ACOM Archbishop George Takeli holding a copy of the new teacher’s course materials which was handed over to the ACOM leaders on Wednesday.
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
ACOM Archbishop George Takeli holding a copy of the new teacher’s course materials which was handed over to the ACOM leaders on Wednesday.
THE Anglican Church of Melanesian (ACOM) will establish a University named John Coleridge Patterson University (JCPU) with enrolment beginning next year.
This was highlighted by ACOM Archbishop George Takeli during the handover ceremony of teacher’s material yesterday, which is the contributing course book for the proposed university.
Takeli said that the new university is not to pose extra competition for the existing institutions but rather to increase quality tertiary education opportunities for the country’s growing population.
“The population of Solomon Islands is estimated to reach a total population of more than 700,000 people, and more than half of this population rate will be youths and those of learning age level.
“With this population growth, there is obviously an urgent need to establish one or more universities in the country to meet the education needs of our learning national population.”
He believes an additional university will not affect the enrolment of the existing ones because of Solomon Islands fast growing population.
Takeli explains that ACOM is the largest Christian denomination in Solomon Islands, which has grown by 50 percent in the last 10 years and will by 2019 reach an estimated 200,000 followers – half of which are youths and learning-age group.
“And so, establishing the JCPU for our church is part of our strategic aim to provide access to tertiary education.
“That is particularly to serve the strategic goal to developing the overall human resource for leadership and services in our church and nation as a whole.”
THE Malaita Ma’asina Forum (MMF) has called on all current members of Parliament (MP) from Malaita province to prepare and show to Malaitans their audited reports on how they used the Constituency Development Funds (CDFs) under their discretion.
The Forum made this call in light of growing concern over transparency and accountability around these public funds.
The Forum’s newly-elected president, Martin Housanau, said the people of Malaita province want to see audited reports on how these CDFs were being used over the past years.
Housanau said for too long the people of Malaita have been denied their right to information into these funds.
CDFs are, in principle, intended to better link MPs with their constituents and provide a rapid response mechanism for delivering small-scale services to local communities.
These funds are growing each year as proportion of the budget outlays and in absolute dollar amount allocated to MPs.
These funds make up a large part of the country’s budget, supplemented by grants from Taiwan.
People’s knowledge about how these funds are managed by MPs and their staff on a day-to-day basis, how effective and sustainable CDF expenditures are and the impact of these CDFs on voter behaviour and attitudes of MPs themselves are some of the issues around the fund that makes it controversial.
“The people of Malaita province have all the right to know how their MPs used these funds,” Housanau said.
The Forum directed this call to the 14 Malaitan MPs and the three Honiara MPs.
The Honiara MPs were included as most Malaitans live in these constituencies.
The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission is currently working on the voter list to be used in the National General Election early next year.
Housanau said Malaita MPs should have their audited CDF reports ready before they go out to their constituencies to do their campaign.
He said MPs who failed to have their records audited violated the Constituency Development Funds Act 2013 which requires the use of public funds be audited by the Auditor General under the provisions of the Public Finance and Audit Act.
The CDF Act, which is shorter and not detailed, is the first and only legislation specifically covering CDFs.
Housanau said having the CDFs audited is a law therefore all MPs must comply.
He said the Forum will explore legal avenues to ensure MPs in the province who failed to have their records audited are held accountable to their people.
Housanau said MPs handling of public money has already contravened the national constitution which clearly stipulated that MPs are only legislators.
Chief Ismael Bongi speaking on behalf of the chiefs attending the Malaita 2nd
Appointed Day which was celebrated yesterday at the National Auditorium.
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
Chief Ismael Bongi speaking on behalf of the chiefs attending the Malaita 2nd Appointed Day which was celebrated on Wednesday at the National Auditorium.
CHIEFS of the Malaita province attending the open forum are disappointed with Malaita’s 36 provincial members and 14 Members of Parliament for not supporting the province’s 35th Second Appointed Day.
Malaitans residing in Honiara celebrated their province’s big Day but they were not satisfied with the event due to less support shown from their top leaders.
On Wednesday, they held an open forum that dealt with important issues relating to land, which is a crucial aspect for Malaita’s development in the near future.
Speaking for Malaitan chiefs, Chief Ismael Bongi said Malaitans who attended the Malaita 35th anniversary of the 2nd Appointed Day are not happy with their 36 provincial members and 14 members of Parliament.
Bongi said this is a big event for Malaita, but its leaders have not shown support, which resulted in participants to the open forum being served only sandwich and biscuits as light refreshments.
He said this implies a bad picture to Malaita communities in Honiara that their most anticipated event is treated as ‘just another programme’.
“It seems like the 36th anniversary coming up next year; people will be feeding with snacks,” Bongi said.
“That is why we, people of Malaita are looking for MPs see and know the importance of Malaita 2nd Appointed, and we need that intending candidate on next election.”
In addition to that, Bongi conveys disappointment with the event’s organising committee, citing lack of awareness and promotion beforehand.
CRIME SCENE..Police at the back of LGZ building near Town Ground where dead bodies of the two Asians were discovered April 15 2017
BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
CRIME SCENE..Police at the back of LGZ building near Town Ground where dead bodies of the two Asians were discovered April 15 2017
THE footage of the gruesome killing of a couple at the LGZ store in April last year was shown on Wednesday at the High Court.
The footage was part of the prosecution evidence shown in court on the murder trial against the two suspects, Raymond Keota and Jimson Goufi.
It was played in court when the IT officer was called to give evidence in regards to the CCTV.
The footage played clearly shows how the attack took place on the evening of April 15 last year which led to the death of the couple.
The court room was fully packed when the footage was shown and due to violent attacks the presiding judge Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer announced that anybody not well about seeing those attacks can leave, but the public did not mind and stayed on to watch the footage yesterday.
The defence lawyer George Gray who represents one of the accused told the court that they agreed for the footage to be shown to clarify confusions on the public about the killing.
The prosecution played selected channels of the CCTV and it was played for almost half an hour – it was a very violent attack.
The footage was only stopped when the Chief Justice made an order to stop the CCTV footage as it revealed violent and gruesome attacks on the deceased couple.
The case then adjourned to today for continuation of trial and hearing of evidence from the IT officer.
This is the case against Raymond Keota and Jimson Goufi who are facing two counts of murder each in relation to April 15 killing of an Asian couple in their business premises last year.
Police alleged that the incident was a pre-planned incident in which one of the accused on the matter was a security guard of the two deceased.
The allegation said that the accused, Keota, turned up on that evening at the LGZ shop as was planned with Goufi the security guard.
Police alleged that Goufi shut up all windows before he walked to the main door facing the road and from inside wind down the door.
Police alleged that Keota landed the knife twice on the victim before Goufi intervened and got hold of the same bush knife and repeatedly struck it on the victim, which subsequently landed him on the floor laying in a prone and helpless condition
It was also alleged that Yuegui (wife), who was busy with her cooking heard something unusual at the shop and rushed to check.
When Keota saw her, he allegedly went straight at her at the Kaibar and attacked her with a kitchen knife.
It was the following morning when Goufi and the other female workers of the shop went to work that they discovered the couple dead.
Police alleged it was Goufi who climbed the fence and went into the building and upon his return informed the female workers the couples were lying dead inside the shop.
Director of the Public Prosecution Ronald Bei Talasa with his two colleagues Margret Suifaasia and John Zoze appears for the crown while George Gray and Michael Holara from the Public Solicitor’s Office represent the two accused.
POLICE in Guadalcanal province have arrested and charged two men aged 18 and 29 following a wounding incident at an area close to Bea Village on North East Guadalcanal on August 13, 2018.
It is alleged the victim was attacked by a group of people with a knife resulting in the man sustaining injuries to the left side of his face and under his left arm.
Prior to the attack on the victim, he allegedly attacked a young boy. The young boy later ran to Bea Village and informed some of his relatives after which they located the victim and allegedly attacked him.
It is understood, the incident may have arisen from an alleged land dispute between the young boy’s party and the victim.
Acting Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Guadalcanal Province, Superintendent Nixson Manetoga says, “Two suspects were arrested yesterday (August 14) in connection with the incident and the 18-year-old has been charged with alleged attempted murder and the 29-year-old charged for a party to the offence. They are expected to be taken to Court tomorrow (August 16) for a remand application.
“I appeal to both parties to refrain from any further violence and to assist my officers with the investigation into the alleged attack of the young boy and the victim.
“Violence will never solve any issue, instead create more problems. My officers at Tetere are there to assist with mediation for an amicable outcome of such issues.”
A man has been fined $400 by the Honiara Central Magistrates Court on Tuesday after being found guilty of drunk and disorderly in a public place.
Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Honiara Central Police Station, Chief Superintendent Alfred Uiga says, “The defendant was charged for idle and disorderly contrary to Section 175 sub section (d) and an additional charge of drunk and incapable contrary to Section 179 of the Penal Code.
“The defendant was drunk and disturbed people using the main road at Tuvaruhu in Central Honiara. He used stones to shoot bystanders along the road.
“The defendant at that time was drunk as he even could not walk or take care of himself.”
The Court ordered the man to pay his $400 fine by today or 20 days imprisonment if he fails to pay the fine.
POLICE officers in Gizo, Western province have arrested and charged a 15-year-old juvenile in relation to an alleged rape incident at Nusa Baruku Island on August 13, 2018.
“The victim is a 4-year-old girl and the incident occurred at Nusa Baruku, an island opposite Gizo Town on July 13, 2018 (Monday) at around 3pm,” says Supervising Provincial Police Commander, Western Province, Superintendent Cedar Nevol.
“The incident happened just close to the victim’s home, and after that the suspect took her home and it was then that the child’s parent saw that she was bleeding and they took her to Gizo Hospital for treatment.
“The matter was reported to Police in Gizo on the same evening and the following day (August 14) the accused was arrested and charged for a count of rape and has been remanded at the Gizo Correctional Centre since.
“The victim is now admitted at the Hospital and I wish her a speedy recovery.
“An investigation into this matter is currently underway. I call on witnesses to the alleged incident to come forward with information that may help Police.
“And I want to call on the victim’s relatives not to take the law into their own hands but allow police to investigate this matter.
“I also strongly appeal to parents and guardians to look after your children. Such incidences will unfortunately affect the victim for the rest of their life.
“We want a future that is bright for them and a healthy and peaceful environment for them to live in. Let us start now to work together in looking after our women and girls,” says PPC Nevol.
ACCORDING to the Deputy Provincial Secretary of Malaita Assembly, the Provincial Government Act is in dire need of a review in order to cater for the provinces to become more autonomous.
Robert Wales Feratelia expressed this whilst speaking on the theme “The Challenges of Delivering Better Services within Malaita Province” to mark Malaita Province’s 35th anniversary and Second Appointed Day at the national museum auditorium yesterday.
Feratelia acknowledged the contribution of past and present leaders of the most populated and ethnically diverse province.
He said that these leaders have contributed much to the Malaita province’s political development birthed from the Marching Rule in 1945, then followed by the establishment of the Malaita Council in 1953 which saw the appointment of Salana Ga’a as its first president before the first election of a full Malaita Council took place in 1964.
Feratelia stressed that today their provincial government is operated and administered under the Provincial Government Act.
“This piece of legislation is in dire need of a review in order to cater for the provinces to become more autonomous,” he said.
Feratelia also voiced that the annual government subvention to the province is insufficient and greatly affects the delivery of basic services to rural areas in Malaita province.
“The distribution per capita against the province’s population status is inadequate. This is a major issue that must be scrutinised by the incoming national government in 2019,” he said.
Chicken products being repacked into smaller quantities in a Honiara shop. Photo supplied.
How healthy are the food we buy and are we being tricked into buying less food for more cash?
By Gary Hatigeva
Chicken products being repacked into smaller quantities in a Honiara shop. Photo supplied.
CONSUMERS are furious over shocking images which reveal that some shops in Honiara are practising what is believed to be trickery tactics to tamper with food quantity they sell to customers.
Early this week, a consumer posted on Facebook, revealing what many consumers have suspected foreign shops, particularly Chinese owned, are practising some cheeky tactics and are cheating consumers over the quantity of food products they sell.
According to the posted images, a local shop worker (pictured) was seen repacking chicken packages, where all the packed products are assembled in large trays and then repacked using scales, which many believed have also been tampered with.
Following the revelation, some other consumers also took to social media similar experiences they encountered with other shops on certain products, but shared that packets of chicken are the most commonly re-packed product.
Island Sun also took time to investigate the repacked food items and noticed that lesser products are in the packaging but more frozen water, which many believed is designed to make products seem bigger and heavier from the outside than they really are.
Also following the revealed images, many consumers feel deceived by such tricks, yet for many shop owners, such are their everyday method of choice to pretend they have more content inside than they actually do.
Consumers also shared and suggested that with an easy access to the global food market, which are seemingly having positive impacts on the local prices, this has taken consumers to a whole new level in terms of easy purchasing, but feared that the repackaging and unhygienic practices might be a step too far.
Authority officials were also shocked by the revelation, saying they do not understand why it is not possible for shops to maintain their packaging from the original supplies, because according to calculations based on the market prices, they will still make profits even if they have to sell cheaper.
The authority on the other hand, slammed the shop owner for what they described as “possible misleading” shoppers who buy everything from snacks to rice especially packages that are easy to open and resealed.
It is also found that while some packed food need air in the packaging to keep them from spoiling, there were a lot of other products where the shops “cheated” the customers by playing with the packaging, especially, with regards to quantity.
Unfortunately, there is no concrete specification, such as pre-packaging regulation to monitor or legal set out how much of quantity in packs is actually permissible because numerous exceptions leave plenty of room for tricks.
The Honiara City Council’s responsible body has been notified of the particular shop and there is hope they will follow up on the complaints and deal with the shop, but consumers are urging for a thorough investigation into all other shops whom they claimed, have done the same, but just never been caught.
“Unfortunately, some of us never had the guts to capture what we believed were wrong, but thanks to this brave consumer for setting the precedence, which we should all learn from and be vigilantes for our authorities and our people,” a concerned but relieved consumer expressed when interviewed on this.
Could these shocking images reveal how shops are ‘cheating’ shoppers by reducing food quantities? If not, could this then be, some of the contributing factors to the many unknown disease swamping the country’s urban population, and where are the healthy standards regulations?
In thanking the consumer for revealing the matter, which is now being investigated, authority officials are also asking members of the Honiara consumer public to help crackdown on such kinds of unwanted and illegal practices by being the ears and eyes for the authorities.
They also agreed that such are questionable practices being reported every now and then, but with the use of technology, shops found or caught will for sure be thoroughly dealt with according to our laws.
Henly Ramo (center) says Solomon Islands can book a spot for next year’s U-20 FIFA World Cup in Poland. Photo OFC
Solo a step away from maiden FIFA 11-a-side competition debut
By Taromane Martin
Henly Ramo (center) says Solomon Islands can book a spot for next year’s U-20 FIFA World Cup in Poland. Photo OFC
MID fielders Henly Ramo and Frank Kabui are confident Solomon Islands can book a spot for next year’s U-20 FIFA World Cup in Poland today when they meet Tahiti in the second semi-final of the 2018 OFC U-20 Championship.
The north Malaita duo was the midfield heart of the Malaita Eagles U-19 provincial soccer team that won the Youth Solomon Cup early this year at Lawson Tama.
They said playing at the OFC level is totally a different experience compared to the village and national level they have been playing at.
“This level here is totally different compared to other levels I played at back at home,” Kabui told SIFF media officer Simon Abana yesterday.
“All the teams competing here are tough. The level is different. I’m happy and it makes me want go on further because this is the level I have always dreamed about and always wanted to reach.
“After three wins and still yet to lose points I’m fully confident we can win the semi. I’m not underestimating Tahiti but I hope and believe we have a chance to win.
“I look forward to playing against Tahiti in the semis. All the boys are confident and hope to get the result tomorrow,” the 19 year old said.
Meanwhile Henly Ramo who will join Kabui at Malaita Kingz FC for the new TSL season also expressed the same sentiments for today’s semi-final match saying it will be treated like just another game.
“Coming from and starting from village level and to come and play at this OFC Championship is different experience itself.
“The Youth Solomon Cup and TSL compared to this tournament is a big difference. The level here is much competitive.
“I believe Solomon Islands will create history at this tournament and qualify for the U-20 FIFA World Cup next year.
“This match for me will be treated just like the other past three matches. I’m confident, the same goes for all the boys, and we are really looking forward to taking on Tahiti,” the blonde midfield maestro, Ramo said.
Solomon Islands will meet Tahiti in the second semi-final of the OFC U-20 Championship 2:30pm (Solomon time) today at the Stade Pater in Pirae Tahiti.
