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CAN DO focusses on humanitarian activities

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ELLISON VAHI

THE Church Agencies Network Disaster Operations (CAN DO) is focusing on implementing activities in addressing the humanitarian sector towards any future Natural Disaster occurrences.

This was confirmed during a workshop at the SSEC conference room, when the Natural Disaster management officials made available the workshop for all the church reps last week.

CAN DO is focussing on implementing the activities that fall within the four objectives: to Improved Church coordination in disaster response, Develop a Pacific theology of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) – this will be developed as a regional activity and the resources will be used by Churches throughout the Pacific, Train and mobilise Church volunteers in disaster risk management activities as well Building a Strategic Asset Management system for Church facilities for DRM.

CAN DO consortium was formed in 2016 in the interests of collaboration and coordination in the humanitarian sector and is in a focus to enhance community resilience to disaster and conflict.

The consortium consists of the following members: Act for Peace; The Adventist Development and Relief Agency Australia (ADRA); The Anglican Board of Mission (ABM); Anglican Overseas Aid (AOA); Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS); Transform Aid International (TAI); Uniting World (UW) and Caritas Australia (CA).

In addition to building emergency response capacity, the consortium also seeks to work with Partners to increase capacity in disaster risk reduction and management with countries in the Pacific such as PNG, Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.

Over the next four and half years CAN DO with churches in the Solomon Islands including the Roman Catholic/CARITAS, Anglican Church of Melanesia ( ACoM ), SDA/ ADRA, United Church of Solomon Islands(USI), South Sea Evangelism Church(SSEC) and Solomon Islands Christian Association(SICA) as the churches governing body in the country.

Support to aid 13-yr-old boy suffering from medical condition

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, it was reported in the local newspapers on Monday that a team of Honiara based photographers spent the weekend taking photos in order to help raise funds needed to send young Andy Tolobau overseas for medical treatment of his reported heart condition.

To all the photographers that took part in the fund raising effort and to all those members of the public who generously contributed to help get Andy away for his urgently needed medical treatment, I offer my grateful thanks for the help given.

I hope 13 year old Andy will soon be able to travel abroad for his treatment and that other generous people will help to make up the shortfall in any funds that might still be needed to facilitate the air journey and the cost of his hospital admission.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

No law in SI to tackle cybercrime

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, cybercrime is a term we don’t hear often, if at all in the Solomon Islands although we see it happening around us.

The reason why we don’t hear about this kind of crime is because there are currently no laws at all in the Solomon Islands to specifically deal with the issue of cybercrime.

I strongly suggest that the legislature make laws to deal with cybercrimes.

But firstly, what is cybercrime?

A cybercrime is a crime committed using the internet, for example, infecting a computer with a virus or stealing somebody’s personal details through the internet.

One of the most common types of cybercrime in the Solomon Islands is online harassment. Examples of online harassment are impersonation or revenge porn.

Impersonation is when somebody, on a social media platform, creates an account and pretends to be another person.

While this may seem harmless, it can cause a lot of conflicts for example, a person using a fake account can use it to spread rumors and lies about the actual person, creating lots of conflict for the real person and can even lead to harm.

The second type of online harassment is revenge porn and to explain it, we shall use a scenario. Imagine a couple who are in a relationship, and at one point, one of the two people, say for example, the girl, sends intimate and nude, semi-nude photos of herself to the boyfriend.

But then it so happens that they break up and out of anger, the boyfriend posts the photos of the girl online.

This type of scenario seems to be a common occurrence in Solomon Islands these days. If you go on the social media platforms, you will most certainly find photos posted by groups and pages made by Solomon Islanders containing such photos.

Although these photos are blurred out most times, we can clearly see what is going on in these photos and the faces of these people are exposed and are not blurred out at all.

Is this not wrong? Shouldn’t there be laws to protect the victims and convict the perpetrators?

I strongly insist that there should be such laws.

The legislature should create laws and protect its citizens against such crimes and actions.

Yours sincerely,

Francis Peter Waleanisia

Domestic violence

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, to be fair, acts of domestic violence can be committed against by both genders.

However, I am only basing this article on violence inflicted against women. In the Solomon Island, it is rare to see on the News headline about domestic violence against Women.

This is Because, women in the Solomon Island who have abusive Partners that assault them never report the matter to the police.

Two factors that contribute to this firstly, is our cultural perspective that Men are the head of the family and it will be a shame to report your own husband to law enforcement bodies and that doing so will result in a lot of negative comments from your community or society.

The second factor, is that many believe that this issue should not be taken to the law enforcement bodies as it is a family matter and should be dealt with privately through compensation or forgiveness between the two parties. However the question that women who are facing such situation should ask themselves is, how long will such treatment continue?

Therefore I urge women to stand and speak out, let our voice be heard to stop such action. Report your abusive partner to the police and show him that you have the strength to fight back.

You are not inferior to him and he is not your superior. Husbands and wives, partners should stand shoulder to shoulder, eye to eye.

Show your partner that you deserved to be treated with respect and equality and that you are no lesser than him.

Yours sincerely

Karen Tagalagi

A welcome visit to people with special needs in Isabel Province

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, I was very pleased to read in Monday’s copy of the Island Sun newspaper that a group of provincial officers in Isabel Province recently visited and spent time with many persons with special needs in the more remote areas of the Maringe and Hograno highlands, including Tirotonna, Bara, Kolkofa, Koge, Nemei Primary School and Peopeko settlements.

Mr Edward Tadarea, the Provincial Youth Coordinator, said the visit to the remote regions was the first of its kind to raise awareness of special needs and the visit was much appreciated by all those they contacted.

The group expressed the view that communities must do more to respect people with special needs and to see they are integrated into the community and given help in all social activities.

The group also called on all stakeholders to do much more for all people with special needs, especially in terms of mobility and their sanitation requirements.

I heartily congratulate the group of provincial officers from Isabel in undertaking the visit, meeting with and raising the important needs of persons in the province with special needs.

It would my wish that the initiative undertaken in Isabel Province be followed-up in all the provinces in the country to ensure no persons with special needs are left unseen and out of mind any longer.

We have a collective responsibility to care for the needs of others and the example set by the Isabel group should be a reminder of our duty of care, compassion, understanding and responsibilities.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

Survey work on undersea cable project soon

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

THE first initial Route Survey for the proposed Coral Sea Cable System in Solomon Islands will be conducted between October 8 and December 4, 2018.

The survey will be carried out within the inshore waters of Honiara, Tulagi, Noro and Taro Township by a contractor, the Earth Sciences and Surveying, EGS, (Asia) Ltd.

The primary objective of the survey is to ascertain a suitable route to determine exact cable length, cable design, deployment and survivability of the cable network.

An offshore survey team comprising experts will conduct the route survey in a survey vessel, RV Northern Endeavour, and operations will be carried on 24-hour basis.

The survey will include offshore geophysical survey, seabed sampling and Mini Cone Penetration Test.

The offshore geophysical survey will be conducted in the waters and core samples and CPT survey would be taken every 10km and 4km respectively throughout.

There are two types of seabed sampling that will be employed in water depths of less than 1,000m, a conventional Shipek type grab sampler and a 3m gravity corer to scoop sediment.

A Mini Cone Penetration Test System (MCPT) will be deployed to acquire in-situ geotechnical data for determining the physical and mechanical properties of the sub-sea strata in water depths less than 1,000m.

However, coral, sea grass and environmentally sensitive areas will not subject to sampling.

Locations are selected in areas where sediment is present with reef habitats and areas of biological significance are avoided.

Daily Report will be distributed to all parties concerned and relevant authorities during the course of the survey.

EGS (Asia) Ltd has been appointed by Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) as the Coral Sea Cable System’s survey contractor, responsible for undertaking the route survey.

Vocus Group and ASN have signed a contract to deploy the Coral Sea Cable System in Solomon Islands.

This new submarine cable will boost international connectivity and provide high speed telecommunications capacity to Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

This project is a key element of Australia’s development assistance programme to the Pacific and will connect Honiara and Port Moresby with Sydney via a state-of-the-art fibre optic cable system over 4,000 km in length.

–GCU

LSL’s MV Nuatabu resumes service

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Mike Puia

AFTER months of dry dock for maintenance at Aviavi slipway, in the Central Islands Province, Lauru Shipping Limited’s cargo boat, M.V Nuatabu, is back on service.

The ship was briefly held up for not settling its maintenance bill. The bill was over $300,000. Lauru Shipping Limited was reported to have only paid less than half which resulted in the slipway management halting the ship.

Attempt to get information from LSL office was unsuccessful as its office landline has been disconnected over non-payment of bill.

But, information reaching this paper confirmed the ship has been freed and has already arrived in Honiara.

It is not clear whether the bill has been cleared or a special arrangement has been made.

MV Nuabatu was bought by the Lauru Shipping Limited from a local ship operator. The ship was called M.V Channella but when LSL took over, it renamed her to MV Nuatabu.

DPP yet to respond on defence proposal

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE defence is still waiting on the prosecution to respond to the proposal given to them in regards to the charge against the accused Maraki Teururu.

Public Prosecutor John Zoze told the court that DPP will be arriving in the country this afternoon and prosecution seeks a shot adjournment to allow the DPP perused the memo that sent to him last week.

This is in relation to the case occurred at Whiteriver where police arrested a man for the charged of attempted murder.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea grants the adjournment to this Thursday to allow the DPP perused the file and also for prosecution to respond on the proposal made.

The defence lawyer representing Mr Maraki after viewing the file against the accused made a proposal to the Prosecution in regards to the charge.

Public Prosecutor John Zoze prosecutes the case in court.

Local university still taking baby steps

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Dr Jack Maebuta

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

New Pro Vice-Chancellor
Academic, Dr Jack Maebuta

SOLOMON Islands National University (SINU) is progressing well.

New Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic, Dr Jack Maebuta says the local university has just started and it has not been easy for them. Despite that, he said the local university is progressing well.

In an interview, Maebuta told Island Sun that Solomon Islanders need to have the vision and learn from past mistakes.

Maebuta said the local university has just started and it is still taking baby steps. He said people should not expect to see results overnight.

He said as Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic his role is to work with the Deans from the different schools to identify programs and courses for the students.

“SINU has a huge potential in terms of the needs out there. But we have do things in our own strength. It is the strength of all of us Solomon Islanders. Sometimes things do not work out because we as Solomon Islanders tend not to trust each other. Because we have this perception that in order for something to work out good, it has to come from outside then we will believe that it will work. Little did we realize that we can go forward by recognizing our own strength, appreciate our own strength, and appreciate who we are as Solomon Islanders and what we can do,” Maebuta said.

Maebuta an academic by profession has just joined SINU but not one new to a university’s function. He was a Senior Fellow in Educational Administration at the University of the South Pacific (USP) as well as had years of experience in academic leadership positions.

With his experience in the education sector, Maebuta says Solomon Islanders must try not to compare the local university to other regional universities. He said USP is turning 50 years this year while the local university is still learning along the way.

“We have to take one step at a time.”

He said with the inclusion of courses like post graduate certificate in leadership and management for health care workers in the School of Nursing, these are milestones and achievements for the local university.

“Recognising our own needs, where we as a local university believe in our self that we can do it, we will be able to do it.”

Maebuta continued to say that in order to progress, the university needs a collective effort from everyone. He said Solomon Islanders should appreciate the efforts and the progressive results that the university continue to deliver each time. He said Solomon Islanders should continue to build each other, instead of breaking each other.

He said in the long run, he hoped to see more students attending the local university instead of going to universities overseas for studies.

“This will help Government save money and the money spent for scholarships overseas can be utilised in development projects to help develop our country.”

The Solomon Islands National University was initiated after parliament passed a bill in 2012 for the establishment of a local university for the country. Before that it was known as the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE).

Police probe machete attack in Central province

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

POLICE at Tulagi in the Central province have arrested and charged a 27-year-old man for alleged assault causing bodily harm following an incident which occurred at Soka Village, Sand-fly on the evening of September 10, 2018.

It is alleged that the suspect and his brothers were consuming alcohol at their home at Vatutaria Village not far from Soka Village when the suspect disappeared.

His brothers thought that he left for Soka Village so they shouted after him to return.

When the other party from Soka Village heard the shout they thought that they shouted at them. The group from Soka Village came and argued with the group from Vaturia Village during which the suspect allegedly used a bush knife to cut a 12-year-old boy who sustained a minor injury to his left upper shoulder.

The matter was reported to police and the suspect was apprehended on September 11, 2018.

The suspect is released on $500 bail to appear at the Tulagi Magistrates Court on October 22, 2018.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Central Province, Superintendent Patricia Leta says, “I appeal to all the good people of Central Province not to take the law into your own hands.

“There are many ways to resolve problems in a more peaceful and meaningful way that will always unite us together. Consult your chiefs or village elders to resolve those issues rather than resorting to violence.”

The maximum penalty if found guilty of the charge of assault causing bodily harm is five years imprisonment.

–POLICE MEDIA

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