Home Blog Page 1251

Ambassador Shigeru marks Guadalcanal battle’s 76th anniversary

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Japanese ambassador to SI HE Toyama Shigeru.

BY MAVIS N ISHIMURA PODOKOLO

Japanese ambassador to SI HE Toyama Shigeru.

JAPANESE ambassador to Solomon Islands His Excellency Toyama Shigeru joins to mark the 76th anniversary of the Guadalcanal battle to remember those killed and injured during the war for the love of country and ideology.

Shigeru through his opening speech yesterday recollected the total number of Japanese remains recovered since the end of the war.

“Since the end of the war, we have recovered more than 15,000 Japanese remains. However, more than 7,000 pillars of the remains are still left deep inside the tropical forest, waiting for return to their home country Japan.

“In closing my eyes, I feel an acute sense of sorrow and grief for them and I reflected upon the lost dreams and lost future of those young Americans, Japanese and other nationals who dedicated their lives to their families and home countries.”

Shigeru on behalf of the people and government of Japan thanked with profound respect and eternal condolence to the souls on both sides who dedicated their lives to their families and homeland as well as to the souls of innocent people who became.

Speaking in light of the war yesterday he cited a statement that was said by Mr Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan on the occasion of 70th anniversary of the end of the war which reads;

“We will engrave in our hearts the past, when Japan attempted to break its deadlock with force. Upon this reflection, Japan will continue to firmly uphold the principle that any disputes must be settled peacefully and diplomatically based on the respect for the rule of law and not through the use of force, and to reach out to other countries in the world to do the same.

Japanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands HE Toyama Shigeru paying his respects.

“We will engrave in our hearts the past, when forming economic blocs made the seeds of conflict thrive. Upon this reflection, Japan will continue to develop a free, fair and open international economic system. We will strengthen assistance for developing countries, and lead the world toward further prosperity. Prosperity is the very foundation for peace. Japan will make even greater efforts to fight against poverty, which also serves as a hotbed of violence, and to provide opportunities for medical services, education, and self-reliance to all the people in the world.

“We will engrave in our hearts the past, when Japan ended up becoming a challenger to the international order. Upon this reflection, Japan will firmly uphold basic values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights as unyielding values and, by working hand in hand with countries that share such values, hoist the flag of ‘Proactive Contribution to Peace’, and contribute to the peace and prosperity of the world more than ever before.”

On the same note he expressed his heart felt gratitude for the kind support rendered from the Solomon Islands Authorities and all related personals toward the Bloody Ridge National park project.

“I hope that both Japan and United States could coordinate with each other in order to speed up the project in a more effective way,” said Ambassador Shigeru.

The 76th anniversary ceremony was held at the Japanese Memorial and coincides with the Bloody Ridge National Park Declaration & Dedication Ceremony which was led by the Solomon Islands Government.

PM Hou having a chitchat with Tourism Minister, Hon. Parapolo

Youths undergo entrepreneurship training

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Youth participants at Laugwata community

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

Youth @work team leader for Malaita province Ronnie Abuito’o during the opening of the two weeks of youth training at Laugwata village on Wednesday.

MORE than 30 youths within the central region of Malaita province are currently in training for two weeks at Laugwata community, starting on Wednesday.

During the official opening programme on Wednesday, Youth@work team leader for Malaita Mr Ronnie Abuito’o welcomed all youth participant for their positive response towards the two weeks of training which commence yesterday.

He said Youth@work sees the need for youths that have been isolated and doing nothing in the communities.

“Youth@Work is in its height trying to involve youths in malaita province finding ways for employment and involving them in economical activities especially in small business.

“At the moment we are working together with youths with our two main components, they are internship and Entrepreneurship.

“These two weeks of training mainly with youths that under component two, entrepreneurship where after completing these two weeks of training they will receive some financial support from the youth@work office to run their respective small business activities.

“The topics that will be covered for the next 13 days are, self esteem, goal setting, innovating mindset development, introduction to small business, piggery and chicken husbandry, peace building, NCD and its impact on the youth, CBRM, Agro forestry and youth leadership, team work and community service.

“This is where the youth@work programmes basically see the need of our unemployed youths in our communities that would bring them to the next stage of life from isolating and involving themselves in other unti-social behaviors in our societies today.”

Youth participants at Laugwata community

This is the final group for this year to undergo the component two trainings (entrepreneurship) where next year we will be looking forward to involve more youths in our ongoing programmes for 2019, Abuito’o revealed.

Youths from Abalolo in the Langalanga lagoon, Kwaibala in Auki and youths from Laugwata community are attending the two weeks of training.

Taiwan supports NRH with antibiotics and microscope

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Group photo of the delegation from Taiwan with NRH officials after receiving medical suppliers donation on Wednesday.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Group photo of the delegation from Taiwan with NRH officials after receiving medical suppliers donation on Wednesday.

DELEGATION from the Republic of China (Taiwan) handed over donation of antibiotics and teaching microscope to the National Referral Hospital on Wednesday.

The donation is a follow-up on previous medical supplies Taiwan government through the Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital donated in response to the recent drug shortage.

On Wednesday, Taiwan delegation met with NRH CEO Dr Steve Aumanu, Dr John Hue medical superintendent and Mr Selwyn Hou director of nursing.

The meeting was purposely to handover medical suppliers to NRH as additional medical suppliers which the Taiwan Health Center previously sent on July 17.

This round, the delegation donated Rocephin (third generation cephalosporin) 3,000 Vials, one laptop and a nellcor-portable-spo2-patient-monitor, one teaching microscope and 2,500 cassettes.

The medical supplies cost Taiwan Government and people of Taiwan almost SBD$ 280,000.

According to Taiwan Embassy, the antibiotics Rocephin is brand drug with good curative effect to cure bactericidal infectious diseases.

It also adds, the portable-spo2-patient-monitoring system could be used to check patient heart rate and blood oxygen saturation which is easy to carry and could be used in everywhere.

The teaching microscope and 2,500 cassettes from Ministry of Health and Welfare will be used as training purposes, the Embassy said.

It allows physicians to lecture the interns by watching the same slide and improves training quality.

There were 300 activated carbon flat type masks will be sent to pathology department as personal protective equipment.

The Taiwan Health Centre (THC) said with the donation Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital also donated two brand new air conditioners for dengue fever laboratory.

This particularly to address the unstable electric power and restore the air conditioners in dengue fever laboratory that were broken.

Taiwan’s delegations visited NRH yesterday are representatives from Ministry of Health and Welfare Taiwan and Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital (KMUH).

The visit aimed to understand current operation of Taiwan Health Centre and health collaboration between Taiwan and Solomon Islands.

They are Dr Yuan-Nian, HSU Chief Executive Officer, Hospital and Social Welfare Organizations Administration Commission and Chief Strategic Officer for the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Wen-Li, YANG.

Wen-Che Yen, researcher of Office of International Cooperation Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei City Hospital, Professor Chao Yuan Wang Vice-superintendent of KMUH and Mr Wei-Chou (David) Chang Senior Specialist of KMUH and Yu Chau Lin senior nurse of KMUH.

SIUP submits to get formal blessing of Political Parties Commission

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Executive members of UP, Mr Abraham Namokari, and Mr Adam Bartlett accompanied Mr Kenilorea as they submitted the required documentation at the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties Commission on Wednesday.
Executive members of UP, Mr Abraham Namokari, and Mr Adam Bartlett accompanied Mr Kenilorea as they submitted
the required documentation at the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties Commission on Wednesday.

ONE of Solomon Islands’ original Political Parties, the Solomon Islands United Party (UP), has formally submitted its application to register, with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.

This is the first step towards UP being officially registered as a Political Party in accordance with the Political Parties Integrity Act of 2014.

After being dormant for a number of years, UP is looking forward to contesting next year’s National General Elections (NGE).

President of the party, Mr Peter Kenilorea Jr stated that although time may not be on their side, the group is looking to contest in as many constituencies as possible in 2019.

Kenilorea Jnr himself is intending to contest the East Are Are constituency, in Malaita’s Southern region.

It is revealed that once United Party is officially registered, and until NGE nominations open, he will be the President.

Kenilorea Jnr also stated that UP is looking to bring back a sense of hope that Solomon Islanders would have felt 40 years ago when Solomon Islands joined the family of nations as an independent sovereign state.

UP is looking to connect its own rich political heritage with a new generation of leaders. Kenilorea Jnr’s late father, Sir Peter Kenilorea, was once the leader of the UP.

“We have been receiving strong support from many in the rural areas who have signed our membership forms. This is very encouraging,” Kenilorea Jnr stated.

Kenilorea Jnr also stated that he is a firm believer of the Political Party system saying that, ‘the value that a strong party system can add to our political discourse needs to be fully realized. We would like UP to contribute as well.’

The UP President said he understands that a number of other parties are also looking to register in time for the 2019 NGE.

Kenilorea Jnr further expressed the hope that the process to consider and officially register UP is done in good time to allow the Party to begin its outreach and preparations for the NGE and also fulfill its obligations under the Political Parties Act.

PCDF benefits Isabel children

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

By Mike Puia

THOUSANDS of children from Isabel Province are benefiting from school projects delivered under the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF).

The PCDF is administered by the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS).

A summary of the PCDF projects that have been completed in the province shows early childhood education, primary and secondary classrooms completed and an increase number of children having access to these facilities.

Among these projects is the Buala Station Kindergarten. This kindy has been completed with 55 young children admitted to this class this year.

Before this project, children in and around Buala station stay at home or walk long distance to access kindy. Now, these children can access kindy next door.

Other Kindergarten classrooms that were completed under this PCDF programme include the one in Kia and Tataba. Over hundreds enrolled to these kindy classes.

The project also supports the extension of a primary school at Kolomola. The enrolment has increased as a result.

Another Kindy constructed and completed at Taligu, in Gao/Bogotu, also enabled children from Taligu to access kindergarten education.

The completion of a new classroom building at Jejevo community high school to accommodate forms one to three pupils. Previously these classes used the school’s primary classroom building which used to disrupt primary school classes. The school enrolment has expanded significantly.

Works on some of the schools constructed under the PCDF program are still progressing. Among these schools is the Zuto Kindergarten in Triotona at Hagrono/kia/Havaki. Zuto community is a new settlement that has seen a fast growing population. Children from this village walk to a nearby village to attend Kindergarten.

Gurena Kindy in Koviloko at Maringe/Kotota is another ongoing project that replaces the leafhut building used for kindy classes.

The PCDF program is implemented in most provinces. It has benefited different sectors of the provinces including the renovation of school staff houses, classes and dormitories, rehabilitation to office buildings, clinics and aid posts, renovation to fisheries centres, improvement to water supply and sanitations, improvement to roads, footpath, bridges and jetty etc.

New 40HP to serve Qaloe Community blessed

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

A new 40 Horsepower Outboard Motor (OBM) engine to service Qaloe Community at Northwest Choiseul was blessed this week.

Doing the blessing was Fr Henry Paroiop of Christ the King Parish at Voruvoru.

According to report, the 40HP OBM engine will be used to serve the community in terms for transportation and marketing having the understanding that an OBM is the main means of transport around Choiseul Province having no vehicle road around the island.

Chief Michael Gadole on behalf of Qaloe Community thanked Fr Paroiop for blessing their 40HP engine as it is a first means of achievement for them giving back all honour and glory to God in their small success.

“We plan to manage well the OBM engine in order to achieve greater things from it also in the future,” said Chief Gadole.

Pacific Games prep has no political will: PM

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Hon Rick Hou

Prime Minister clarifies political involvement in PG2023 preparations

BY GARY HATIGEVA

CABINET has made this decision and concluded that the political will, the undivided attention, the focus and the added weight that is required in this project, would be better achieved when the project is reassigned in the Office of the Prime Minister, says Solomon Islands Prime Minister.

Prime Minister, Rick Hounipwela says the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) has decided to take on the responsibility of running all necessary preparations of the Pacific Games 2023 due to time limitation and low output in works.

The Prime Minister made this clarification when responding to the Leader of Opposition and Member of Parliament for East Malaita, Manasseh Maelanga, who on the floor of parliament yesterday, questioned the PM over initiatives to take over from the former games taskforce.

“Can the Prime Minister explain to Parliament why the Prime Minister’s Office has taken over responsibility for the 2023 Pacific Games from the Ministry of Home Affairs?”

The Prime Minister explained that there are a number of concerns but pointed out that the government caucus has been concerned over what it has perceived as very slow progress by the ministry and the taskforce the former DCCG had tasked to oversee the preparations of the games, which is to be hosted in Solomon Islands less than five years away.

“As you know, the bid to host was won in 2016 and by December 2017 which is a year on, there was very little shown in the work of preparations,” Prime Minister Hou explained.

He said the new government saw this lack of significant progress in the games preparations and saw that there is a lack of determination by both the ministry of home affairs, which oversees sports, as well as the taskforce, and had to take the steps

He added that the decision to host the 2023 pacific games is a political one the government had taken.

“The government I meant was an inclusion of all including the opposition leader and independent groups, all went that time, and that being the case, it requires a clear display of political will”.

Hou further added that at the time when the government made the decision to re-assign the responsibility of the pacific games 2023, because the ministry was also loaded with charge to run a number of very important events and projects.

They include the initiation of the national futsal stadium, the recently celebrated 40th independence anniversary this year, as well as preps for the 2018 Solomon games.

“And apart from that, the ministry will be tight up in its preparations for the 2019 national general elections, and having seen that, the government caucus saw that the ministry could not should all the projects along with the pacific games as time is not on the country’s side,” the Prime Minister further explained.

He also added that as a matter of policy choice therefore, the government had strongly felt that re-assigning the responsibility of the 2023 pacific games under the Prime Minister’s Office would provide the added weights which are necessary in the project.

However, intentions to take over control of responsibilities from the originally designated body had also been questioned as it was seen as a political involvement, which many thought should have never happened.

But the Prime Minister clarified that the following two meetings held with the Pacific Games Council, the political involvement is not an issue to them (Council) and only wanted to see that the country does deliver as the winning bidder to host the 2023 games in Honiara.

Surgical ward urgently need wheel chairs

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

DEAR EDITOR, sometime last week I raise the issue on wheel chairs for the surgical ward and may be for other wards as well, hoping that someone out there, whether the Ministry responsible, State Owned Enterprises (SOE) or any genuine company willing fully got the message and came to our rescue, however, nobody take heed of the message or perhaps have not seen the small appeal I was trying to put across on behalf of the 50 or so patients at the Surgical Ward.

Please note that at the Surgical Ward it accommodate and caters for our brothers/sisters patients whose legs and foot being amputated, serious accidentals cases with fractured legs and skulls and many more.

As you are reading this letter, the situation at the Surgical Ward regarding movement of Patients to and from their bed is becoming a terrible and chronic issue for the patients here. You seen patients barricade themselves with blankets to either pass urine or in serious case release his or her waste matters on his/her bed. This is very unhygienic and sometimes culturally sensitive, but these occurrences are natural and normal at the Surgical Ward.

Therefore, I am putting this appeal again to you all good business Houses and companies, State Owned Enterprises out there, or even the Ministry of Health & Medical Services to seriously consider purchasing at least 5 to 10 Wheel Chairs for the Surgical Ward or in the case of genuine companies to DONATE Wheel Chairs to these very poor and sick patients. If one Church could donate a few some 15 years ago why not the money making machines, you companies who’s making millions of money from our resources in the country donate something back to the community such as our Surgical Ward at the National Referral Hospital.

This is a very genuine appeal and challenge to all of you out there, whether you have a genuine heart towards and for our Patients at the Hospital.

God bless our Patients and Hospital.

Star Dora

Bed 24, Surgical Ward

National Referral Hospital

SICCI tell the world “We’re ready for business investment”

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

DEAR EDITOR, “SICCI’s Chair, Mr Jay Bartlett reportedly told the 2018 Papua New Guinea investment conference which concluded on Tuesday in Brisbane, Australia, that Solomon Islands has much to offer in terms of business investment.

Mr Bartlett told his audience about the Solomons niche market for tourism, speaking of the country’s unique history, flora, fauna and bountiful scenery and beaches.

He was also quoted as saying, “As a chamber, SICCI is driven by our vision to create jobs and improve welfare of Solomon Islanders.”

I wholly support what Mr Bartlett said and stand ready to help promote SICCI’s aims in encouraging and promoting business and investment in the Solomon Islands.

My existing website – www.solomonislandsinfocus.com can be used as a convenient vehicle to tell the world of what great business investment opportunities exist at home.

I will look forward to being able to help SICCI and should say my website will very soon be modified with new technology to further help all in the Solomon Islands.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

Taiwan embassy to support 2019 KMUH projects with NRH

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
NRH CEO, Dr Steve Aumanu delivering his remarks.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

NRH CEO, Dr Steve Aumanu delivering his remarks.

THE Republic of China (ROC) Embassy’s Deputy Counselor, Oliver Weng has assured that the embassy will support Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital (KMUH) and cooperate with the National Referral Hospital (NRH) on programmes projected for next year.

He was speaking at a ceremony attended by delegates of the Solomon Islands and Taiwan Health and Medical Services Cooperation Inspection Mission, NRH CEO, Dr Steve Aumanu, heads of departments and MHMS (Ministry of Health and Medical Services) Under Secretary.

In initial remarks, Weng commended the medical hospital for having carried out a series of projects over a 10-year period at the National Referral Hospital, clinics and provinces.

He expressed that the hospital through it’s projects have done a lot and referred to the sending mobile medical teams to all nine provinces, including Honiara as an example.

Addressing delegates which included Ministry of Health and Welfare CEO of Hospital and Social Welfare Organizations Administration Commission, Dr Hsu Yuan Nian, Oliver lauded KMUH for the work.

“I have heard about their stories and even experienced the work they have done this year. So I just want to highly recommend to the ministry of health, for the cooperation delivered by KMUH,” he said.

In relation, Weng also spoke highly of the support from the National Referral Hospital.

“Without the CEO, Dr Steve Aumanu, the cooperation here, and the projects here cannot be delivered so smoothly,” he said.

Weng then emphasised that the embassy and Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will support KMUH’s projects and cooperate with NRH.

“I’ve also heard KMUH has announced several projects for next year. So I on behalf of the embassy and on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would like to assure you that those projects and cooperation mentioned by Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, our embassy will take good care of that and will cooperate with the National Referral Hospital,” he said.

Further expressed, Weng stated that they hope to have the assistance and support of the ministry of health and the National Referral Hospital and wish that the cooperation between Taiwan and Solomon Islands will sustain.

1...1,2501,2511,252...1,669Page 1,251 of 1,669