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Standing by the Solomon Islands in the past, today and tomorrow.

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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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 and the Peace-Economic Dividends.’   The paper is available to read on-line.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

Transparent and tangible use of CDF Funds in bettering rural development

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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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?

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

Snake crawls out of the grass unscratched for Fairtrade Company Limited

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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MANAGING Director of Fairtrade Company Limited responds to the headline in the Island Sun on Monday titled “snake in the grass” by Alfred Sasako.

He says firstly that Mr Sasako should seek legal advice and his facts straight before writing and that whoever his sources were needs to put his fingers in his pockets with his eyes wide shut. Fairtrade Company Limited is a locally incorporated company and fully owned by indigenous Solomon Islanders and carries out logging on customary land owned by the shareholders and their tribes. It does not need foreign companies to log its resources.

Secondly, Fairtrade Company Limited applied to acquire timber rights and had been issued with felling license by the Commissioner of Forest Resources. The right to acquire timber rights is vested on it or any other person in this country by the Forest Resource and Timber Utilisations Act (cap. 40) and not by virtue of the Forest Resources and Timber Utilisation (Timber Licensing and Tree Felling) Regulation 2007 or otherwise referred to Mr. Sasako as NL 114. The regulation is subservient to the Act but otherwise inconsistent with the Act and does not apply to Fairtrade Company Limited or any other indigenous owned companies that carries out logging on land owned by their directors and shareholders.

Solomon Forest Association is a Registered Charitable Trust Association under the Charitable Trust Act and those not wishing to be members are not bound by its constitution or charter. It is an event unconstitutional and does not purport to represent companies like Fairtrade Company Limited.

A locally owned company, Fairtrade Company limited only needs a standard logging agreement and a Felling License. As it carries out its own logging operations it does not need to enter into any TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT with any foreign Malaysian companies or any other locally incorporated foreign companies or companies that are members of Solomon Forest Association.

Fairtrade Company Limited owns 10 excavators, 6 bulldozers, 3 logging trucks, 4 loaders, 8 dump trucks, 3 graders, 2 compactors, 1 dumb barge and 1 tow boat, 2 landing crafts, 3 passenger boats. It does not lease or borrow from any companies. These are machineries used for all logging and related purposes and 100% owned by Fairtrade Company Limited.

Fairtrade Company Limited strongly warns any person and anybody whether natural, incorporated or government agency that interferes with its business that it will sue them for any consequential losses suffered by it as a result of such factually untrue report from Mr. Sasako and his sources and actions taken that is legally incorrect and invalid.

Finally, Fairtrade Company Limited challenges Solomon Forest Association that if it carries out illegal logging to take him to court instead of using its political influence to martial its way to undermining its legitimate commercial undertaking.

Chachabule Amoi

Shareholder/Director

Managing Director

Landowner and chief of Tobakokorapa and Land

Intending Candidate for Marovo Constituency

Solomon Islander

“Fly our flag higher”, PM urges students

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela in a group photo session with (from left) Alex Haro (High school Principal), Rakesh Padney (Team Mentor), William Poznanski (Programmer), Tania Uale (Team’s strategist), Edward Patternot (Designer and team Captain), Renney Sufiona (Builder) and Anthony Baron (Head of School). Photo from PM Press Secretariat

“Fly our flag higher.”

THOSE were the words uttered by the Prime Minister Rick Houenipewela when he met and talked with four students from Woodford International School during the students’ courtesy visit to the Prime Minister on the eve of the students’ trip to represent the country in the 2018 Annual Global Robotics Challenge in Mexico this week.

“I’m very proud to meet you and that you have made an enormous effort through your hard work and great support in representing the country on the world stage,” PM Hou said.

Head of School, Anthony Baron stated, “Here at Woodford International School we take great pride in representing the Solomon Islands in the First Annual Global Robotics Challenge.”

Baron also stated that this global event provides an opportunity for us to showcase the skills of local students to the widest of audiences.

“Our students and staff have worked enormously hard to reach this world stage and I know that our excellent team will grasp this opportunity to further hone not only their STEM knowledge but also the wider skills of collaboration, priority setting, conflict resolution and patience,” he said.

He further reiterated that one of their most important values at Woodford is courage, “and our robotics students are already showing this in their willingness to meet the challenges of this competition with confidence”.

The Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela in a group photo session with (from left) Alex Haro (High school Principal), Rakesh Padney (Team Mentor), William Poznanski (Programmer), Tania Uale (Team’s strategist), Edward Patternot (Designer and team Captain), Renney Sufiona (Builder) and Anthony Baron (Head of School). Photo from PM Press Secretariat

Meanwhile, Team Mentor, Rakesh Pandey reiterated the need for young students in Solomon Islands to engage in the area of STEM education and Robotic.

“These technologies are leading global scientific innovation and are necessary for a peaceful and sustainable future,” he said.

Pandey believes Solomon Islands students must develop a passion for science and technology and further reiterated that schools should provide a platform to nurture their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills.

“I hope that STEM becomes central to the education in the country,” said Pandey.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister acknowledges the need for STEM initiatives to be implemented into the education curriculum of schools in the country.

“We are at the point of time where our students must be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics,” the Prime Minister stated.

The team have also agreed to the name Belama given to their robot by the Prime Minister.

The four Year 9 students, Edward Patternot who is the Designer and team Captain, , William Poznanski, the Programmer, Renney Sufiona the Builder, and   Tania Uale the team’s strategist, and Belama the robot are accompanied by their mentor Rakesh Padney.

“Best wishes in our participation. Fly our flag higher,” the Prime Minister said as he conveys his well wishes to the team.

–OPMC PRESS

Pacific Eden skips Gizo

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Local carvers are truly disappointing after the Cruise Ship Pacific Eden departure Gizo on Monday.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

Local carvers are truly disappointing after the Cruise Ship Pacific Eden departure Gizo on Monday.

PEOPLE of Western province in Gizo town are disappointed following Pacific Eden’s decision not to beach its passengers due to bad weather on Monday.

Members of public say the decision is understandable but is quite disappointing since much preparation had been put into readying the town and materials to host the visitors.

A Mr John Tano said Western Province Tourism committee members have identified three sites for cruise ships to berth but then they normally use Malakerava as the normal destination for large Cruise Ship like Pacific Eden.

“What we all understand is that, Gizo have two anchorages site for big ships that cannot enter our harbour.

“One anchorage is located at the Northern side outside Marie Point and the second site is located at the Southerner part areas outside Malakerava.

“When there is bad weather from the northern anchorage and then the ship would be pilot to the south and same to the north. It is the responsibility for the Ships Agent, Provincial government, Tourism Division and operators to arrange for harbormasters or pilot to pilot such big ship like Pacific Eden and others.”

Provincial Chief Tourism Officer Jefferson Patovaki said because of the incident, lots of carvers from Marovo to Roviana lagoon have lost their money and now have to meet their own expenses to travel back to their respective villages.

Meanwhile, calls are now being echoed for national and provincial authorities to seriously consider building infrastructure that would disallow such repeating again in the future.

Monday’s call in would have been the cruise ship’s seventh visit to Gizo.

Primary schools at Choiseul’s Ward 12 need improvements

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THREE schools in Ward 12 at Northwest Choiseul Constituency need improvements especially for maintenance on their old classrooms and Staff houses.

The three schools mentioned are Tutu, Bangara and Voruvoru Primary Schools.

Call is now being made by the local community of Ward 12 to the Ministry of Education through its Education Authority in Choiseul Province to put strong focus on Tutu, Bangara and Voruvoru Primary Schools as well.

“There is the need to improve their standards as these schools old classrooms are in deteriorating positions needing funds for maintenance, for new classrooms and also new Staff houses as the number of students enrolling has increased seeing the need for more teachers to be posted to these schools every year,” said concerned locals of Ward 12.

More diabetes training for NRH

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Taiwan Nutrition Professor Huang and Mrs Salome Diatalau the Chief Nutrition Officer, Nutrition and Food Security for Ministry of Health and Medical Services

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

MORE training have been provided by the Taiwan Health Centre last week involving diabetic specialists from Taiwan.

The training classes were conducted by the Taiwan Health Centre with the visiting team of four inter-professional experts, they are renal and diabetic nurse educators—PN Hsiao and HL Liang, dietician (HY Liao), medical doctor (CC Wu) and Nutrition Professor (MC Huang) from Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital (KMUH) in Taiwan.

YS Jhong, ZI Yan, ZN Yu and TY Liu came all the way from Taiwan to help in the workshop.

Leader of Taiwan Health Centre Ms Alice Hsu said local Solomon seed teachers have collaborated with KMUH experts to serve as coaches in consecutive series of training courses about patient-centred diabetic care skills which can be applied in urban villages.

Participant undergo training courses of diabetes care to reduce complications, sponsored by the Government of Taiwan, was held at National Referral Hospital.

Hsu said one systemic review article published in 2015 Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice shows that high rates of diabetic complications are reported based on 35 studies investigated in Pacific Island Countries.

Head of Nursing Department of NRH Mr Selwyn Hou said in recent years, westernised life-style developed in Solomon Islands can be the main contributors for increasing prevalence of diabetes. This also includes diabetic complications occurring in kidney, eyes, foot, and heart, he adds.

Nurse in charge of NRH Connie Panisi said the workshop provides new information which is helpful in caring for patients with diabetes or complicated with chronic kidney disease.

Taiwan Nutrition Professor Huang and Mrs Salome Diatalau the Chief Nutrition Officer, Nutrition and Food Security for Ministry of Health and Medical Services

With high prevalence of NCD in Solomon Islands, the KMUH team during the workshop set another focus on developing a Solomon healthy-cooking book.

The book nearly on its complete stage and the brains behind the book are led by the Taiwan Nutrition Professor Huang and Chief Nutrition Officer, Nutrition and Food Security, MHNS, Mrs Salome Diatalau.

Publication of the cooking book would become an excellent tool to help general public or diabetes patients to manage their diets.

For the past ten years, close to 300 Solomon diabetic seed teachers have been trained under the KMUH.

Kava planting increases at Northwest Choiseul

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

FARMERS in Wards 11 and 12 at Northwest Choiseul have increased planting of Kava after a Kava training workshop was recently being held at Pupuku purposely to promote Kava.

According to Hon Nerio Ulemiki the MPA for Ward 12 at Varisi Lavata reporting, the interest in planting Kava has increased because Farmers find it is easier (Kava) to look after compared to other commodities.

“Kava Farmers through the Agriculture Division at Taro Station will form their Kava Association and liaise with Varivao Holdings to buy their Kava products.

“They are very happy with the initiative of Varivao Holdings Company in liaise with the Choiseul Agriculture Division to provide Kava Trainings and the initiative to buy from them their Kava products and other commodities in the future,” said Hon Ulemiki.

6 youths charged with rape

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

POLICE in Tulagi Central Province have arrested six male youth on the night of August 12, 2018 for the alleged rape of a 20-year-old woman.

It is alleged that between 1am and 4am on July 26, 2018 the victim from Tambariki Village and her cousin sister went to buy rolls of tobacco when the incident occurred at Salavo Village, Sand-fly area.

It is further alleged the suspects invited the victim to go to them but she refused.

The suspects continued on insisting for the victim to go over to them.

The victim was convinced when she saw her cousin brother and sister amongst them, so she went to her two relatives and suspects.

It is also alleged when the victim was with the suspects, one of the suspects chased her cousin sister with a piece of timber.

It was when her cousin sister escaped, one of the suspects pulled the victim by hand to an unoccupied house close-by and all the suspects allegedly raped her.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Superintendent Patricia Leta says, “The matter was reported to the Tulagi Police Station on August 8, 2018 and following investigations, the suspects were arrested last night with the assistance of the community.

“A remand application is being compiled for the suspects and they are expected to appear at the Honiara Central Magistrate Court soon.

“This type of irresponsible attitude is unacceptable within our communities.

“Our girls and women should be highly respected and that men and boys should be the ones protecting them.

“Rape is a very serious crime in our country. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment if found guilty.”

“I would like to thank the communities of Salavo and Ravusodulu for assisting my officers which led to the successful arrest of the suspects last night.

“I also wish to sincerely thank my hard working officers who were engaged in this operation despite the heavy rain experienced last night.”

–POLICE MEDIA

Nothing is unprecedented and illegal: MOFR

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

THE Ministry of Forest and Research (MoFR) has described Alfred Sasako’s article as a misconception on the path of the Legal Notice 114 – Forest Resource and Timber Utilisation (Timber Licensing and Tree Felling) Regulation 2007.

“It is somewhat an ambitious attempt by the author to deprive potential Solomon Islanders and resource owners from taking part in the logging business and industry,” responded the Forestry Office in an issued statement.

It says there is nothing unprecedented and illegal as the nine logging companies referred to on the Island Sun front page issue of August 13, 2018 have complied with all the legal procedures.

That includes becoming a legally registered and a legal business entity with the Company Haus; thus when a logging company operates with a felling license being issued, it is legal; the statement explains.

The Forestry office says the matter raised is a non-issue; it has been deliberated and explained previously already.

It says the Ministry’s stance on the LN 114 is that, it has been so vocal on foreign companies yet is so silent about indigenous or locally owned companies in this essence.

With that, it has been made clear that the Ministry of Forest and Research is not accepting any new applications for Felling Licences from Foreign logging companies as previously explained in a press release.

However, the Ministry on its efforts not to discriminate and engage in a level playing field on its action gives the indigenous or locally owned companies’ privileges, it says.

The Forestry office then questions why such complain against locally owned companies – whether fully owned by indigenous Solomon Islanders or partly owned through marriage is of interest.

“A local Solomon Islander, male or female marrying an expatriate, Asian or European, should be given the right to flourish with their business of interest or choice, thus logging business and related businesses are no exception.”

According to the statement it has noted that all of those companies mentioned in Sasako’s article are indigenous or locally owned companies.

Or are either partnered operations – meaning either the wife or husband is a local for that matter, thus it gives them the right to register as a local business entity at the Company Haus, and have the opportunities to make business in this country, it explains.

The statement adds the Ministry of Forestry and Research ensures that LN 114 is implemented accordingly while making sure that the logging business and related opportunities are available entrepreneur pathways for Solomon Islanders to venture into.

“Hence the granting of felling licenses to indigenous or locally owned business is done in the best interest of the government and the people of this country.

After all both the foreign and local logging companies have contributed enormously to the government revenue collection,” it adds.

The statement then dismisses allegations that the commissioner has failed in his duties is not true and holds no weight.

“Everyone else is complying accordingly with the legal procedures.”

The Forestry office then reiterate in questioning on whose interest the author is vesting on, Solomon Islanders or Foreigners?

“The Ministry of Forest and Research is looking forward to that time when Solomon Islanders can fully participate in forestry related businesses and development.

“Like any other businesses Solomon Islander’s operate, they are here to stay and contribute fully to the growing economy of this country in perpetuity.”

–MOFR PRESS

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