Tourism Minister Hon Parapolo, supervising Provincial Government Minister Hon Manepora at the opening of Parasi
Ngella constituents question their MP’s priorities
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
Tourism Minister Hon Parapolo, supervising Provincial Government Minister Hon Manepora at the opening of Parasi
NGELLA people feel betrayed by their Member of Parliament (MP) having time to attend the Yam Festival at South Malaita when he could not even attend Ngella’s Pana Festival.
People of the Constituency point out that if MP Bartholomew Parapolo knows much about the economic and social benefits of such festivals then they do not understand why he could not even attend and address such in his own constituency for the knowledge and development of his people.
“Our MP and the Minister of Culture and Tourism Hon Bartholomew Parapolo commented at the yam festival opening ceremony in Saraiselu Village, Small Malaita, that yam festival can bring both economic, cultural and social benefits.
“He said such cultural festivals play an integral part in the current direction of tourism development in the country.
“He also said that the Government through his ministry is taking the lead in implementing tourism initiatives through these cultural festivities. This is in recognition that tourism in Solomon Islands offers a far more sustainable and prosperous future for our country.
“He further stated that his ministry together with other line ministries and key stakeholders are very keen in transforming the tourism industry to new heights which will focus on promoting culture and tourism at the provincial level.
“Did our MP mention such during the recent Pana Festival at Haroro,” concern constituents of Ngella commented on Ngella’s famous social media forum (NGF).
With this concern causing high debate right now, others contribute that it is not only attending the Yam Festival that is bothering them too but from observation, they say that since their MP has taken the portfolio of being the tourism Minister, he has only been instead seen busy going around cutting ribbons in other provinces in relation to tourism programs having always by-passing Ngella, his very own Constituency.
The Pana Festival that was recently launched at Ngella in line with the country’s 40th Anniversary was a significant event for Ngella people being the first time to remember and showcase the significance of the root vegetable (Pana) in Ngella’s culture.
Without the support of few within the Sandfly Community assisting Imperial Travel Service and other contributors, the memorable event would had not been possible which is why Ngella people thank Imperial Travel Service for setting a historical mark for them.
During the progress to host the Pana Festival, there was quite a stir in non-cooperation especially between significant leaders and Officers in the constituency, maybe being a result of conflict of interests too.
Solomon Islands under-19 boys celebrates Patrick Taroga’s winning goal against Vanuatu.
Will play Tahiti in second semi on Thursday
BY ROMULUS HUTA
Solomon Islands under-19 boys celebrates Patrick Taroga’s winning goal against Vanuatu. Photo by OFC.
THE national under-19 soccer boys have made a clean sweep in their Group B campaign as they claimed a 1-0 win over neighbours Vanuatu in their third match of the OFC Under-19 championship in Tahiti yesterday.
The victory enabled them to finish the pool campaign at the top of the group remaining undefeated.
With nine points on their cards after three wins, they will play Pool A runner-up Tahiti on Thursday for a place in the finals.
A win against the hosts will see them earning a historic qualification into next year’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Poland.
Patrick Taroga was the hero for Solomon Islands yesterday with his lone winning goal against a determined Vanuatu side.
New Caledonia qualified alongside Solomon Islands from Pool B for the semis after finishing with a 1-1 draw against Fiji in the later match of the day.
The young Les Cagous will play Pool A winner New Zealand in the other semifinal.
Solomon Island head coach Batram Suri was excited with the well-earned semi qualification.
“The boys did very well to win the final match and finish at the top of their group.
“A win is a win although it’s 1-0. I’m very proud of the boys despite not putting up a good performance and managed to maintain our winning run right until the end of our pool games.”
Suri made a few changes from his usual line-up in yesterday’s match where he fielded in new faces onto the fray.
“I have seen some weakness in our forwards and came up with the changes.
“I also gave opportunities to my other boys so that they could have a game time,” he said.
The tournament is not yet over and Tahiti as the hosts, buoyed by their home fans has been described by Suri as a team to beat in Thursday’s semifinal.
“The boys are ready for the semifinal.
“Tahiti as the hosts will be tough given their supporters will be behind them. But we are here to challenge them and will not be going easy on them.
“They have their game plan. We also have our game plan. We’ll see how things go.
“I’m confident we can win the semis and qualify into the final.
“But overall, this is the stage that we’d very much wanted to reach and we are looking forward to it.
“A few of our players are nursing injuries at the moment and we’d very much want them to recover quickly as possible ahead of the semifinal.”
WIS STEM students arrive safely in Mexico as they were welcome at the airport.
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
WIS STEM students arrive safely in Mexico as they were welcome at the airport.
FOUR Science Technology Engineering Mathematic (STEM) students of the Woodford International School have landed safely in Mexico yesterday for the 2018 FIRST Global Challenge.
The WIS students arrived have arrived in advance purposely to explore and adapt to the Mexican environment before competition kicks off on August 15-18 at Mexico City’s Arena Ciudad de México.
This year, more than 160 countries are participating in the annual event of FIRST Global Challenge – it convenes STEM students to solve energy-efficiency problems with robots created by student participants.
Here is a profile of the WIS four students representing Solomon Islands
Renney Sufiona— I want to make mistakes and learn from them.
My name is Renney Sufiona, from Solomon Islands. I am a risk-taker; always very eager to try out new things and learn from mistakes I make.
I am very interested in robotics because it is something that makes me curious and I am keen to learn how it is like and how it is going to help us in our daily lives.
My hope for the future is to use my talents, which is drawing to become an architect.
My artwork has been on the cover of my school diary for one whole year. I have always loved playing video games, drawing and listening to music in my spare time.
Edward Patternot—you can be my personal hero.
I am a year 9 student at Woodford International School from the Solomon Islands. When I was younger, I always loved playing with Legos, creating my own machines that worked and operated only in my imagination.
Robotics can give me the opportunity to bring my creations to life and allows me to share them to the world.
Art became a hobby of mine, constant drawing became a habit, and it is just something I do in my spare time. I loved it so much because it gave me the ability of putting my imagination on the canvas like a picture from within my mind.
Maths is my favourite subject of all time and it is something that always makes me want to improve on my skills and understanding; my favourite part is when I try to solve a problem racking my brain just to get to the satisfyingly correct answer.
I do not have a personal hero but I do look up to anyone that inspires others to follow their dreams and to be themselves in their own unique way.
If you are someone like that, then you are my personal hero.
In the future, I aspire to have an occupation that involves my strengths and passions, which are art, creativity and design.
This got me interested in being an architect in the future.
Something unique about me is that I actually love to think about random things and I always try to open my imagination to a wider range of things.
However, I always think about what the world would be if something changes, “What would happen”? This always leaves me with curiosity and I enjoy it.
I would like FIRST Global to know that if I put all my efforts into something I would give my best.
William Poznanski—Being a Politian gives you the power to bring about a change.
I am William from the team Solomon Islands. I am a year 9 student. I aspire to be a politician.
I take inspiration from my grandmother Ms Lily Ogatina who happens to be the first woman parliamentarian in Solomon Islands and who has dedicated her life to improvement of people in my country.
Not only that, I also wish to change the negative ways in which politicians are seen in my country.
I want to work for my fellow citizens and bring my country to the forefront of global innovation.
I am interested in robotics because it is not a usual subject in our country and therefore I challenge myself to be involved in robotics this year.
My hopes for the future are to lead my country and not to follow around, nor to work for a corporation. In my spare time, I like to wander and keep myself fit.
My favourite subjects are math and ICT as they both are related to logic and both are needed in innovation.
The unique thing about me is that I am willing to take challenges, learn new things, fail and learn from my mistakes.
FIRST Global is the platform that allows me to do exactly this and more. I look forward to my participation along with my team from Solomon Islands.
Tania Douglas Uale—I’m a 9th grade student attending Woodford International School.
I’m interested in robotics because of the concept of the potential it offers for creating a solution that would help shape our future and otherwise I’ve always been curious about what it would be like living with robots! I hope the future would become a better place and a brighter home for the next generation, I hope it becomes liveable and suitable for our growing population.
Drawing and sections around art (such as designing) have become a keen hobby and passion of mine. I like to bring out my imagination and put it on paper so it can remain forever.
My favorite subjects are Art, Literature and science because of my passion for creating, learning and logic.
I don’t have a personal hero because I’m inspired by many people that have achieved many great things around this world.
What is unique about me is that I’m a keen learner who is curious about the world and how it works.
I would like FIRST Global know that I am determined to achieve and to put my all into this year’s challenge.
The FIRST Global Challenge is an annual robotics game that addresses one of the 14 Grand Challenges identified by the national engineering academies of the US, United Kingdom, and China.
Each year, a different issue of global importance will take centre stage as the theme of that year’s challenge, which will be held in a different nation across the world.
The challenge reflects how science and engineering, in an environment of cooperation, communication, and teamwork, can achieve transcendent actions and solve many of the great challenges humanity faces.
In July 2017, the first edition of the FIRST Global Challenge was held in Washington, where young people competed in a challenge about providing access to clean water.
Pre class and Primary school students of Belaha school walking back home after classes.
BY GEORGINA KEKEA
BELAHA School in Central Guadalcanal is located in one of the lucrative spot of royalty. In Guadalcanal, people from Central Guadalcanal are said to be one of the prime beneficiaries of monies from operations through mining, logging, gravel but to name a few.
Host to Belaha School, the status of the school itself does not reflect a school that comes from such background.
With more than 300 students ranging from Early Childhood, Primary to Secondary, Belaha is one of the many schools in Guadalcanal that still practice open-defecation and also faces deregistration.
Speaking to Island Sun last week, School Principal Francis Labu says Belaha School is a long way to meet the WASH Standards set by Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD). He said the recent launched WASH standard calls for greater cooperation from the schools.
The Tenaru river that some students cross daily to go to school.
“We do not really have the support from our parents as one would expect. Probably because they do not see education as important for their children because they already benefit from monies from royalty and do not see the need to have their children going to school. Because school or no school, they will have money anyway,” Labu said.
He said these are some challenges the school is faced with. Though there is support for the school, it is very minimal.
He said often, Solomon Islanders relate education to work to make money but this is not the case.
“Education makes us think and open our minds to new ideas. Education is not only to have a job to make money.”
He said being a school in rural area, they are quite flexible with how they do things.
Some of the students walk an hour to get to school and some crossed rivers and streams prone to flash floods and so they do not really have an accurate data on why students do not come to school.
However in a study done by UNICEF, girls are often the ones most prone to miss classes when there is lack of water and sanitation.
The report said lack of adequate WASH facilities and supportive environments at schools disproportionately affects girls.
The report continued to say that absenteeism is high when there is lack of water and sanitation.
For Belaha School, it was reported that they do not groom much students in the work force as much as they would love to.
So far since its establishment, only two ni-Belaha students had been able to further their education to University level.
It is the trend to see students going to school for a short time only and mostly those from outside the community has been able to complete their studies.
Pre class and Primary school students of Belaha school walking back home after classes.
He said it is often the norm to see students from that area dropping out from school when they reach higher education.
This is often attributed to the fact that they do not see the need to further their education because they have an avenue where they can earn money without the need for education, Labu said.
“First through Goldridge, during the mining days where people pan for gold and then now the current logging operations and we still have the Tina Hydro project forthcoming.
“We have been established for quite a while now. The registration of this school was done during the Goldridge days. That was when the company provided water supply and other basic needs to keep the school running. When they left, everything just went downhill from there,” Labu said.
Despite the shortfalls and lack of support for the school, Labu is optimistic that they will meet the standard expected of them soon.
He said things are starting to change for them as the connection they have established with the company operating in their area has shed some positive light in their development plans.
Also they are now waiting for the implementing agency for their WASH project to assist them implement their water and sanitation project.
Last week, Galego Company the company doing logging operations in their area had donated $20,000 for the school.
Labu says if the WASH project is not forthcoming as yet, they will then use this money to build an ablution block for the students.
Currently Belaha School has 18 teachers but only eight staff houses.
They are now planning to visit Galego soon for assistance of timber to build new staff houses and for transportation of logs to their area so that they can start work on the staff houses.
Labu says they have big plans for the school but they need the support from their local community.
PARAMOUNT Chief Charles Keku from Tandai house of chiefs has welcomed all Catholic women to the St Mary’s Tanagai Parish to celebrate the assumption of the Blessed Mary.
Mr Keku expressed his welcome statement yesterday at the officially opening of the event held at the Tanagai playing field.
“As a paramount chief it is my duty to welcome you all to St Mary’s Tanagai Parish. On behalf of the people of Tandai, especially the Parishioners of Tanagai Parish, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
“Welcome to Catholic mothers from all of the parishes and communities that have gathered to celebrate this occasion and may your stay with us for the next two days be spirit filled and nourishing,” said Keku.
On the same regard, Janet Fafale Catholic Women Coordinator of Tangai Parish adds that it is a great privilege for mothers and leaders of Tandai community to host this important gathering this year.
“With that I want you to enjoy the hospitality this community will provide for you,” said Mrs Fafale.
IT’S been two weeks since awareness by Youth@work and Friends Of The City, supporting the litter ordinance, enforced by the Honiara city council (HCC).
Today, as you walking through the streets of Honiara, the Illegal vendors street sellers are again selling betel-nuts without a fear.
One of the street sellers, who wanted to be anonymous, told Island Sun that most of them struggle to make a living and by selling betel nut in the street is what they earn.
If the HCC think about addressing our issue as a street sellers, they should find a good site for us to do our selling, he said.
Health Inspector, Mr George Titiulu has been reported to Island Sun several times that they are still looking for a proper site for betel nut sellers in Honiara.
The International Solomon Island forum have reported about the illegal betel nuts sellers at the Central market areas are repeatedly.
It’s uncontrollable now and the need for HCC to make action is a must, said John Tago.
He added that, those street people selling in the street are struggle as we people working in the office.
The authority need to find a good spot for the people to sale in a good area that can be monitored, he said.
Titiulu has also reported that, the Chinese shops should take responsible to locals, selling betel nuts in front of their shops.
He added, within the seven metre of your premises by law of manor litter ordinance, if they are not responsible, HCC will cease up your business licence.
Student of the Visale School introduce to concept of balance diet by the KMUH team.
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
KAOHSIUNG Medical University Hospital of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has brought new concepts to promote healthy diet and lifestyle to Visale School last week.
The visit to Visale School in west Guadalcanal is part of Taiwan’s health programme in Solomon Islands to control Non Communicable Disease (NCD) and the concept is to promote healthy diet and lifestyle.
KMUH team has visited Solomon Islands for 10 years now and have found both diet and lifestyle begins to affect our health starting at the time of pregnancy and throughout the rest of our lives.
KMUH team pictured with students of the Visale School during the workshop last week.
As part of their ongoing activities, the team successfully conducted a practical two-day health promotion training programme, promotion of healthy diet and lifestyle for growing school children of Visale School.
The event held at Visale community high school on August 9-10 were sponsored by the Taiwan Embassy and Taiwan Health Centre.
During the two-day training workshop, Professor MC (Michele) Huang and dietician HY (Lucy) Liao from Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital (KMUH) emphasised the balanced nutrition provision is critical to prevent under- and over-nutrition.
Professor Huang said amount of foods consumed and choosing balanced and healthy foods are two major problems faced in cities and villages in the Solomon Islands.
Student of the Visale School introduce to concept of balance diet by the KMUH team.
She said, “In appropriate handling of diets may lead to stunted growth for growing children and further development of NCD such as Diabetes and its complications.
“Thus, KMUH experts implemented hand-on practical courses, and participants all worked together instructors to assemble their healthy lunch plates.”
At Visale School students and communities also had the opportunities with the KMUH Nurse PN (Penny) Hsiao and HL (Linda) Liang on measuring blood pressure and to perform heathy gymnastics in order to keep lifestyle healthy and active.
KMU student volunteers, YS Jhong, ZI Yan, ZN Yu and TY Liu, also demonstrated hygiene practice to protect hand, oral, foods as well as Dengue fever for general population.
Principal of Visale Community High School, Mr Franklyn Kakate said such training is very practical in rural areas of Solomon to assist in maintaining healthy lifestyle and building up a healthy-eating environment for school.
Alice, HY, Hsu, leader of Taiwan Health Center and Rickson Saukoron, school inspector, Ministry of Education, have assisted in coordinating cooperation between Taiwan experts and Visale School.
(Left to Right) Professor Huang and a local with a staff from the KMUH
Landscape view of the new extension of the medical ward which are funded by the Solomon Sheet Steel Ltd.
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
Landscape view of the new extension of the medical ward which are funded by the Solomon Sheet Steel Ltd.
THE Solomon Sheet Steel limited has funded $1.2million towards the National Referral Hospital’s medical ward extension which is currently under construction.
Walk past the NRH corridor towards, Medical ward, there is a building construction meant for the extension of medical ward funded personally by Jason Lee and family of the Solomon Sheet Steel Ltd.
The building structured as extension of medical ward if completed contained new 25 beds, conference and teaching room and nursing and storage area.
Chief Executive Officer for the National Referral Hospital Dr Steve Aumanu said the building is funded by Mr Jason Lee and family, the owners of the Solomon Sheet Steel Ltd.
He explained in their budget to build the building is worth $1.5 million and NRH is fortunate enough the family is putting in $1.2 million.
Aumanu said cost Solomon Sheet Steel donate includes labours, construction cost and it is the government will be working up on putting $300,000 towards this building to cover the total project of $1.5 million.
Aumanu said, “We so happy and greatly thankful for this donation from such a generous Solomon Islander family that have given us this that is in progress—once it finish they handover the key.”
He said equipment has been ordered especially beds, and it was from the PAN Oceanic Bank including some other medical equipment for the extension.
“We are so grateful that this family can provide a real donation in a form of building which we acquire at this time of the hospital.
“Population is growing and disease is changing and the hospital does not have enough spaces and we always looking for bed space and this will add 25 more beds and some more beds for the medical ward is a bonus.”
The construction is expected to be completed by mid-next year.
DEAR EDITOR, in recent days the Prime Minister, the Hon. Rick Hou, reportedly said the Solomon Islands had been in the wilderness for the past forty years.
Of course he was speaking metaphorically and not literally of the past for, indeed, the Solomon Islands was never left in the wilderness by it partners and is continuing to get the support it still needs to bring about desired changes in governance, health, education, security, fisheries and agriculture.
New Zealand has raised its ODA Budget to $US1.5 billion in its four-year funding cycle and dedicated its strategic development assistance to help, along with other small Pacific states, climate change, education and issues of pollution and waste management.
It should be remembered, also, that Australia spent an estimated $A2.8 billion on leading its 14-year Regional Assistance Mission (RAMSI) to restore law and order to the Solomon Islands.
Last week the Republic of China Government (ROC) made another substantial gift of medical supplies to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) and reminded us all that Taiwan had been a good friend of the Solomon Islands for the past 30 years and during that time had contributed greatly to the local health sector, teaching assistance, water sanitation, solar lighting and infrastructure projects.
Currently, through the local Taiwan Health Centre, efforts are being made to give nutritional advice to give all communities a better understanding of the need for a proper, balanced diet, to prevent diabetes, the reported main cause of death in the Solomon Islands.
I have mentioned just a few of the friends that have stood by the Solomon Islands during the years since independence in 1978, but we should not overlook all the aid and assistance provided by the USA, the UK, Canada the EU, Japan, Korea, Israel, Germany, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji the UAR, the UN, the World Bank, the IMF, and all the numerous aid and charitable agencies, large and small, including in most recent years, Lions Clubs and Take My Hands Charitable Trust, both from New Zealand.
During the Prime Minister’s visit to New Zealand in June he said the Solomon Islands needed to replace aid with trade and these are his (quoted) words:
“It is politically and economically prudent that Solomon Islands gradually replace aid with trade, which will in turn stimulate a strong economy driven by the private sector and not the government, as the case is at the present time.”
To bring about such a change, the PM explained that the Solomon Islands was looking to review its bilateral aid assistance programs, with a view to incorporating commercial trade activities tied with manufacturing technology; so the Government could bring the technology to transform local agriculture, fisheries, and agro-forestry sector into the manufacturing sectors as well.
In bringing about “trade for aid.” a desirability that I would encourage, I believe there should be more emphasis on the value of public-private partnership and stronger encouragement for development partners to lend their expertise and give important contextual knowledge and guidance.
Finally, I would thoroughly recommend to the Solomon Islands government make a full study of the excellent paper written about the prospects for the private sector development – post RAMSI – submitted in June 2013 by Kings College, London, with the title ‘The Private Sector, the Solomon’s andthe Peace-Economic Dividends.’ The paper is available to read on-line.
DEAR EDITOR, an article published in the Island Sun newspaper in recent weeks cited that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had expressed concern over the “lack of transparency” around the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
A team from the IMF had visited Honiara to hold discussions on the 2018 Article IV Consultation.
When announcing some of the key findings, arising from the discussions, the team leader, Mrs. Alison Stuart, reportedly said what the CDF is spent on and how well the fund is spent was not clear to the people.
The IMV is seemingly not alone in raising such concerns and I spent the weekend reading a report issued by the World Bank in mid-2014, titled ‘The Aim of Solomon Islands – Towards Better Investment in Rural Communities.’
That report went to the heart of the IMV concerns over the perceived lack of transparency but it also went much further, as I will quote.
“The report is to assist policymakers, program sponsors and implementers to make informed decisions about the design, financing, governance and overall advantages and disadvantages of programs that invest in small-scale infrastructure and income generating opportunities for rural communities in the Solomon Islands.
“The report identifies ways to strengthen the current mechanisms for investing in rural service delivery by examining the three main types of financing for small-scale infrastructure and livelihood activities — constituency, province and community-oriented funds — in a national and global context across four key programs between 2008 and 2012.
“The report explores the following key components across the four programs: analysis and consolidation of sub-project data; local development planning; efficiency and effectiveness; accountability, transparency and dispute management; and sustainability.”
If not too imprudent to ask what happened to that report and the many recommendations it contained to address a whole raft of issues that have lingered far too long and, in my personal view, might have gone some considerable way to clearing the air while considerably aiding tangible rural development if followed up?
