By Alfred Sasako

IT is not always the case that hospitals turn to semi commercial organisations for help. But today times are hard – harder for some than others – including government institutions.

And while some remain quiet, others have reached out and are heard. One such institution is Atoifi Adventist Hospital in East Kwaio on Malaita.

This week the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) came its aid, providing $26,860 worth of urgently-needed drugs for the hospital.

The first batch of largely tablets, weighing 13.45kg left Honiara on a Solomon Airlines midday flight yesterday freight free. The second batch of injectable is on order from overseas and is expected to arrive in Honiara next weekend.

SIPA’s Chief Executive Officer, Eranda Kotelawala, who approved the support to the Hospital, was unable to handover the donation yesterday. Mr Kotelawala was engaged with a visiting Asian Development Bank (ADB) team.

His Commercial Manager, Glyn Joshua, stepped in to present the carton of drugs to Mr Lester Asugeni, who received it on behalf of Atoifi Adventist Hospital. Mr Asugeni is in charge of the Pacific Adventist University (PAU) which has now set up a base at the Hospital.

Mr Joshua’s father had a long association with the Hospital and the people of East Kwaio. He said SIPA is always willing to assist causes such as the shortage of drugs which Atoifi Adventist faced in recent months.

“It is my hope this support from SIPA will go a long way in saving lives, not only of the people of East Kwaio but also those who come to seek medical help from the hospital.

“We are happy to assist. This is a worthy cause and SIPA is more than pleased to be associated with it,” he said.

Mr Asugeni who once worked at the Atoifi Adventist Hospital before he joined PAU in Papua New Guinea where he graduated with a Master’s degree said SIPA’s assistance is deeply appreciated.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

A resettlement policy is the way to go when dealing with relocation of people. This sentiment was shared by Dr Tammy Tabe, a third generation of the Gilbertese people in Wagina, Choiseul province.

During the recent draft resettlement policy workshop held by Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey, Ms Tabe was one of the speakers and academics that contributed to the development of a national policy.

Tabe says as a descendant of migrants, she knows and understands the challenges her people are faced with. She said this national policy will safeguard the future generation.

In her presentation, Tabe says resettlement issues are both man made and of natural causes.

She made reference to the people of Gilbert Islands as a case study for the resettlement policy. She said migration can also happen domestically and government need to prepare itself.

She said growing up she had heard stories from her grandparents about their migration and what it meant to them.

She said imagine leaving the place you know all your life to go to somewhere unknown and unheard of. That’s what her family went through when they came to the Solomon Islands.

‘Some went to Gizo and our family came to Wagina,” she said.

She said, based on the experiences her people had gone through, a national policy for resettlement is a must.

Solomon Islanders living in low lying atolls are at risk of sea level rise and losing their home because of climate change, thus a national policy must safeguard them if/when they have to leave their home island to relocate elsewhere.

“Land is always an issue here in Solomon Islands and this National Policy must consider the ownership of land and how government can go about acquiring land for relocation purposes,” Tabe said.

The Gilbertese re-settlement scheme was undertaken by the British Government in the 1950s.

This was made possible, because at that time, the British Solomon Islands Protectorate and the Gilbert islands were administered by Britain’s Western Pacific High Commission.

Due to poor soils and low rainfall that had caused famines, the British Government through the Western Pacific High Commission decided to relocate the people of Gilbert Islands to the Solomon Islands.

“The only problem for us then was we didn’t think much about the ownership of the place in which we were relocated to.

“We heard that our grandparents were shown the place which we now call home as ours and were led to believe that we own the land.

“However, the ownership of the land is in question and we are in doubt of the land ownership because there was nothing in the records to show that we own the land,” Tabe said.

She said Solomon Islands must learn from the Gilbert Islands case and come up with a proper resettlement policy.

Tabe is a Lecturer at the University of the South Pacific (USP), Laucala Campus.

Previously while studying at the USP she had decided to explore the relocation history of her people where she provided a comprehensive account and analysis of this forced relocation.

She had hoped her research will contribute significantly towards policy-making and governing for Pacific Island states that are being affected by climate change and whose people may become subject to future relocation.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

WORK on the undersea cable is progressing well. Currently a marine survey is being done by the EGS group of Companies to map out the precise route for the undersea cable from Australia to Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Solomon Islands.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Prime Minister Rick Hou says this undertaking is a milestone achievement for the three-party agreement.

Hou said his government is optimistic the project will meet its deadline and is thankful to the Australian Government for the support.

“I have assurance from Australia’s new Prime Minister as well of this project,” Hou said.

At the same time, Australian High Commissioner, HE Roderick Brazier says the strong support by Australia for this project is a reflection of Australia’s commitment to the Pacific.

“This project has the potential to be truly transformative for Solomon Islands. It will deliver, faster and more reliable internet,” Brazier said.

He said the project is expected to complete by the end of 2019 and will have the capacity to provide internet service that is 30,000 times greater than to what it is now.

He said this will foster innovation as well as enable communities and businesses to grow.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Solomon Islands Submarine Cable Company, Keir Preedy says SISCC is in the process of signing Memorandum of Agreements with seafront owners for the landing points of the cables.

Preedy says mostly this will be business agreements with the owners. SISCC will build the necessary civil infrastructure and put necessary equipment in place to receive the cable and distribute it to internet retailers.

“We will sell to any licensed operator in Solomon Islands,” Preedy said.

The current marine survey is expected to take place till November this year (2018).

The Coral Sea Cable System is a 4,700km long fibre optic submarine cable system linking Sydney, Australia, to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and Honiara, Solomon Islands. The project also includes a 730km submarine cable system connecting Honiara to Auki (Malaita Island), Noro (New Georgia Island) and Taro Island.

Vocus is the telecommunication company that will manage the project.

Following the marine survey, manufacturing of the cable will take place, as well as manufacturing of the equipment before other necessary work is being carried out. The time frame for the project is till November 2019. The cable system will be supplied and installed by Alcatel Submarine Networks.

EGS group of Companies tasked to carry out the marine survey is an independent international group of marine survey companies. They have offices in Asia, Australia, Americas and the United Kingdom.