Members of Oxfam Office in Auki holding a banner with ending violence against women and girls.
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
AUKI
PUBLIC in Auki town joined the globe to mark the 16 days of activism against women and girls in a ceremony yesterday.
The ceremony gathered all stakeholders in Auki as they come together to be a part of this occasion.
Coordinator of Save Family under Oxfam Office in Auki, Mr Matthew Manega said the 16 days of activism is a global campaign that looks at ending violence against women and girls.
He said the theme for this year’s 16 days activism is “herem vois blo mi and ending violence against women and girls.”
Manega acknowledged DFAT for sourcing the project through Save the Children under the coordination of Oxfam Solomon Islands that support the programme.
Paramount Chief and Member of Parliament for Ngella Constituency Hon Bartholomew Parapolo during meeting with Ghaeta District Constituents in his last Tenth
Parliament Constituency Tour at Dende Village, South Ngella, on Sunday.
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
Paramount Chief and Member of Parliament for Ngella Constituency Hon Bartholomew Parapolo during meeting with Ghaeta District Constituents in his last Tenth Parliament Constituency Tour at Dende Village, South Ngella, on Sunday.
PARAMOUNT Chief and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ngella Constituency Hon Bartholomew Parapolo has completed his last Constituency Tour at Ghaeta District, Dende Village, South-East Ngella.
During his tour, he witnessed the commissioning of 12 Chiefs from Ghaeta’s Executive of ‘Valevaukolu’ being dissolved in Ngella around three years ago.
With parliament ready to dissolve, Parapolo reminded Ghaeta District Constituents and the newly commissioned Chiefs that the local custom, church and government must strongly work together in order to see positive development outcomes that would prosper the Constituency too.
He told Constituents, government is only waiting to step in to assist, but only if Ngella people allow their land for development.
This is in terms of developing proper water sanitation. A big problem in Ngella communities as well.
When focusing on other needed developments for the Constituency, the MP mentioned roads, airstrip and tourism. Ngella has a huge potential to benefit from tourism.
“The government has no power over the lands in Ngella Constituency which is why the purpose to commission our Chiefs is to assist our development vision for the Constituency in arranging and making it possible through landowners to allow their customary lands to be developed,” said Hon Parapolo.
“Developments to take place are not for the government but for you the people. If you do not take seriousness of such then no proper developments will take place for the Constituency.”
Having clarified to the people of Ghaeta District over much debated issues concerning the Constituency such as Ngella’s famous purchased ‘Vakamotor’ and also explaining that there is no such thing as negative rumours spreading that he is about to get arrested, people seemed satisfied over their MP’s clear clarifications.
From observation during questionnaire time, the majority only thanked the Minister of Culture and Tourism for his effort during this current Parliament term despite hiccups faced in the Constituency.
Ward Six Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Hon Mathew Taravu and Chiefs of Ghaeta District warmly welcomed the MP for Ngella Constituency onto their shores and thanked him for his initiatives towards their communities during time in parliament. They assured him of working together to move Ngella forward in terms of development though it will be a very tough mission for them.
Parapolo’s next last Constituency Tour will be in Ward Seven, Belagha District.
Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) Mr James Bosamata .
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
THE Solomon Islands Government Scholarship result is expected to be published early next month, December.
Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development Mr James Bosamata said scholarship results are expected to be released in December or January 2019.
He said MEHRD is in stage three of finalizing the selection process under the higher achievers, skills training, constituencies’ sponsorship and course sharing sponsorship.
Bosamata said their target to publish the 2019 entry depends very much on the availability of the results yet to be collected.
However, Bosamata said, they have already completed stage one and two and began on stage three and stage four soon.
“It is likely that the skills training will be published first, and then followed by in services include public and private sectors and pre-services,” Bosamata said.
He said MEHRD has to wait for form seven results of USP students first to determine scholarships.
With that Bosamata said for higher achievers category, most possible time frame for publish is early January 2019. Other sectors are in December.
Premier Peter Ramohia speaking during the official opening of the 16 days activism in Auki on Monday.
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
AUKI
Premier Peter Ramohia speaking during the official opening of the 16 days activism in Auki on Monday.
PREMIER of Malaita province urges the people in Malaita to continue to talk about violence against women and girls.
Hon Peter Ramohia said having the passion to talk about this issue will become a part of an individual’s life, thus they can continue to speak about it within their own families and communities.
Speaking during the official opening of the16 days’ activism of violence against women and girls in Auki yesterday, Ramohia said the theme, “Iu herem vois blo me: end violence against women and girls” has committed itself to spread awareness of this issue.
Ramohia said this shows just how important the issue is.
“My good people of Malaita, we are part of the globe in this campaign and I want us to continue talking about violence against women. We must talk about it in our family, to our children, in our churches, work places and everywhere we live. We must not tire to talk about it and we must not also tire to hear about it, we must not stop talking about it until people know about it,” Premier Ramohia said.
He said ending violence against women, girls and children are everyone’s responsibility and together everyone must join effort to address this issue.
He said people must be kept reminded on the issue to ensure individuals and stakeholder continue to work on this important issue.
The Premier said, Malaita provincial government see the issue of gender as very important. He said they have been trying their best to support the work of the national government in the province.
He said early this year they launched the first ever policy for women in the province.
He said this is an ongoing commitment by his government on women and gender.
Ramohia said although the policy does not necessary target very issue of gender based violence, it is looking at other areas where women need to be supported and work together in this kind of campaign.
He said women must be supported and empowered so that they become important people in decision making in communities, right up to the political level.
Prime Minister Hon. Rick Houenipwela with participants of the NCD Policy Roadmap Consultative Roundtable
meeting.
BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
70 PERCENT of all deaths in the country are due to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Prime Minister Rick Hou says deaths due to heart diseases, diabetes, stroke, chronic respiratory disease and cancer.
Speaking at a high-level roundtable meeting on a NCD policy roadmap yesterday, PM Hou said it is no doubt NCDs poses the single biggest threat to the future development aspirations of the people and the country.
“Many of our people that do not die from acute NCDs causes suffer irreparable damage that incapacitates them from work for the rest of their lives. This simply means that NCDs does not only kill; it also causes untold suffering to those affected, preventing them from ever working again. And worse still it causes family members who work to leave their jobs to care for their loved ones”.
Hou said that NCDs not only rob the country of its intellectual capacity (due to NCD mortality) but it also undermines the quality of performance of the country’s economic engine. This is through declining labour force performance resulting from NCD-related disabilities.
PM Hou said NCDs also costs the government a lot of money.
“If you visit the NRH, the majority of beds in the hospital are occupied by NCDs patients. As already noted, NCDs result in higher unemployment rates, as relatives leave work to care for their loved ones. In some instances, children are leaving school early to care for their parents who suffer from NCDs”.
Hou said this is becoming a serious issue as NCDs is said to be the source of poverty increase in Solomon Islands.
He also said the current NCD epidemic has the potential to wipe out the cream of the working population even before the impact of issues that currently dominate global, regional and national headlines – such as climate change – become significant threats to lives.
PM Hou said it is very important to note that NCDs is a silent killer.
In Solomon Islands, 60 out of a hundred Solomon Islanders are overweight or obese, while 56 percent of Solomon Island men smoke cigarettes, with an increase number of women that also smokes.
88 out of a hundred Solomon Islanders do not have a proper diet or do not have proper meals.
“We have a very high level of physical inactivity and live on unhealthy fast foods and refined foods leading to obesity”, PM Hou said.
Prime Minister Hon. Rick Houenipwela with participants of the NCD Policy Roadmap Consultative Roundtable meeting.
A National Water and Climate Change Forum will be held tomorrow in Honiara. This Forum is focusing on resilience of water for domestic uses in the face of climate change. Its objective is to empower local and sector level water and climate change champions, through knowledge exchange, to boost the scale of climate action in sectors and communities.
The Forum’s target audience are champions in the area of climate resilient water, at all levels, including community and township representatives, Provincial Governments, civil society, private sector, international organizations, development partners and National Government.
To achieve the objective, the Forum will provide space for champions, including people on the frontline experiencing climate change impacts, practitioners and decision makers from government and non-government, to share and exchange experiences, best practices, challenges and lessons learnt in how to adapt to climate change for resilience in water for domestic uses.
The impacts of climate change are often felt first through water. By 2050, globally, it is projected that at least one in four people will be affected by recurring water shortages (United Nations).
For the Solomon Islands, this is already a reality for much of the population and Water and sanitation are common development challenges and priorities in Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016-2035 states that “during the provincial consultation process, access to water supply and improved sanitation was highlighted as the highest priority need, particularly in rural areas.”
In the Forum, National Government will share latest trends in water and climate change as they relate to Solomon Islands, provide an overview of the relevant legislative and policy environments and introduce projects and initiatives of relevance.
There will be a focus on both the impacts of climate change on domestic water to demonstrate the need and urgency to adapt for resilience and also on the practicalities of adaptation, including showcasing some innovative technologies and approaches. Multiple organizations (government and non-government) will showcase their experiences, best practices, challenges and lessons learnt.
National Government will wrap up the Forum by discussing next steps for accelerating scaling up of adaptation in the water sector and set out a roadmap for any associated policy and/or sectoral coordination actions. Anticipated outcomes of the Forum are the launch of a National Water and Sanitation Policy, foster increased understanding of practical actions as well as a call to action joint statement for Climate Change Adaptation Programming in the Water Sector as well as Roadmap for establishing a Technical Working Group on Water/WASH and Climate Change.
Group photo of participating women ,men,girls and boys on yesterday’s event.
BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO
Hon Lanelle Tanangada delivering her remarks
16 Days of Activism is a positive approach of awareness against violence. Minister for Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) says violence against women and girls is the root cause for gender inequality.
Mrs. Lanelle Tanangada says hence, the fight to eliminate violence against Women and Girls is a must for Solomon Islands Government, Non-governmental Organizations (NGO), Civil Society Organization (CSO), Faith Based Organization, Communities and individuals.
Tanangada said it is dis-heartening to hear about the increased number of rape cases being reported in media.
However celebrating this event annually by all partners across the nation indicates that perpetrators and rapers across the country have been reported.
She said there is lack of respect for women and children that leads to violence against them, which is a sin, evil and a crime which all of needs to put an end to.
“Let’s be reminded that women are fearfully and wonderfully made, so why are we suffering? Women shouldn’t be suffering Women should be safe. Women should be equal”, Tanangada says.
“And also man needs women and women need man, we cannot live without each other we need each other to complete Gods equation,” said Tanangada.
She said the road ahead is not easy but with collaborative support from all partners, churches, communities’ families and individuals in teaching, this should reminde others and ourselves that violence against women and girls is a crime and unacceptable.
“Also know that women, men, boys and girls are of equal value created in the image of God. We can help to eliminate violence against women and girls”, Tanangada says.
Champion female advocators against Gender Based ViolenceParticipating young people on yesterday’s float parade.Hon Lanelle Tanangada with some of the many young female advocators who stand to eliminate gender based violenceGroup photo of participating women ,men,girls and boys on yesterday’s event.Womens Right Action Movement (WRAM) representativesGroup photo of participating women ,men,girls and boys on yesterday’s event.
COCOA farmers now have access to discounted cocoa tools and UV plastic for solar dryers, thanks to a new agreement between Island Enterprises Ltd and the Australian Government initiative Strongim Bisnis.
Island Enterprises CEO Phil Bradford said, “A whole chain of events would occur if farmers had access to subsidised equipment, including increased production and an improved economy.”
Cocoa farmers have two options to increase their incomes from cocoa sales: increase the quantity of cocoa produced or increase quality and attract higher prices. To benefit from prices as high as $30 per kilogram farmers need to follow good agricultural practices regarding plantation management, fermentation and drying.
Farmers also need to identify buyers who are willing to pay higher prices for ‘boutique’ cocoa. To produce boutique-grade cocoa, farmers need to use the right tools and this includes the use of solar dryers. Those using kukum (wood-fired/hot air) dryers produce cocoa beans with a smoke taint that is considered lower quality in the international market. They can only increase their income by increasing production volumes. The smoke-tainted, bulk-market quality only attains prices of around $10 per kilogram.
Many cocoa plots in Solomon Islands have aging trees with declining yields. According to a 2014 analysis on the cocoa value chain in Solomon Islands, the average cocoa yields are low at 250-340 kilograms per hectare compared with the Melanesian average of 400 kilograms per hectare. Main cocoa producing countries have yields of up to 550 kilograms per hectare.
Through Strongim Bisnis’s agreement with Island Enterprises, farmers throughout the country will have access to cocoa tools at discounted prices to help increase cocoa tree yields. Island Enterprises has begun importing UV plastics for farmers interested in investing in solar drying technology. An introductory discount on selected tools and UV plastics will be available for the next few months.
Australian High Commission’s Andrew Schloeffel said that partnerships with the business community are important to broader economic growth. Strong incentives for farmers, such as affordable tools and equipment, aim to encourage sustainability and enhance the commercial model for the cocoa sector.
Island Enterprises are promoting and selling products at their Honiara location, via provincial agents, and through a traveling roadshow starting in Lata, Temotu province this week and in Auki in early 2019. Tools available include: pruning saws, cocoa harvesting knives, wheel barrows, steel loppers, pressure sprayers, shade clothes and planting bags.
THE RV Northern Endeavour returned to Honiara today, marking the completion of its trip to Auki, Noro and Taro.
The vessel has been in Solomon waters for close to a month, working in collaboration with a team of on shore experts to map the route for the Coral Sea Cable System and the Solomon Islands Domestic Network.
On return to Honiara, The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Treasury, Manasseh Sogavare, Leader of the Independents, Dr Derek Sikua, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma, and the Governor of the Central Bank of the Solomon Islands, Denton Rarawa together with staff from the Australian High Commission and Solomon Submarine Cable toured the RV Northern Endeavour to learn more about the precise route the undersea cable will take.
Preliminary findings from the survey team indicate that the Coral Sea Cable, linking Sydney to Honiara will be approximately 3,759 kms long.
The Solomon Islands Domestic Network will traverse approximately 722 kms across the Solomon Islands seafloor, facilitating the delivery of high speed, reliable internet to Malaita, Western and Choiseul provinces.
Completion of the marine survey means the project can now move to the next phase. Alcatel Submarine Networks will manufacture the cable in France in accordance with the specifications from the survey.
The Governments of Solomon Islands and Australia are working in partnership to deliver this transformative, nation-building project.
Construction commenced in July 2018 and the cables should be ready for service by the end of 2019. To find out more about the project, please visit www.coralseacablesystem.com.au
(TOP & BELOW) Senior delegation touring the RV Northern Endeavour
Aerial View of the Rehabilitated Suavanao Airfield.
SUAVANAO Airfield in Isabel Province was re-opened last Saturday following the successful rehabilitation of the airport’s deteriorating runway which has forced the Government to close it in September this year.
Representatives of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA), the Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands (CAASI) and Solomon Airlines conducted a test flight with a Twin Otter aircraft on 24th November 2018 to ascertain the readiness of the airport to accommodate flights.
While minor tidy-up work was noted, the pavement rehabilitation was a success and the MCA with CAASI endorsement reopened the airport and Solomon Airlines will re-commence commercial services to Suavanao Airport when they are ready.
Most provincial airports in Solomon Islands have not been maintained for more than 20 years and the current MCA management is addressing that by implementing a Provincial Airport Rehabilitation Programme to improve airport runway surfaces.
The action plan will see the improvement to runway surfaces and lengthening selected airports in the country to accommodate DASH8 services. To date, the MCA has rehabilitated runway surfaces to Seghe, Auki, Parasi, and Suavanao and had recently awarded contracts to upgrade Kirakira with Lata and Tingoa airports and others to follow in 2019.
Aerial View of the Rehabilitated Suavanao Airfield.
The MCA and the New Zealand Government are also implementing the Provincial Airport Upgrade Programme and currently completed designs to 4 provincial airports with the possibility of starting with 2 airports in 2019. The scope will involve drainage, pavement improvement and sealing the landing strip.
Due to the very high cost of mobilizing contractors to carry out rehabilitation and limited financial resources available to MCA, the management team explored the option of bringing stakeholders together to share the cost involved.
For Suavanao Airport, a simple Private Public Partnership (PPP) arrangement was agreed on by the National Government through the MCA, the Isabel Provincial Government, and the Private sector through the Mas Pacific International Ltd and a Tourism operator through the Papatura Island Retreat was successful with the completion of the runway rehabilitation works.
The MCA brought parties together in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to share the costs of rehabilitation and which was crucial because without the stakeholders, MCA will not be able to complete the project on time and affecting the travelling public, tourism and the stakeholders themselves.
Under the PPP arrangement, the National Government through the MCA provided overall supervision works and provided compaction equipment along with an expert operator and casual workers. The Isabel Provincial Government provided gravel for all civil works free of charge. The Mas Pacific International Ltd that operates a logging camp next to the airport provided all the equipment for the civil works plus operators free of charge while the Papatura Island Retreat provided all the logistics, transport and supervision on behalf of MCA on site.
Group photo the inspection team last Saturday at Suavanao Airfield.
Permanent Secretary of the MCA, Mr Moses Virivolomo who also took part in the test flight was happy to see the airport re-opened for the travelling public and overseas visitors to return to Papatura Island Retreat and beyond.
Mr Virivolomo thanked all the parties to the MOA for the partnership and this PPP arrangement will be explored for other airports in line for rehabilitation in the near future.
For the success of the PPP in Suavanao airport, PS Virivolomo thanked his hard working Airport Management team at MCA lead by Chief Operating Officer Mr Sylvester Kenatsi, the Premier of Isabel Province Hon James Habu for assisting the MCA, the Senior Management team for Mas Pacific International Ltd for their great contribution as part of their community service obligations in the province and Papatura Island Retreat owner Mr Peter Blanche for the cooperation in getting the job done on site.
This simple PPP arrangement is first of its kind in the Aviation Sector and MCA believes these simple partnerships should be explored by other sectors as an alternative method to implementing government programs in remote areas of the country where traditional methods of contracting may prove difficult or not cost effective.
