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Rafa maintains hot streak

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Solomon Islands striker Raphael Le’ai celebrates his goal in the 3-1 semifinal victory while Fijian players dejected. Photo by Benz Newman

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Raphael Le’ai provided two assists and scored one goal in the semifinal. Photo by Benz Newman

YOUNG striking sensation Raphael Le’ai ‘Rafa’ continues to maintain a perfect goal scoring streak where he added another one onto his tally in the 3-1 victory over Fiji in the OFC Under-16 Championship semi-final yesterday morning at Lawson Tama Stadium.

Le’ai bagged the third goal yesterday to give the national representatives a comfortable lead in the final few minutes before fulltime in a match where its favourable outcome had earned a maiden qualification for Solomon Islands into next year’s FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Peru.

His latest addition extended his number of goals in the competition so far to eight.

The West Kwaio lad’s consistent goal scoring form started in their tournament opener against PNG where he registered four goals to his name in the ensuing 5-0 rout.

In the second match, he added another two more goals in the 5-0 thrashing of New Zealand and scored one goal in the team’s final pool play against Vanuatu in yet another exceptional 5-0 result.

“I’m pleased with the goal and this victory means a lot.

“We are overwhelmed with the world cup qualification and I’m proud to keep scoring. I will give all praise and glory to God for the goals I have scored so far in this competition.

“The whole country is united with the result at the moment and so as the team. We have created a new history for the country and I’m very proud.”

Charles Mani scored the first two goals for Solomon Islands in the first half to give the homeside a 2-1 lead at the break.

Le’ai had to work very hard in the second spell to ensure that he had his name on the score sheet as well.

“We’re leading 2-1 but I’m not satisfied. I want to add in some more goals and I worked very hard for it. I felt more relieved when I finally score toward the end of the game.

“I’m infront with eight goals and I’m confident and look forward for the golden boot award,” the key forward Le’ai, said.

Solomon Islands striker Raphael Le’ai celebrates his goal in the 3-1 semifinal victory while Fijian players dejected. Photo by Benz Newman

Botanical garden management committee discusses new ToR

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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SPREP Country Manager Mr Fred Siho Patison

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SPREP Country Manager Mr Fred Siho Patison

THE Honiara National Botanical Garden has established a new management committee yesterday with passing of Terms of References to work under.

According to SPREP, the formation of the new committee is to oversee, provide technical advice and coordinate all activities and projects amongst national stakeholders for the botanical gardens.

Additionally, they will lead the formulation of the Botanical gardens management and business plan and its subsequent implementation.

Outlining the responsibilities under the ToR, SPREP Country Manager Mr Fred Siho Patison said the new committee is responsible for the following ballpoint;

  • To oversee all project activities being undertaken within the Botanical gardens to ensure that they are consistent with goals and objectives of the botanical gardens.
  • To provide advice and inputs into daily management of the gardens led by the Ministry of Forest and Research
  • To receive regular updates on the protection and conservation status of gardens from time to time from Ministry of Forests, HCC and projects supporting the botanical gardens.
  • To secure resources where possible for the botanicals management and protection.
  • To overseer the formulation of the Botanical gardens management and business plan being formulated under the SPREP1 PEBACC2 project or any other related project.
  • Make decision concerning the property use and management of the gardens in the interest of Honiara public and broader community.
  • Ensure that the environmental integrity of gardens is not compromised by Encroachments and illegal activities.
  • To ensure that an information centre for gardens is well maintained and support environment education in the interest of the community and broader public.
  • Be the conduit for discussions on issues facing the gardens regarding its management and maintaining its environmental integrity.
  • Make decision on matters of interest concerning the botanical gardens in consultation with the Ministry of Forests that manages the gardens and HCC.
  • Ensure that the management and business plan is implemented in accordance with its goals and objectives.
  • Secure partnership with national, regional and international bodies and entities that wish to support the development of the botanical gardens.
  • Review, approve and endorse projects and other development that occur within the boundaries of the botanical gardens.
  • Provide support towards the formal protection of the Botanical gardens as a protected area (PA).
  • Act as the management committee for the site once established as a formal PA.
  • Provide advice and support to HCC and the Ministry of Forests on matters concerning the botanical gardens management and operations.
  • To oversee all matters related to management of the botanical gardens.

New Botanical management committee formed

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Attendance of the meeting held at the HCC Chamber on Wednesday.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Attendance of the meeting held at the HCC Chamber on Wednesday.

A Botanical Garden Management Committee has been established in a meeting on Wednesday at HCC to oversee and revitalise the Honiara Botanical Garden.

Over the years, the Honiara’s National Botanical garden has been destructed by social issues and its integrity and purposes was lost when it comes to recreational, research and international visitors.

Currently, Botanical garden is known as place housing drugs and substance abuse users, thief, prostitute and illegal settlers with semi-permanent building, according to the assessment HCC gathered lately.

Several demolitions were conducted by the Honiara City Council recently but as soon as authorities left, people build houses after which impedes lots of concern towards authorities for consideration.

However, the fight is not over, yesterday SPREP in partnership with HCC and Ministry of Forestry and Research have formed a Botanical Garden Management Committee.

The gathering was the first ever meeting with setting up of new committee after it was died out in 1970s.

Following that, the meeting also set discussion around two Terms of References before kick-starting the overseeing body.

HCC Clerk Mr Charles Kelly as co-chair said Botanical garden is like a forest in the city, and it’s the only place which families, friends and International visitors can enjoy the environment but it’s gone.

With the idea to revive botanical, Mr Kelly welcome such initiative saying it might take a lot of logistics but Council can’t do it but with team work it will open for effective development.

SPREP Country Manager Mr Fred Siho Patison said when they did cost benefit analysis assessment at Botanical garden they realize there are controversial issues but there’s no governance mechanism.

With the governance of the new committee it would be a good starting point where stakeholders can talk to each other and formulate effective strategies to manage the botanical garden, he adds.

Meanwhile, the formulation of Honiara Botanical Garden was in 1960 inspired under four fundamental pillars.

It was aim for establishing scientific/Biological Research, Plant and Biodiversity Conservation, Education and Demonstration and Amenity and Recreation purposes.

Currently, Botanical Garden sits as fifth Division under the Ministry of Forestry and Research and HCC is the rightful owner.

The meeting yesterday was organized by SPREP—Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.

Voter registration progress well in Central Islands

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Registration Process at Gairavu VRC, North West Gela.
Registration Process at Gairavu VRC, North West Gela.

VOTER Registration in the Central Islands province has progressed well at around 70 percent completion after a period of two weeks.

Registration officers were deployed to Gela Islands, Savo and the Russell Islands over the last two weeks prior to the start of the registration process on September 3.

In Gela constituency alone, 18 voter registration centers (VRC) out of the 27 VRCs were completed during the two weeks period. The remaining 9 VRCs are expected to be completed well ahead of the September 27 deadline.

Central Islands Registration Officer, John Rapemora said he was pleased with the progress made so far and his team is expected to complete the process ahead of the deadline.

Mr Rapemora said data collected from the first nine VRCs on Gela has already been sent to the Electoral Commission Head Office in Honiara for compilation last week.

The registration process in the Central Islands province has been progressing smoothly without any disturbances.

Rapemora said they are expecting an increase of around 10 percent in most VRCs compared to the 2014 voter registration figures.

This is due to an expected increase in the number of eligible voters who were aged 18 years and over after the last registration process prior to the 2014 National General Election.

With regards to cross constituency registration, data collected so far has indicated a very small number of people.

This was attributed mostly to returning residents to their villages who were either absent during the last registration or who have registered in other constituencies during the same period.

Mr Rapemora said people who have concerns with cross constituency registration will have the opportunity to object any persons during the objection and omission period when the updated provisional voter list is published.

Across the country, more than 50,000 new voters are expected to be added to the 286,000 strong roll which was last updated in 2014.

–GCU

Solomon Islands women to attend ACWW conference next year

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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President of Pacific Regional Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) organization, Ms Gail Commens.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

President of Pacific Regional Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) organization, Ms Gail Commens.

ACCORDING to President of Pacific Regional Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) organization, Ms Gail Commens, two Solomon Islands women will participate in the World conference that will take place next year in Australia.

She revealed this when speaking to five groups of women’s saving clubs at Tasimboko, Northeast Guadalcanal on Sept 18th.

Commens explained that Australia and New Zealand are funding women from the islands to attend the conference.

She said this will allow women from Solomon Islands to hear about what projects women from other countries are working on, what they do and their needs.

“That’s where you’ll see women from other countries around the world and hear about their projects, what they do and their needs”, said Commens.

She added that while only two women from Solomon Islands will attend the event she hopes more women will be able to attend the Pacific Area conference at Papua New Guinea in 2020.

“I am hoping maybe a whole lot more of you will make it to that conference and that will be in Mid-June”, said Commens.

Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) is an organization that connects women in rural and non-rural areas and their communities through a network of member societies and individual members.

The organization strives to help women and children in communities live in a better place.

Pest worries Numbu women

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

A new disease has found threatening all Margarine trees in Numbu community, North East Guadalcanal, it is reported.

Following this discovered threat women of Numbu community has called on the government and responsible authorities to address this matter as it (margarine trees) are there only source of income for living.

Addressing the matter President of Numbu women’s club Prudence Maneka said currently all the margarine trees and the new seedlings are been severely threatened by a newly disease which was discovered early this year.

“Currently all our margarine trees are been threatened by a disease which we do not have any immediate remedy for it. It will soon destroy all our trees including the new seedlings that are ready for planting.

“With that I on behalf of the Numbu community called on the national and provincial government and responsible authorities to help us address this matter as Margarine is the only source of income we have left,” said Maneka president of Numbu women savings club.

President Maneka said the smaller trees have been chewed by the African snail which leaves no hope for them.

She said in spite of all the challenges faced by Numbu famers, there are other alternatives which they have turned to for living.

Maneka said this includes cakes and cooked food marketing and selling of crafts.

It is understood that few other responsible authorities have stepped in to address the matter but it still not addressed. For now the threat from this pest is increasing rapidly.

Numbu women pleased with Mrs Commence visit

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
President for Numbu Women and Girls Saving Club, Mrs Prudence Maneka.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

President for Numbu Women and Girls Saving Club, Mrs Prudence Maneka.

WOMEN of Numbu community savings club has pleased with Mrs Gale Commence Women of the World’s, Pacific regional president visit to Numbu community on Wednesday.

Speaking to the visiting event President of Numbu community women savings club said it is a bonus for them to have Mrs Commence visited Numbu community.

Maneka said Mrs commence presence with them on Wednesday is highly anticipated by all members of the savings club.

“Your visit made this day great indeed which we will shed great impacts on us women in this community. We count it as blessing as it bring together the whole community and be part of today’s’ (yesterdays),” she said.

School of Nursing hopeful for restoration of old SIMTRI building

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Once a research institute for Malaria, now only a desolate building, However once restored should be the hub for nurse’s training.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

Dean in the School of Nursing, Verzilyn Isom who is also Vice Chancellor (ag) and Vice Chancellor Coporate Services (ag).

PLANS are underway for the restoration of the old malaria building at Kukum Campus.

Commonly known as SIMTRI to locals, the building has been left idle for quite some time already.

However since repossessing the area when it became a university, School of Nursing has high hopes to restore it for their training needs.

Speaking to Island Sun, Dean, School of Nursing, Verzilyn Isom says there is already a modern design for the building.

“Suppose the building completes, this will be one of the best in the Pacific with the current design,” she said.

Isom said School of Nursing had been moving at a fast pace except infrastructure development.

She said lack of infrastructure and facilities continue to hinder their progress.

She said it is quite challenging for them to run their classes.

Also Isom said that despite having a design for the restoration of the former SIMTRI building, they still lack the finances to carry out construction work.

She said all their development projects had been submitted to the government but there are also other ongoing projects that the local university has that it is not yet possible for them to seek support from the government.

“With any new development for next year, it will not be possible. We have sat and discussed the possible avenues where we can seek funds from donors to assist us restore the old building.”

Isom said what the School of Nursing is proposing in the new building are tutorial rooms, practical laboratory, nutrition kitchen, occupational therapy for disabled people, clinical laboratory amongst other needs.

She said the building is quite complex but in the long run, will assist future nurses in their training. She said the building itself will expect to cost more than SBD60 million.

“The design itself costs us three to four million, but in the long run, this should be a facility which the university will benefit from.

“Also intakes for nursing classes will not be from Solomon Islands only but also from other regional countries,” Isom said.

She said the issue of limited resources has dissuaded the university from getting intakes from regional countries.

Once a research institute for Malaria, now only a desolate building, However once restored should be the hub for nurse’s training.

Pro-active steps for better leadership in health

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Dr Jack Maebuta

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

New Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic, Dr Jack Maebuta

A new programme to address health and management issues in the health sector was launched early this week.

The programme which is a post graduate certificate in leadership and management is the latest boost for healthcare services in the country.

A statement from World Health Organisation (WHO) says leadership in the health sector is set for a boost with 16 managers undertaking a new postgraduate certificate at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) School of Nursing.

Speaking at the launch programme, Pro Vice-Chancellor, SINU, Dr Jack Maebuta says a lot of time issues and complaints are raised in the media about the health sector.

He says what the University is trying to concentrate are other areas like leadership and management which are also important in the workplace.

He said this course will help improve leadership and management practices in the country, more so for this course in the health sector.

“The other strength of it is that, will also bring confidents as well as it will bring the capacity of our school leadership in terms of nursing and teaching leadership.”

At the same time, Under Secretary Health Care in the MHMS, Dr Gregory Jilini told Island Sun that this initiative also addresses the Government’s National Development Strategy in the health sector.

He says while the MHMS has no direct involvement with the Parliament Special Select Committee currently carrying out consultations into Health Care Services in the country, the MHMS is happy to be proactive in its work to ensure people in the rural areas receive good health care services.

Jilini says leadership and management is a big topic now and public often complain about management not doing their job when services provided are poorly received.

“In the health sector it is mainly clinical job but we feel that management and leadership are an important part of their job as well.

“What we are doing is providing managers and those in leadership positions to have a formal training so that they can be able to carry out their work better.”

Jilini said this course will enhance the participants’ skills which on the outset will also benefit those that they come into contact with at the workplace.

The health sector currently has around 3000 staff and is the second biggest ministry in the country.

The programme is supported by the Korean International Cooperation Agency, the Korean Government and the World Health Organisation.

It is delivered by Australian organisation Human Resources for Development Alliance, in partnership with the Solomon Islands National University.

Numbu women commended for efforts in giving towards savings club

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

PRESIDENT of Numbu women savings club Prudence Maneka in North East Guadalcanal has highly commended all women and girls efforts towards their savings club.

“I highly commend all women and girls of this community for your efforts in giving contributions every week as you are not for somebody else but for yourself.

“You have set yourself in a position that puts you as an engineers and driving force steers a controls the whole family.

“Without this savings club that have erected in the community there will be struggles that you will and can encounter over finance with your family.”

Maneka said yet, they (women and girls) have already had a safe place where they can store money rather than wasting on unnecessary spending’s.

Meanwhile they have saved in their savings club a total of $130,122.19 with the total member of 101.

Maneka has expressed these sentiments yesterday during a visit made by Gale Commence President of the Associated Country Women of the World in the South Pacific region to Numbu women’s savings club.

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