Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela delivering his speech during the opening of the Yam Cultural Festival.
Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela delivering his speech during the opening of the Yam Cultural Festival.
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has described the Solomon Islands culture as the eye of the storm for tourism development in the country.
He was speaking during the opening of the Yam Cultural Festival in Small Malaita last Sunday.
He stated that if we are to make the country an attractive and unique destination, our culture should be the core activity for our tourism industry.
“I believe our cultural uniqueness is the attraction. So Cultural events like this would unlock the impasse to the development of Solomon Islands tourism industry.”
Acknowledging the fact that the country has very few cultural events, the Hon. Houenipwela reiterated that such events “will provide the much needed catalyst to this promising sector”.
According to Houenipwela, “The Yam Cultural Festival is intended to be a permanent event”, and therefore a cultural and festival village that was set up was intended to be the permanent home for the event, as well as other cultural events throughout the year.
The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to convey his gratitude to the organizers of the 2018 Yam Cultural Festival.
Deputy permanent secretary James Bosamata of the Ministry of Education
and Human Resources Development and Fr Philemon Akao with the newly handed course materials.
BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO
Deputy permanent secretary James Bosamata of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development and Fr Philemon Akao with the newly handed course materials.
THE Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) has promised support for the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) towards the new pathway of offering diploma courses for primary in-services teachers.
The Ministry’s deputy permanent secretary James Bosamata said this on Wednesday at the course materials handing-over ceremony in Honiara.
Bosamata uttered that the ministry will step in to support new initiatives because its system is relevant to the government’s education system of the country.
He said this means support from the government at the development stage of these courses is crucial.
“I would like to say that it’s a good initiatives, it show that those who are behind this (initiative) are serious about it and they are innovative to start of another new development in their (ACOM) education sector, with that for sure we (MEHRD) will support you,” said Bosamata.
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has urged Malaita province to work extra hard to attract investment and development projects in order to provide for its increasing young population.
Prime Minister Houenipwela highlighted this during his speech at the 35th Malaita Province 2nd Appointed Day in Small Malaita, Monday this week.
The Prime Minister revealed that Malaita province alone accounts for 23 percent of the National Population estimate of 666,557.
“Five years ago, the population of Malaita was estimated at 152, 647. As at July 2018, it is estimated to be at 158,076, an additional population of 6,429 in five year. At that rate it means we are producing approximately 1,286 children per year. To educate our children this is equivalent to building 43 school classrooms per year, or nearly 4 new school classrooms each month,” he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted that for Malaita;
(a) 78 percent of the population is below the age of 35 years: that is approximately 82,300 people;
(b) Of that group, 77 percent – that is 62,975 – is aged between 15 – 35years old.
“Taking the above statistics, almost 80% of Malaita population is below the age of 35 years old. In other words, only a small minority (approximately 20%) of the provincial population is above the age of 40 years,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the youth population in Malaita Province is at a staggering 80% of the total provincial population.
He said this provides the need for critical overview for driving important policy development decision-making; otherwise we will have a serious situation at hand.
“My good people of Malaita, this means we have to work extra hard to provide basic services, education and in health to cater for our people as the population density in Malaita remains the highest in the country,” he said.
“That is why I encourage my good people of Malaita to work extra hard to attract investment and development projects in order to provide for this huge young population.”
THE Malaita maasina forum is planning to stage a Malaita national development forum next month.
The first date MMF is looking at is September 7 and the venue will be made known later.
MMF’s newly elected president Martin Housanau revealed this at his first press conference in Honiara on Wednesday.
Housanau, who was accompanied by some of his executive members, said the planned forum is to gather Malaitans to discuss practical steps and solutions to advance the province and the country.
He said for too long Malaitans dwell on past problems without looking at ways to move the province forward.
Housanau appealed to all Malaitans to unite and chart a way forward for their province.
He said there are many issues Malaita province is facing and Malaitans must work together and find solutions to them.
Housanau encourages their 14 members of parliament, provincial assembly members, their premier and leaders from various works of life to leave behind whatever issues they might have with another fellow Malaitan and work together to advance the province and nation.
A man from Isabel province is questioning Utah 1’s shipping service.
Speaking to the paper yesterday, Esau Ije of Hograno Highlands said he and others are not happy about how they were treated by the Managing Director, Selwyn Riumana.
He explained that on August 10 after having freighted four tyres for “Kosi Transport”, a pickup truck of Koge and Siligodu communities in Hograno Highlands, they made their way to Utah 1 but before even loading them onto the vessel, Riumana approached them and told them to return them to the warehouse.
Ije said that the tyres were later loaded on Ortega on August 13.
He stressed that they are very disappointed by this treatment and are questioning the leadership and service Riumana is offering to the people of Isabel province.
Ije strongly voiced that he should put an end to this behavior as it is not right and most importantly, so that others do not have to go through the same experience in the future.
“He should provide good services for the people of Isabel province,” he said.
Prime Minister Rick Hou and officials at the re-opened Parasi airport in South Malaita. Photo from GCU.
Prime Minister Rick Hou and officials at the re-opened Parasi airport in South Malaita. Photo from GCU.
THE Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government (SIDCCG) is focusing attention on airport improvements around the country as part and parcel of the country’s National Development Strategy 2016-2035.
To support this objective, the Ministry of Communication and Civil Aviation has already began the implementation of the SIDCCG’s policy to ‘Facilitate Rehabilitation and Development of International and Domestic Airports throughout Solomon Islands’.
The Supervising Minister for Communication and Aviation (MCA), Jerry Manele, who is also the Minister for Development Planning and Aid Coordination (MDPAC) has announced these developments Monday this week at the re-opening of the Parasi Airport in South Malaita.
Mr Manele highlighted that the successful re-opening of the Parasi and Mana’oba airports to facilitate air transport services were examples of the Ministry’s implementation programmes.
“The Ministry of Civil Aviation takes this redirection seriously and want to learn from our past mistakes, and build on our current successes, as we move into to the future,” Manele said.
He added that the Ministry is focused on delivering on its sector flagship policies of providing better access and connecting people through air transport services.
The Minister has also highlighted a number of ongoing projects which the Ministry will implement in partnership with development partners such as JICA, the World Bank and the New Zealand Government.
These includes the Honiara International Airport Improvement Project to be co-financed by JICA and Solomon Islands Government which is expected to deliver a new Departure Terminal, an additional new taxi-way, a new Control Tower, the Expansion of Apron to the east end of the airport and the refurbishment to the International Terminal of which three-quarters will become the Domestic Terminal. The project will start in 2019 and is expected to be delivered by the end of 2021.
Another project is the Solomon Islands Road and Aviation Project to be funded by a World Bank grant and part credit by the Solomon Islands Government.
This project will be co-implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) and the Ministry of Communication and Aviation which will deliver an Overlay for the Honiara International Airport Runway, an Overlay for the Munda International Airport Runway, the Munda Terminal and Traffic Tower, an Unexploded Ordinance clearance programme, Navigation and lightning improvements and a Honiara Fire Station. The implementation of these projects will start in 2019 and is expected to be delivered by 2022.
The SIDCC Government is also partnering with the New Zealand Government to co-finance the design of Lata, Seghe, Suavanao and Taro airports to meet all weather operation standards. These projects are expected to start in 2019 and will be delivered in 2021.
Another development announced by Minister Manele was the improvement of pavement reworks for Gwaunaru and Parasi airports to cater for DASH 8 operations which was already completed while Kirakira and Lata airports will follow soon.
CONCERNED members of Auki public have raised concern over the two days that were set aside as public holidays to commemorate the Malaita province 2nd Appointed Day this year.
On Monday this week schools, businesses and offices closed doors to mark a public holiday for the province’s day.
On Wednesday this was again repeated for the same event. And, many people are confused why two days are being laid down as holidays, and why one does not fall on August 13, the province’s day.
A Mr Henry Tuhu said on Wednesday people in Auki were confused on the exact day to mark the provincial holiday to honour this official day.
“So we have two days of provincial holiday this year. One on Monday where services and everyone laid down activity and yesterday it happened again.”
Tuhu said there is no honour in respect of the second appointed day as people didn’t know who is celebrating and honouring the right day for the second appointed day.
He also uttered that pause of services experienced in Auki for these two days was also a source of frustration for many.
HEAD of the Honiara City Council (HCC) Law Enforcement Division, Robert Madeo, maintains that they will not back down in the execution of their duties within Honiara boundary.
The Division, which enforced HCC ordinances, has continued to face issues ranging from criticisms, political bullying to threats.
Madeo admitted that his Division is facing many challenges but that will not stop them from doing their work.
He was responding to criticisms laid against his officers.
There were people who claimed that some HCC’s law enforcers have compromised HCC by-laws by not being disciplined.
An example provided to explain how HCC’s by-laws compromised HCC by-laws is how law enforcers deal with betel nut street vendors.
Informants claimed some law enforcers appear to be lenient on other vendors while tough on others by going as far as confiscating their markets and arresting them.
Madeo said they have been criticised over this issue many times but no one has come forward with ‘black and white’ prove to back his or her claim.
He said they take criticism as normal and the only time they impose disciplinary actions of officers who compromising HCC laws once proven documents are provided.
Madeo said enforcing the city laws will always anger those who violated these laws and are dealt with.
He said they will not be intimidated by criticisms in their effort to ensure city laws are upheld.
He also admitted that politics has a part in his Division’s capability to deliver its work.
“Yes, we have issues with resources which affected the way we carry out our work. That’s a matter for the HCC executive to help sort out,” Madeo said.
He added they have plans that would help their Division effectively do its work but these plans depend on the will of their executive.
THERE are two ways you can interpret whether regionalism is evident in Malaita province and it’s either negatively or positively.
This was raised by Dr David W Gegeo, Research Coordinator of Social Sciences at the Solomon Islands National University’s (SINU) Office of Research who was delivering his keynote address to mark Malaita Province’s Second Appointed Day on Wednesday at the national museum’s auditorium.
Speaking of regionalism and whether it exists in the province, Gegeo spoke about how it is evident in both positive and negative aspects.
Initially, he said that from a positive realm, regionalism does exist in Malaita province as there is vast number of islands, pointing out Liungiua, Pelau, Sikaiana, North, East, West, Central and South Malaita as relatable examples.
Gegeo adds that regionalism is also when the province is divided into regions for the purpose or ease of development such as Manaoba airport, Atoifi airport, Gwaunaru’u airport, Parasi airport and so on.
“If we see regionalism in Malaita province in this positive light then I would say yes, we do have regionalism which we construct ourselves for the purpose or convenience of managing our economic, political, cultural and spiritual development,” he said.
Gegeo noted that regionalism is not only in Malaita province but it in all provinces thus is not something new.
He explains that the whole idea of the colonial government dividing the islands into districts for economic and political manageability is in principle an act of regionalism.
In contrast, Gegeo said that if regionalism was perceived in the province negatively, as a separatist ideology then they need to stop it now.
“It is not healthy for us on all dimensions; politically, economically, culturally, spiritually and otherwise. Malaita people must stay united together like our brothers and sisters in other provinces,” he said.
The research coordinator proceeded to state that if there are issues between North and South Malaita, Liungiua and Pelau and Sikaiana they must bring their leaders and people together in public forums and dialogue amongst ourselves and solve those issues.
He mentioned that separation or fragmentation is not the solution.
“Our strength is in our being united and staying together as one people and I am talking about South and North Malaita and Liungiua and Pelau and Sikaiana,” he said.
Gegeo expressed that Malaita is one of the few provinces in the country whose population consists of the three indigenous ethnic groups of Melanesians, Micronesians and Polynesians who settled in North and South Malaita and Liungiua and Pelau and Sikaiana and not through recent transcontinental migration but transcontinental migration that dates back to 40,000 to 60,000 years ago.
“I am very proud of that part of our provincial history,” he said.
Gegeo voiced that when their community leaders brought up the idea of Maasina Rule after the Second World War, it was so that their people and communities can stand united together as one people against colonization.
He furthered that they must stand firm against the temptation to be misled by the separatist ideologies of the modern world.
To add on, Gegeo said that they need each other to form a strong labor force for successful economic development in the future not only for Malaita province but for Solomon Islands as a whole.
“Let us stay together as one peace loving and caring people from Liungiua and Pelau and Sikaiana to Sa’a, Are’Are, Kwaio, Langalanga, Kwara’ae, Fataleka, Baegu, Baelelea, Tobaita, Lau, Ngongosila, Kwai,Walande, Fanalei etc,” he said.
Ms. Regina Gatu of GPPOL giving her closing remark
WOMEN are encouraged to support each other in their daily work. Speaking during the closing of a session with SIPNET (Solomon Islands Professional Women Network), through the Waka Mere Commitment to Action, Regina Gatu, Sustainable Manager of the Guadalcanal Plains Plantation Limited (GPPOL) says the most complex challenge for women is how we see our fellow female colleagues.
“Do we take time to listen to the things they have to say? Do we appreciate the little things they do? Do we say thank you when we are being showed with curtesy? Do we appreciate the little things they do?” Ms Gatu questions.
She says each one has a unique journey. She said it is about getting from Point A to Point B in life and expecting results and changes as an individual.
“It is about individuals and how individuals are valued by self, by others and their organizations. It is about giving that opportunity for individuals to explore their strength and build on that. It is about acknowledging others who strive to be someone.”
Gatu says only when we start showing support and genuine concerns will we see individuals starting to change and be able to grow positively.
She says how females treat each other both in the workplace and home is very important. Respect for one another and to listen and to give attention, space and mentorship are very important factors to consider if women are to support each other.
“The question I would like for us to take away with us and answer at our own time is, ‘how will I support my sister, mother, friend and colleague so that she can reach her full potential as a leader’? Then we as women can say YES we are the real deal.”
The Waka Mere Commitment to Action is an initiative of the International Finance Cooperation (IFC) and the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI).
Recently twenty women representing seven companies have in the country have undergone a Leadership and Management course through the Waka Mere Commitment to Action.
Seventeen of the country’s largest companies (of which GPPOL is one) have signed up and now undertaking measures to move more women into leadership positions, build respectful and supportive workplaces, and promote women to non-traditional jobs.
Yesterday SIPNET hosted an event for the IFC Vice President, Nena Stoilijkovic who is currently in the country.
