BY ELLISON.T.VAHI

THE Solomon Islands Government will next year launch its sixth report on the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Over the past years, the Solomon Islands Government through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) under the Environment and Conservation Division (ECD) have been working closely with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to identify various environmental issues that contributes to biodiversity decline in the country.

Under the Environment Act 1998, Section Eight stipulates that every three years a report on the State of the Environment (SOE) must be submitted to the Minister. The Minister will then bring the report to National Parliament.

The ECD is also mandated under the Act to administer mechanisms for addressing biodiversity loss.

Since backing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1995 the country has produced a total of five National Reports.

MECDM and SPREP have conducted consultations and data collections with relevant stakeholders over the past 10 months as part of the SOE reporting process which focuses on seven thematic areas on Biodiversity, Marine and Coastal, Land, Inland Waters, Built Environment, Atmosphere & Climate as well Culture & Heritage.

On the other hand, it is now working towards the development of the Sixth Implementation Report of the CBD.

This report will outline biodiversity strategy and action plan. This is in response to the commitment made by Solomon Islands in ratifying the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1995. The broad goal of the convention for the Solomon Islands is to conserve and sustainably manage the biodiversity of Solomon Islands.

In this upcoming implementation report, an important issue identified is the need to understand the flow of natural systems from ridge to reef.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international legally-binding treaty with three main goals: conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of biodiversity; fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

By Mike Puia

HONARA business house, Discount Electricals, has donated $3,000 toward Esther Education Foundation yesterday.

The foundation was born from a story shared by a local Guadalcanal girl, Esther.

It was a story of how she tried, with persistence, to get an education. Now, Esther is a successful and respected teacher in her home school.

Esther shared her story in 2010 which inspired Mellita Jones, to pursue the idea of setting up a foundation to help girls who struggled to get an education like Esther.

Founder Mellita Jones, received the money and five electrical appliances from staff of the company.

Mellita said the money they received will go toward the foundation. The foundation aims to raise money to help women and girls who experience struggle in getting education as a result of their gender.

Esther will share her story when the foundation is launched at the King Solomon Hotel.

The electrical appliances Discount Electricals donated to the foundation will be given out as prices during the launch.

The foundation will also run fundraisings in Australia.

Mellita said they are pleased that Discount Electricals generously responded to their request for help.

Trisha Marie Dabi of Discount Electricals said they are very happy to help.

Trisha said their company usually delivers help to beneficiaries on a three to four months basis.

She said Esther Foundation did send an appeal for help to their company and after their bosses assessed the request they decided to help.

Trisha said this is not the first time Discount Electricals help. She said their company did help other requesting beneficiaries, like Don Bosco, in the past.

Mellita has sent out invitations to guests and friends to attend the launch as the foundation need to raised money to start sponsoring local women and girls to get education.

For a start, the foundation is looking to sponsor around five women and girls to attend and complete their education.

The sponsorship will cover almost everything like tuition fee; cost of transport and text book etc. Women and girls who wish to be sponsored by the foundation will apply. A panel will assess the application and decide who will get sponsorship. The panel comprises of locals who are expert in the field.

During today’s launch the foundation will also unveil its online website (www.esthereducationfoundation.org).

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

TWENTY three members from Central Islands Women in Business Association (CIWIBA) have completed a Start Your Own Business (SYOB) training in Central Island province last week.

In a Press Statement by SIWIBA (facilitator of training), Central Islands Provincial Speaker, John Bosamata acknowledged CIWIBA chairlady, Annette Dennis for taking the lead in helping the women of Central Islands Province.

Bosamata extends his gratitude to SIWIBA for reaching out to the provinces in helping rural women access training that is usually organized in Honiara.

Bosamata further requested that SIWIBA extend its training to North and South of Central Islands Province.

At the same time, CIWIBA Chairlady Annette Dennis thanked SIWIBA for making the training a reality. She also thanked the SISBEC trainer for conducting the training in a simple manner that helped the women to better grasp and understand the topics discussed.

During the presentation of certificates, SIWIBA Program officer, Jessica Warahiru thanked the chairlady and members of CIWIBA for participating in the training and the hospitality rendered throughout the three days training period.

Warahiru also spoke of the wonderful working relationship between SIWIBA and SISBEC.

The training was facilitated by SIWIBA and conducted by a trainer from SISBEC (Solomon Islands Small Business Enterprises) from Nov 14th to 16th.

SIWIBA acknowledges the Australian Government through its High Commission Office in Honiara, for continuously supporting Solomon Islands women through its funding to SIWIBA’s activities over the last five years.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

NGELLA Constituency’s Member of Parliament (MP) Hon Bartholomew Parapolo has hit back at critics over the Constituency’s ‘Vaka Motor’ (ship).

Parapolo in response to questions raised during his last Constituency Tour at Haleta Village, Big Ngella, clarified that Tulaghi Police have detained the Constituency boat over registration matters. He said SIMSA gave the order because the boat has not been registered.

‘Vaka Motor’ in actual fact is called ‘Mid-Island’ and cannot be registered. This is because it is not in compliance with SIMSA’s regulations. Parapolo elaborated that the boat was not designed to carry passengers like other passenger vessels, thus the registration cannot be done.

The boat is a speed landing craft and under the approval of Parapolo was purposely to carry project materials and machines. This is so that they can load timbers including market produce to come to Honiara or other areas within their Constituency.

“Only if developments of roads and infrastructures take place on the mainlands of Sandfly, Big Ngella and Small Ngella before the consideration of another bigger passenger vessel purposely for passengers, cargoes, materials and markets will come into place too from the understanding that cash flow in Ngella is already in a good stage”, Parapolo said.

The Ngella MP explained that in terms of cash flow, a passenger ship cannot operate on the freight of one bag pana (root crop vegetable) or less daily. He said from past experience, Ngella people are not very good in paying full fares, resulting in the breakdown of past Constituency ship operation.

Besides, Parapolo told Constituents that one cannot just purchase a big passenger vessel for their Constituency with only $2 to $3 Million. He said the money used to purchase big passenger vessels as done by other Constituencies are grants being bettered making it possible for them to purchase big passenger vessels that usually cost around $8 Million or more.

Parapolo reported that the Constituency ‘Vaka Motor’ costs them $4.5 Million.

“The design of the boat was approved by me for its purpose and through the Ministry of Finance, the money was sent to the company overseas delivering the boat for the Constituency.

“There are certain people including intending candidates who are the ones always trying to twist around the understanding of people on this issue purposely to tarnish my reputation but to let you know, there is no such thing as any criminal doings of me misusing funds or whatsoever as such false rumours on the detainment of the Constituency boat. If people want to accuse me of such then take me to court and let us prove it. Don’t gossip falsely behind my back,” Parapolo said.

Central Islands Province (CIP) Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Inspector Hugo Maelasi confirmed that the said detainment is not because of any criminal offence but is in accordance with the Solomon Islands Maritime and Safety Administration’s (SIMSA) compliance laws.

In communication with SIMSA’s Administration earlier, SIMSA have been waiting for the ‘Vaka Motor’ shipowners to approach them for ship registration since its arrival two years ago. To date, it is still not registered.