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MPGIS supports community liaison officers induction

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

THE ministry of provincial government institutional strengthening (MPGIS) is in full support of the community governance and grievance management project (CGGMP) especially for community liaison officers in Malaita.

Permanent secretary for MPGIS Mr Stanley Pirione said, “This is the first workshop of its kind for Malaita and am thankful for the support of the Malaita provincial government and the various provincial wards and communities representatives in making sure this program will be implemented smoothly in the province.

“What we learn during the course of this week are existing governing and management activities that has been on practice in our communities for so many years.

“This induction workshop will definitely enlighten us and bring us into perspective on the involvement of various community social structures that should enhanced and supported to maintain peace and harmony within our respective communities.”

He said bringing peace and harmony and to ensure citizens are governed well and having a sense of security to improve their livelihoods have been the cornerstone in every national government policy statement.

“One of SIDDCG’s major policy objectives is to ensure rural communities and stakeholders within these communities do participate and must help one another in ensuring there is peace, order, security and prosperity existence within our communities.

“I believe the same approach is also been a focus of malaita PG and I understand certain program are also underway to ensure communities must given the mandate and recognition to govern their own affairs.

Sometimes helping to facilitate such programmes to eventuate in our communities is not that easy given the limited financial resources and complexities confronting our socio- economic and governing structures.

“I reckon all of you are aware of the mandate of the SIG through the MPGIS is to support provinces to actively participate in the general development of this country and to help facilitate delivery of basic services to communities across the provinces.”

Pirione said with support from the World Bank, the MPGIS is working with provinces starting with Makira, Renbel and now Malaita and Central province to follow on establishing links between communities and the provinces with the view to strengthen service delivery and information flow, and to work with community leaders to address social order problems that have created instability in our communities and which hinders development.

Following the signing of the agreement in last August, Malaita province has taken the decision to implement the project in 15 wards across Malaita province covering all regions including Malaita outer islands (MOI).

Malaita province has also gone through the process of recruiting 15 community liaison officers to serve in the 15 selected wards.

“We hope that once the project is fully operational with support of both the province and the national government we may then expand into the other wards and communities of this province.

“This induction workshop is to bring key stakeholders to help define the scope of the role of and responsibilities of CLO’s that is appropriate for Malaita province.”

Renbel ready to offer a better Solomon Games

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, as we await an outcome from the meeting between the govt caucas and NOCSI, I thought I’d share some information re previous Solomon Games hosted in other provinces for our information.

To start with I’d say that none of those SGs were better prepared nor offered better support services to athletes, officials and guests compared to what Renbel has prepared to offer.

In previous SGs most play grounds/facilities earmarked for competitions were largely existing ones that were either upgraded, cleared or cleaned only weeks or even days before the kick off dates.

Some sports like volleyball, swimming, boxing, beach sports and other minor indoor sports had to scramble or improvised to find an area to host their competitions.

Food was not fitting for sports men and women as they were tea/milo with navy biscuits for breakfast, rice, noodle and taiyo for lunch and again for dinner. Sometimes lunch is navy biscuits and luncheon meat, or if we’re lucky cabbage, fish or chicken, but this were rarely offered.

Most of the time there were food shortages either daily or/and when contingents are waiting to return to Honiara or their provinces. Some teams bathe in empty 44-gallon petrol drums filled with water and some used the sea.

Mineral water was the main drinking water coz water supplies were either dirty or just unsafe to drink. Some lodging areas were without proper beddings, not even a mat on offer.

Some rest rooms were very unhygienic yet athletes/officials just have to use them because they have no choice. Transportation were disorganised and sometimes unreliable.

Security was left to the good behaviour of the public. Ceremonies were often late, disorganised and more than often flat. So the list can go on. Of course we acknowledge that there were also some good things that did occurred, but they weren’t much beyond the excitement of winning medals.

Point is Renbel has learnt from these shortcomings and shortsightedness and are prepared to offer a better tournament compared to previous ones.

Nick Hatigeva

Vice chairman for Renbel SG Committee

National youth policy launched in Auki

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
MWYCFA youth development officer Mr. Methodio Iapara.

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

MWYCFA youth development officer Mr. Methodio Iapara.

THE national youth policy 2017-2030 has been launched in Auki during the Youth Peace Building Innovation Forum currently underway in Auki.

During the launching, Youth Development Officer for Malaita and Isabel provinces for the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) Mr Methodio Iapara said that the national youth policy and its associated framework for youth development and empowerment was officially launched by Prime Minister Rick Hou and the Minister for MWYCFA in Honiara on Wednesday, August 22, 2018.

“The opportunity of this provincial launching also gives us a chance to reinforce the important messages that embraces the views and aspiration of our young people in this new national youth policy and redirect ourselves as individuals as leaders, as a province and as a country on how best we can rise above our challenges to advance youth development and empowerment forward and into the future.

Iapara added that in 2016, the MWYCFA commissioned a review of the 2010 -2015 national youth policy and commenced the process to develop a new 3 tier policy framework for youth development in Solomon Islands comprimising a national youth policy 2017 – 2030, a new strategic frame work for youth development in Solomon Islands and a national youth employment and entrepreneurship strategy.

“This national youth policy 2017-2030 and strategic frame work for youth development in Solomon Islands (SFYDSI) are the first two of the documents from the 3 tier policy frame work for youth development.

“The MWYCFA pursuit of a new three tier policy frame work for youth development in Solomon islands exemplifies the government’s commitment to transform the country’s youths and adolescents into effective and positive force for nation building that ensures every young person in Solomon islands is given the opportunity to contribute to the social, cultural, economic, political and spiritual development of the country.

“Ensuring effective mechanism to support youth empowerment, employment and entrepreneurship are key strategies in the new three tier policy frame work.

“The national government is committed to pursue appropriate measures to address youth development and empowerment throughout the country.

“This policy has been guided by the country’s long term vision and mission espoused in its 2016-2035 national development strategy by improving social and economic livelihoods of all Solomon Islanders, help creating a peaceful, harmonious and progressive Solomon islands led by ethical accountable, respect and credible leadership that enhances and protects people’s culture, social & economic and spiritual wellbeing.”

Iapara also stated that the national youth policy also provides guide for the development and empowerment of youths in the country over the next 14 years.

The new policy frame work acknowledges that strong effective, genuine and durable collaboration between government, churches, NGOs, civil societies, the private sectors, communities, families, and individuals is crucial to ensuring opportunities are created to empower young people to deal with the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.

Registration fever is on

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, “The beginning of the race already starts”, commented one observer.

As anticipated, its coverage dwarfed the front pages of the local newspapers.

To a layman on the street, its business as usual.

For those who missed out on the handouts, it’s time to lurk around etching where the tide goes; whilst those on the band wagon would spent sleepless nights counting the till.

How much more will this culture of cargo cult ever ends?

Thanks to the genius of our former leaders to bring us this far.

Jay Leemans,

Honiara

Common nuisance in Honiara residential areas

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, this is a growing social issue in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

The so called fund raising activity at night is increasingly becoming one of the main sources of common nuisance today in the residential areas of Honiara.

The night fund raising activity using amplified music and unwanted noise from the dancing groups tends to aggravate everyone’s nerves not to mention the noisy contribution from the drunkards in the neighbourhood.

It is annoying especially when a tired worker who needs a good rest, a sick member of the family who needs a quiet time, a student who needs to study at home while a new born baby at home is trying to get a peaceful night’s rest just could not do so because of the noise pollution at night.

According to section 172 of the Solomon Islands Penal Code, common nuisance is an offence and any person who breaches this provision shall be liable to imprisonment for one year. It is important that the public know about this law especially when it comes to dealing with noise pollution in residential areas.

The urgent call to the public now is to report to the police any form of noise disturbance in your area.

Let us all be responsible to maintain a peaceful and quiet night for all families in our neighbourhood by reporting common nuisance.

Thank you for your consideration.

Geoffrey Mauriasi

Laucala Campus, USP

How to look for a good leader

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, these are some of the characteristics of a good leader that we should look for and vote for in year 2019 general election.

Your vote will become a leader that can represent you, your community, our future and our country as a whole.

Enough is more than enough to vote for leader with little vision for the future, lack of accountability and poor integrity.

However, here are leader that we should cry for and vote for in year 2019.

Leader with Honesty and integrity, confidence, inspire others, commitment and passion, good communicator, decision making capabilities, accountability, delegation and empowerment, empathy and creativity and innovation.

As a Solomon Islanders our votes can determined the future of our beloved country and whether our country will developed or not.

Therefore, gratify your ballot for a leader that has all these qualities mention above.

Because if we don’t, then we might struggle to make the mark in the world of leadership.

You have to set a good example for others to follow this coming general election.

To conclude, to all candidate for 2019 general election, this is when your commitment, passion, empathy, honesty and integrity come into play.

Good communication skills and decision-making capabilities also play a vital role in success and failure of a leader.

Therefore, innovation and creative thinking, as well as the futuristic vision, are a couple of key traits which make a leader stand out.

Steven Rako

Law student

USPSI

HCC calls for ban on ‘cigarette candy’

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Candies for children imitating cigarette brands.

By Ezekiel Talatau

THE Honiara City Council (HCC) has called on businesses selling the ‘cigarette candies’ to remove them from their shelves, before action is taken against them.

This call follows recent media revelations that many Chinese shops in Honiara are selling candies which are created in the image of cigarettes and kept in packages which imitate cigarette brands.

This has caused parents to cry foul. One parent labels it on social media as a ‘cynical marketing strategy luring children to the habit of smoking’.

When Island Sun approached HCC Health Division for their comments, HCC health inspector Mr George Titiulu said that this is the first time someone has reported to them.

“Under the food product act, the food standard and labelling policy require full disclosure and accurate labelling, any advertisement of food that contains any words, presented with mislabelling are prohibited for being label and prohibited to advertise to customers,” said Titiulu.

He added that the product design and labelling are already in breach of the Pure Food Act 2010, under the regulation 24, section 1.

“The fine of such act charge is $1000.”

He said that HCC health division team will further investigate to ban this product in the future.

Corruption within the South Pacific Islands

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, I am writing to express my concern related to the invasion of corruption within the Pacific Islands and how they are being dominated and develop riots and chaos to governments, businesses and as well to people.

According to Australian National University Research about the state, society and governance in Melanesia; stated with evidence that suspicious of corruption has contributed to the crisis the PNG government currently faces over the use of mercenaries on Bougainville and even the Governor General reported as referring to the “termites of corruption”.

However, many island nations- the days near election; bribery occurred which candidates pay money and distribution of gifts among the citizens in aimed to vote for them.

But instead the right person to represent and take matters of people to action in the parliament, with the interference of corruption the wrong people take over the government which lead to many other issues.

Corruption fuels job promotion, the awarding of government contracts and the transfer of public assets into private hands.

Corruption in the South Pacific is rooted in the blurred lines that come with a system combining weak rule of law.

Therefore, with the overbearing of corruption within the Pacific islands, media has been one of the tool that are used against corruption it expose and publicise the activities and report of malpractices it also promote the idea in support the campaign against corruption.

Sincerely,

Ana Finau,

Laucala Campus

Malaita police praised for community policing

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

COMMUNITIES around Malaita province have praised the Malaita police for their community policing programme, which is said to be producing a lot of positive results.

Malaita Provincial Police Commander Timothy Apaesi has uttered gratification on the positive feedback received from communities.

PPC Apaesi yesterday said as the programme continues to roll many people got back to police to show their appreciation for the work.

He said from the feedbacks that he has been receiving, communities around the province are once again feeling the presence of police and are seeing the work of RSIPF making an impact in their daily lives.

Apaesi said the programme has especially enlightened people to understand their roles and responsibility to perform in the community for their good.

He added that another change experienced was learning from the CP programme, it enables people to come and report issues of concern in their communities.

Apaesi said this had rarely happened in the past, and that seeing people become more engaged with the police in policing their communities is encouraging and promising a bright future of peaceful living.

He said his office encourages people in the province to continue working with police more closely.

Apaesi said the programme is an ongoing programme, however setbacks on resource is sometimes a problem to his office.

He said a lot of invitations have been received from communities for the programme and he is putting them down under schedule for the programme.

Apaesi however appealed upon everyone in the province to continue with the good spirit in their working partnership with the police.

Nation-wide BVR update progresses smoothly

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

THE nation-wide BVR update is progressing well throughout the country according to reports from provincial registration teams.

The Office of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) in a statement said apart from complaints emanating from the Out of Constituency Registration Centre at Town Ground in Honiara, the whole processes progresses really well in the provinces.

Most of the issues have been rectified, but issues outside of the SIEC’s mandate should be reported to police if they are illegal.

SIEC encourages eligible voters who are yet to register to check out newspapers and the SIEC website (www.siec.com.sb), for when registration teams will visit their closest registration centre.

“Notices of the movement plans should also be pinned up at registration centres throughout the country by Registration Officers therefore people who wish to register or update their details should look out for the teams,” the statement said.

SIEC appeals to voters to register in their constituency of residence.

“SIEC cannot stop anyone from registering, but encourages people to register where they are living.

“If your registration is influenced, you might end up registering in a constituency you are not eligible to register in, hence increases the chance of your name being removed from the voters list if objected to by any registrant during the omission and objection period.”

SIEC reiterated calls for intending candidates to stay out from the registration process and allow it to continue smoothly.

“The call also goes out to voters to ensure their registration is not influenced.”

The Office of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission continues to call for cooperation and for people to abide by registration laws and regulations.

“If you notice any activity that you think breaks the law, record it and report it to police.”

The BVR update will continue up until September 27, 2018.

The provisional voters list is expected to be published towards the end of October and the Omission and Objection phase in November. Below are the important voter registration phases and dates to take note of.

–SIEC PRESS

 

BVR Activity Date Number of Days Legal Framework
Voter Registration Update

 

 Sept 3 – Sept 27 25 Sec.16 (3) (B) & Sec 17 (1)
Retrieval of Data and  
Compilation

 

 Oct 3 – Oct 23 21 Sec 18 (1) (B), Sec 19A (1)(2)
Distribution of Provisional lists  
Publication of Provisional Lists

 

 Oct 29 – Nov 4 7 Sec 18 (3) (B)
Deployment of staff to Omission/Objection sites  
Omission & Objection period

 

 Nov 7 – Nov 20 14 Sec 19 (3) (B), Sec 19 A (3)
Retrieval of Omission/Objection forms, preparation of list for public enquiry  
Publication of list of claims

 

 Nov 21 – Dec 1 7 Sec 20 (2), Sec 20 (3)
Confirmation of revising sites      
Public enquiry and Revision of List Dec 4 – Dec 23 20 Sec 20 A (1)
Retrieval of revision list to Honiara  
Settlement of Final Voters List

 

 Dec 29 – Jan 11 14 Sec 21

 

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