides the fiscal policy of the Province.
Lilo said the Fiscal Strategy paper will prioritize the province’s expenditure policies. Apparently, we do not really know where we are heading to without a Fiscal Strategy.
“I recommend we give this policy strategy a priority prior to the 2019/2020 budget preparation process.”
“The Draft Revised Budget is not pegged against any credible economic variables, to say the least. The Budget is not taking advantage of the domestic or local economic data of the province. This is an important factor in the derivation of a budget document,” he added.
“We need to urgently facilitate the establishment of a Budget and Economic Research Unit that manipulates this information,” said Lilo.
He said a Strategic Plan articulates a coordination of programs against limited resources.
“This document should assist in prioritizing the allocation of resources as well as the implementation of those programs”, Lilo said.
Lilo pointed out that most importantly is the concern related to revenue collection against competing demands.
“This would mean that a lot of efforts may have to be pursued in terms of revisiting revenue-related Ordinances and re-strengthened them, for instance, Harbour and Wharfage Ordinance; Total overhaul of our Business License Ordinance and Regulations; Review of Basic Rates and Property Rates Ordinance; Investing of Funds into small-scale income-generating activities as required by Clause 22 Part 6 of FMO 2018 (draft); etc”, Lilo said.
MPA for Ward 18 South Rendova Hon. George Solingi Lilo
BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO
MPA for Ward 18 South Rendova Hon. George Solingi Lilo
HON. George Solingi Lilo, MPA for Ward 18 South Rendova applauds the Executive Government for heeding the PAC call to allow for due Assembly process in dealing with the Revised Budget Estimate in Western Province.
Lilo in contributing to the Assembly last week said, as a matter of fact, the 2018/2019 Draft Revised Budget Estimate was tabled on 24th October. All accompanying documents were submitted over the next few days. The Committee, however, began its deliberations on 24 October to assess the budget papers and set-up the hearing schedule.
Lilo said the public hearings begun on Friday 26th October to Monday 5th November 2018. He said the initial was insufficient for the Committee to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the 2018/2019 Draft Revised Budget Estimate, hence, the reason for extension into two weeks.
“Before I comment on the Budget itself, I wish to briefly sketch the background to the thrust of my statement and I would like to do that by outlining some fundamental issues from which the Government has drawn its assumption in the formulation of the Draft Revised Budget.”
“Most critical issue that has directly impinged on the Revised Budget is the absence of the Executive Government’s Policy Document the hat should shape the budget outcome during the budget preparation process,” he added.
“This is a serious matter because in the absence of this policy intervention, the budget is being influenced by the preceding year’s policy performance,” said Lilo.
He said by then, the preparation of the 2019/2020 Appropriation Bill would have due and ready for debate on the second or third week of March 2019 as required by PGSP assessment criteria.
THE Malaita Provincial Government has put in place three important pillars for their proposed work on the financial reform.
Provincial Secretary, Mr Jackson Gege recently said the province has turned its focus on improving its capability and attention on some key areas that needs improvement under the reform.
He said the areas includes the governance system, finance and human resource where an upsurge improvement is needed.
Gege said improving the governance system will look at the province’s procurement system like rules and laws that must be followed properly.
He added that finance is another area where province must have adequate capacity in order to source it activities or carry out its obligation.
Gege said human resource is also important for staff to have adequate skills and knowledge to perform to expectation.
He said at the moment the province do not have adequate skills and knowledge in these areas.
“We actually subdue to the system when there is pressure,” Gege said.
He said being trapped in the system doesn’t mean that they have to be there. They must struggle and find a way out of it for the good of the province, Gege said.
Gege said this is the idea behind the reform as they are trying to move the province to a new chapter.
WHILE members of Parliament are anticipating $400,000 terminal grant each any time soon, government Lawyers are anticipating a sit in strike on the 4th of December 2018.
Again the cause for strike is the terms and conditions of service for government lawyers.
Since 2012, the Government Lawyers Association (GLA) has been pushing for a scheme of service to improve their terms and conditions of service. Six years on, they are still singing the same song, but now with a raspy voice.
Just in October (last month), a strike notice was issued by government lawyers, ie; Lawyers from the agencies, the Attorney General’s Chamber, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Public Solicitors Office, the Law Reform Commission, the Office of the Public Trustee (under Registrar General’s Office) and the Policy section of the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs.
It is no secret that lawyers are struggling with extreme workload and are the ones tasked to consult, and write up policies/laws that government (MPs) takes to parliament to deliberate on.
On top of that, the judicial sector is constantly faced with challenges to keep experienced and/or lawyers in the sector. Much of government’s advisers in the judicial sector are a group of young Solomon Islanders. Most experienced lawyers have already left the government to establish their own businesses where the grass is greener.
The latest of government’s dedicated and long serving lawyer that had handed in his three months resignation recently, is based in Auki. He’s absence will be greatly felt by the Judicial sector.
Throughout the years, GLA has been pushing the Ministry and Government to address their scheme of service.
In 2012, GLA says government had been sleeping on this issue. In 2018, government is now said to drag its feet in this issue, with Island Sun reliably informed that a proposed salary structure for government lawyers is before the Ministry of Commerce, Labour and Immigration.
However because of the complexities surrounding this issue (as a draft National Wage policy is also in the making), work has not been able to progress as expected.
Without addressing the MOU and a scheme for lawyers, government and the people will lose out on the much needed service of lawyers (in the form of public solicitors etc.).
The requirements and challenges on the role of lawyers are quite high, and what is needed is to ensure a lawyer is able to perform his/her function to a level where the right quality service is delivered. This guarantee is missing.
Island Sun has not been able to get comments from the Permanent Secretary of Justice and Legal Affairs to find out the status or progress of the said ‘scheme of service’ or the strike notice when this paper goes to print.
However it is understood that in 2012, the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Government and GLA obligates the government to review the full conditions of lawyers’ services.
A display of activities students participated in while in Japan.
BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE
SCHOOLS should have natural disaster plans to help them prepare for natural hazards in the future.
Jonathan Tafiariki, Deputy Director of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), says it is important schools have disaster plans.
He said his office has carried out a program called the “safe school program”. In this program, they have worked with schools and help guide the development of their natural disaster plans.
He said Florence Young Christian School is one school which has been fully participating in developing their own plan.
Tafiariki mentioned that they are also aware that other schools are also working on theirs.
He says it is highly important that schools have measures to ensure that they are prepared so that families whose children are at school when a natural disaster takes place do not panic.
Tafiariki said this is concerning especially when most of our schools are located along the coast.
With this being the case, he says in time of tsunami warning, roads will be flooded with vehicles because parents will be searching for their children knowing that schools do not have natural disaster plans.
Tafiariki furthers that if schools have natural disaster plans, they would have the trust of parents and the situation would be much different.
A display of activities students participated in while in Japan.JICA officers.Students from White River delivering their presentation.
Guest of Honour Hon Stanley Sofu dilivered his speech during the launching
FUNDING for the construction of a new wharf in Ugi has been approved. This was revealed by Hon. Stanley Sofu, Minister for Infrastructure Development (MID) in his address to the people of Ulawa/Ugi on the launch of their new ship.
Sofu said a contractor has been awarded to construct the wharf. MID is currently awaiting formalities, Sofu said.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Ulawa/Ugi William Marau said roads around Ulawa will be tar sealed soon.
This comes after the MID approved funding for road upgrades on the islands, Marau said.
Marau said the road upgrade will go in line with other infrastructure development projects on the islands.
He said work on improving the road will possibly start early next year.
TRAVELLING to attend the World Tsunami Awareness Day was a remarkable trip says White River Community High School’s Social Science teacher, Ashlyn Sese Hou.
Ashlyn was with five of her Form four students who had represented the country in this year’s High School Students Summit on “World Tsunami Awareness Day” in Wakayama, Japan.
She said what they had learnt from the summit was how schools can help prepare for natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.
Hou highlighted “awareness drills” as an important area where schools in Solomon Islands can also carry out in their school.
She said this is something that needs to be promoted in schools from kindergarten to secondary level of education.
Hou explained that if students are well versed with awareness drills which include maps showing safety zones, they would know where to run and move to higher grounds in times of natural disasters.
She also mentioned that if people were already prepared they can escape death.
In this regard, Hou commends Japan for its work in making them more aware about measures to tackle natural disasters.
Hou stressed that given Japan’s status as a country with an aim to promote international understanding and raising awareness of natural disasters, Solomon Islands is fortunate to be part of the summit.
She added that while they learnt a lot about natural disasters and prevention measures they were also fortunate to visit a high tech country that has changed their way of thinking.
Hou said after departing Japan, they returned to the country as changed individuals with new vision and spirit about spreading the message of tsunami awareness.
She is positive that results of this trip will be evident in years to come.
It is understood that Honiara High School students represented the country in last year’s summit.
Hou thanked the government of Japan and Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) for selecting White River Community High School to participate in this year’s event.
Gold Ridge Mine Board members and executives present the Project Feasibility Study and supporting documents to the Hon. Minister Bradley Tovosia,
Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification and the A/Director of Mines, Mr Joseph Ishmael.
THE Feasibility Study developed by Golder Associates, demonstrates that Gold Ridge Project is economically viable and technically feasible.
Yesterday, Gold Ridge Mine Executives met with Honorable Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Bradley Tovosia to deliver the much anticipated Feasibility Study to the Solomon Islands Government.
With a capital cost (including the start-up cost) of around AUD 140 million, a 13-year life of mine (LOM), and with the assumption of a long-term gold price of USD 1,300 per ounce, the financial model demonstrates that the project will be cash flow positive in its fourth year of operation.
Given the Gold Ridge ores are mostly fresh ore, as opposed to oxide ore, the flotation process is recommended initially to produce gold concentrate while refinery onsite options are being further assessed.
The benefit of the flotation method to produce gold concentrate is first that no cyanide will be used in the production process which means that the environmental impact of the project is significantly reduced.
Gold Ridge Mine Board members and executives discuss the economic, environmental and social benefits for landowners, Solomon Islands Government and investors of the Gold Ridge Mine Project Feasibility Study with the Hon. Minister Bradley Tovosia, Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification and the A/Director of Mines, Mr Joseph Ishmael.
Secondly, the method means that GRML can recommission the mine and reach full production two years quicker which lets the project reach a cashflow positive position for the benefit of government, landowners and investors much sooner.
The redesigned and refurbished process plant will have a processing capacity of 2.5 million ton per annum. The processing design builds on the metallurgical test work carried out by Xiamen Zijin Technology of Mining and Metallurgy Ltd. (Zijin) in late 2017 and the process plant refurbishment and redesign work undertaken by China Nerin Engineering Co. Ltd in 2018.
An independent study by the Griffith University in Australia shows that the total macroeconomic impact of reopening the Gold Ridge Mine and injecting new capital is expected to generate significant economic benefits for the Solomon Islands economy.
It is estimated that the initial investment will contribute around 59 percent of the total forecast foreign direct investment for 2020. Based on previous gold mining experience in the Solomon Islands, the project is estimated to directly contribute around 9.3 percent of the GDP of the Solomon Islands in 2020, and about 6 percent of GDP annually over the life of the mine. Gold exports are expected to make around a 17 percent contribution to total exports.
Gold Ridge Mine Board members and executives present the Project Feasibility Study and supporting documents to the Hon. Minister Bradley Tovosia, Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification and the A/Director of Mines, Mr Joseph Ishmael.
The project production phase will initially employ approximately 250 to 300 direct jobs with 70 percent of the unskilled and semi-skilled roles forecast to be employed from the local catchment and the Solomon Islands.
The project’s indirect employment impact through the demand for workers and services by the mine and across the supply chain is the creation of approximately 6,723 job opportunities.
The Feasibility Study identified that there is also significant potential to extend the life of the operation through future exploration.
“This project represents a significant nation-building opportunity for the people of Solomon Islands with significant economic and social benefits of the project for the landowners and communities of Gold Ridge if carefully managed.” said Mr Naezon, a Director of Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) who represents the interests of the Gold Ridge Mine landowner catchment who have a ten percent equity share in the mine.
“We have studied the lessons from the past and we know the factors needed to ensure the mine’s success” said Mr Allen Wang, Director-Elect and GRML’s Assistant Chief Executive Officer.
“The project requires an uncompromising focus on gold recovery and cost management; responsible tailings and environmental management; and the embedding of the landowners and communities of Gold Ridge as true equity and development partners” said Mr Wang.
For landowners to realise the benefits of the mine however, requires them to take their respective project responsibilities. A key responsibility of landowners and Chiefs at this stage is the removal of pit miners who are illegally panning for gold in the pits.
Landowners must also show commitment and be empowered to save and invest for the long-term and to ensure that equitable and inclusive royalty and dividend distribution mechanisms are put in place to share in the wealth generated from the mine.
“We will play our part, to turn Gold Ridge Mine into a profitable long-term operation, for the benefit of landowners, the Solomon Islands and investors, and we need landowners to underpin and reinforce this opportunity and for all key stakeholders to support us”, said Mr Richard Gu, Director of GRML and Chairman of AXF Gold Ridge Pty Ltd.
“We call on the Solomon Islands Government and the donor community to rally behind the project, and in particular, to support the landowners, communities, women and youth of Gold Ridge to derive long-term benefits from the mine”, said Mr Gu.
GRML are progressing a number of plans to demonstrate the company’s long-term commitment to the project and landowners. The plans cover environmental, tailings and social performance management, future planned exploration, local employment and workforce localisation, local buying and business development and community and landowner development.
Gold Ridge Mine is a brownfield open pit gold mine located in Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands.
