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Beetle threat intensifies in Honiara

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

IT is reported that 90 percent of palm trees in Honiara are already damaged or dead because of the invasive Coconut Rhino Beetles (CRB),

Acting Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), Mr Oswald Ramo said, over the last four years, 90 percent of the palms in Honiara area have been severely damaged or dead and this devastation is cause by CRB.

Ramo said this figure shows it is a serious matter and a challenging one for MAL and key stakeholders. He said they need strong collaboration from everyone in the country to eradicate the rhino beetles.

He adds, ‘Incursion of foreign pests into the Solomon Islands is a serious concern for our biosecurity teams under the increasing pressure from global trade and climate change.”

He also adds that currently MAL and other leading organizations are working on a project with clean-up campaign targeting the CRB larvae, remove dead palm trees and to destroy breeding sites.

On this matter, Ramo called for a unified and well-resourced response from responsible authorities, stakeholders, farmers and communities to fight the rhino beetle to save our palm trees.

Director for Pacific Community (SPC) Land Resources Division, Dr Jan Helsen said, “SPC is playing a regional role by supporting Pacific Island Countries and Territories.”

Helsen said their program aims to develop emergency response plans in the event of an incursion and assist to strengthening the biosecurity pathways that could be entry points for CRB.

“There is no ‘silver bullet’ solution to removing the threat of CRB, but using every means possible to halt its spread is critical to ensuring the threat is managed,” Dr Helsen said.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing $NZ 1 million (approx. SBD5.4m) to support a project targeting the full eradication of rhino beetles in Solomon Islands.

New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs has been working closely with MAL, SPC, CRB National Taskforce, Strongim Bisnis, GPPOL, Kastom Gaden and PHAMA.

Government decisive steps on drug crisis

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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National Referral Hospital

“Charter of an aircraft to bring drugs over, need be”

By Alfred Sasako

THE Government has taken a number of decisive steps to address the on-going acute shortage of drugs, which has plunged the National Referral Hospital into a national crisis.

These measures include a Cabinet decision in the past week to put an end to Australia’s funding for drugs in support of our healthcare system. The decision takes effect immediately, insiders told Island Sun.

The Government has taken this decision because Australia, they say, contributed substantially to the drugs crisis through insistence by Canberra that the Ministry of Health and Medical Services adhere to Australia’s own standard of procurement procedures and protocol to secure Australia’s funding.

The Australian Government however said it is committed to supporting the Health Sector Support Program, now in its third phase. Under the five-year program (2016-2020)”the Australian Government has committed to provide up to AUD47.8 million (about SBD321 million) as direct budget support to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) for the delivery of health services, including the purchase of drugs and medical supplies.”

However, officials pointed out that Australia’s demand to follow its procurement arrangement has impacted rather negatively on drugs purchases and supplies to our National Referral Hospital because health officials have to redo everything. That takes time,” insiders told Island Sun on Wednesday.

“As a result, the Government has now decided it would take on the full cost of drugs purchases and supplies immediately. We know it is risky but we cannot play around with people’s lives,” senior officials said.

“The Cabinet decision also meant organising supplies immediately from Brisbane as the point of departure. Solomon Airlines has been requested to consider airfreighting medicines and supplies as the top priority.

“If we have to, we will charter an aircraft to bring the drugs over,” senior officials said.

As the rush to replenish drugs supplies at the National Referral Hospital continues, the National Medical Store (NMS) yesterday cleared IV fluids and hand cloves from Point Cruz, Permanent Secretary Dalipada told Island Sun.

“(Today) we hope another load of medicine (mostly IV medications) would be airlifted in from Brisbane,” he said.

There were indications last night the new MP for Gizo-Kolombangara, Hon Lanelle Orlandrea Tanangada could replace the Minister for Health and Medical Services as direct fallout from the drugs crisis at the National Referral Hospital.

Women’s squad to finalise this week

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The Solomon Islands national women’s side.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

The Solomon Islands national women’s side.

THE women’s national soccer squad will be finalised this week.

Head Coach Diane Justus confirmed to SunSPORTS earlier this week.

“Training continues two days a week and final team will be named by Friday 20th July.”

The national women’s squad is preparing to take part in next month’s OFC Women’s Nations Cup Qualifier.

The tournament will be held at at Churchill Park in Lautoka, Fiji and will run from August 24 to August 30.

The preliminary competition brings the senior women’s teams from Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and American Samoa together to compete for the last remaining berth in the final tournament, which will take place in New Caledonia in November.

According to released schedules, Solomon Islands will take on American Samoa in the tournament opener on August 24, followed by Fiji on August 27 and later Vanuatu on August 30.

The winner of the qualifier will join hosts New Caledonia and reigning champions New Zealand in the final tournament along with Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa, and Cook Islands.

The final tournament will be held in New Caledonia between 17 November and 4 December, with the match schedules yet to be finalised.

This is the first edition of the Women’s Nations Cup which will feature all 11 OFC Member Associations. The winner of the final tournament will represent Oceania at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 and the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament 2020.

Tahiti and New Caledonia will play in the qualifier but given their current status as non-members of the International Olympic Committee, if they finish at the top, they will only play in the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 but not the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament 2020.

Under-16 leaves on July 25 for Japan

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) President William Lai.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) President William Lai.

THE national under-16 soccer will embark on another leg of their intensive preparation toward this year’s OFC Under-16 Championship when they leave on the plane July 25 for a 16-days trip to Japan.

The tour will see Head coach Stanley Waita bringing with him 23 players and another two officials.

Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) is putting a lot of seriousness and resources into this youth side’s preparation given Solomon Islands will play host to the regional qualifiers from September 9 to 22 in Honiara.

Solomon Islands was drawn in Pool A alongside New Zealand, Vanuatu, PNG and Papua New Guinea.

The top two teams emerging from the championship will qualify into next year’s FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Peru.

The primary aim is to have this young side qualify into the under-17 world cup.

SIFF President William Lai told the media earlier last month that the under-16 participation in the OFC qualifiers is one of their major projects this year.

“Our Executive has decided and believes that our gateway is Asia in terms of preparation and in terms of showing our best players to try to see how good we are. I think this is the most effective way of showing what we can offer to the world. It’s a definite excitement for us.

“The world cup is our target and aim.

“A dream can be fulfilled if we do the best we can to prepare our team.

“Let’s not just dream and not do something about it.”

Lai added that Japan has a very good standard in youth development and one of the best in Asia.

Over a course of two weeks, the team will engage in intensive training sessions and so as play friendlies against professional teams in Japan.

Details of the matches will be finalised either today or tomorrow, SIFF Media Officer Simon Abana stated yesterday.

The trip will also mark the beginning of their partnership and connection with Japan Football Federation.

“Japan is one of the top Asian countries in football. The trip is also an opportunity for us to establish partnership with them. If you understand, we have one Japanese volunteer working with us in the technical department. This is just the beginning,” Lai said.

The under-16 side is expected to return home after the first week of August.

Young Taiwan doctors complete 4 month medical journey

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Dr Li Cheng Yu and Dr Liu Kuan Fu after delivering their presentation.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

TWO young Taiwanese doctors have completed a four month stay in the country, providing medical services and specialized skills as general practitioners to the national referral hospital and two Honiara City Council clinics in Honiara.

Dr Li Cheng Yu (Mick) and Dr Liu Kuan Fu (James) were dispatched by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Taiwan government to assist the projects of the Taiwan Health Centre in the country from March 6th to July 19th 2018.

During their first six weeks in the country, both doctors worked at the national referral hospital. Dr Li worked in the surgical department and emergency department while Dr Liu assisted the hospital in orthopedics and internal medicine.

Dr Li also assisted NRH’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Rooney Jagilly in surgery and attended to patients in fast track area and resuscitation in the emergency room.

Dr. Liu is assessing a child’s health condition in Kukum clinic

Meanwhile, Dr Liu worked in orthopedic clinics, assisted in surgery operations, joined the daily ward round and helped take care of patients in terms of internal medicine.

Apart from providing services to the hospital, they also tried to find out the largest disease burdens in the country and what was lacking in terms of techniques and facilities provided for the public.

This led Dr Li and Dr Liu to discuss the above issue with several staff of the hospital of which information they obtained was sent back to the Taiwan Embassy and Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, the hospital responsible for the Taiwan’s Health Centre here in Honiara.

Dr Li Cheng Yu and Dr Liu Kuan Fu after delivering their presentation.

With that information passed on, they hope that it can better help Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital formulate their future plans so that donations made by the Taiwan government can meet the actual and overriding needs of Solomon Islands.

Work at the national referral hospital was followed by services offered to Kukum and Rove clinics in which they spent six weeks, from mid- April to May.

Whilst working at the clinics they found that medical practitioners were lacking so they cooperated with nurses and provided secondary consultations.

Their work in the clinics included review of patients who had complicated or more serious diseases, minor surgery and awareness talks on non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Language for any foreigner is challenging so for Dr Li and Dr Liu, speaking Pijin in earlier days was a bit difficult especially when it came to communicating with their patients and trying to figure out if they were being understood.

The development of a “Medical terms in Pijin” booklet by both doctors eased this situation as patients easily understood them.

Dr. Li performed an abdominal scan for a patient in emergency department in NRH.

They emphasized that the booklet would, in the future greatly assist doctors from Taiwan when communicating with Solomon Islanders.

The last lap of their medical journey, from June 5th to June 14th was when they joined the Taiwan Mobile Medical team and provided services to people in Small Malaita.

Dr Li and Dr Liu expressed that people in Solomon Islands were very friendly and this was what gave the great amount of energy to contribute their services in many aspects to help the people.

It was a great honor for them to serve the country and they hope that they will have the chance to revisit the country in the future.

Both doctors delivered a presentation of their work experience at the Taiwan Health Centre on Tuesday.

(Left) Dr Li, two nurses and Dr Liu at Kukum clinic.

MUP plan to rehabilitate coconut plantations intact

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Makira Ulawa Premier Stanley Siapu

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

Makira Ulawa Premier Stanley Siapu

PREMIER of Makira/Ulawa province has reiterated his government’s commitment to rehabilitate coconut plantations in the province.

In an interview on Tuesday, premier Stanley Siapu said sometimes ago his government had set a taskforce to work with people on the plan.

He said the taskforce is yet to roll out with the work as necessary work required by the taskforce to do on the plan has already been prepared.

Siapu said for now the member of the taskforce whom they were his executive members are still busy on other works and as long as they done they will go for the work.

He explained that coming up with the plan is his government’s commitment to ensure turning the coconut plantations into something will benefit the people and the province.

Siapu said the purpose of rehabilitating the coconut plantations was to maintain the productivity of the plantations.

He said most of the plantations in the province were about 60-70 years old and they need rehabilitating them.

Adding that with idea of rehabilitating the plantations, the notion was to look at what already existed rather than going for something new.

He explained that if his government to look at introducing new kind of agricultural developments that will be either costly or demanding to his people, rather than rehabilitating the existing agricultural assert in the province.

However, in pursuant of the plan to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Siapu said the ministry has no budget for activity deal with development of coconut for this year.

He said despite that his government’s focus was still on the plan to ensure people to benefit from coconut development in his province.

Siapu also assured that his government also working on other areas of development for the province.

Reconciliation held in east Kwaio over Mr Bell killing

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ELLISON VAHI

A reconciliation ceremony was held in east Kwaio, Malaita province, last week between the families of Mr RW Bell and Mr Willies and families of those who also took part and lost their lives.

Speaking to Island Sun, a Mr Simon Palmer said their committee acknowledge the descendants of the two deceased, Robert Bell and Mr Willies, for willingly accepting to reconcile with the three tribes of East Kwaio especially the Nguda, Aieda and Furiilai who attacked Mr Bell and Mr Willies at Gweabe at Sinalangu east Kwaio in 1927.

Palmer mentioned that the three tribes played an active role leading to the reconciliation.

Palmer adds that the two-day programme was very touching, as was the coming together of the two parties in reconciling and making peace with each other.

The first-day programme on July 11 was called “Ririfuanimae” meaning to clear away what happened in the past with the dead ancestors involved in the killings.

This is done with a pig offered to the Fata’abu or chiefs to ask for their permission as well to convince them that the programme be accepted.

The next day was the “kwaigwaoinga” ceremony, the presentation of three pigs to the three reps from the three tribes involved in the killing of Mr Bell and Mr Willies, in remembering their leaders who were hanged by the gov’t for the killing.

“All these was part of the peace and reconciliation process,” Palmer said.

Palmer explains that following the two-day programme, the next move is to facilitate a peace programme as they are yet to do with the descendants of those innocent people from the highlands who were once abused and tortured by the Government.

He said that they are still working on how to facilitate and finance the programme.

Once all processes are done, then they will look at compensation matters with Mr Bell and Mr Willies’ relatives, as consultations have already been done.

Palmer adds that since they are facing financial difficulties, they are calling on all responsible authorities such as Ministry for Peace & Reconciliation for their support ‘as this is one main function of the ministry’.

The ‘other side’ of Honiara central market

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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At central market

By Ezekiel Talatau

At central market

WHILE most times we hear reports concerning how the affairs at the Honiara central market affects the public, much less is reported on the other side of the coin – which is the plight of the farmers and sellers.

Speaking with a local market seller yesterday, a Ms Lensa Ngora, she said they face a lot of challenges when it comes to food price.

“The problem with the food price is that, people nowadays are only considered the cheap food price that fits their own pocket. If the prices is increase, most of our foods will not be paid,” she said.

“As farmers and a market sellers, we have face a lot of challenges on how we can meet our own expenses and our demand.

“If we decided to sale our foods with low price. It is most likely that we cannot meet our own demand but to save the need of the people. This is a big loss for us.

“For each day, we have to pay our town council fee and sometimes, at the end of the day, what we earn does not meet our fee expenses.”

Esau Ija, a local seller at the central market says, “Some of us are not from Guadalcanal, we are from other provinces, and we are here to sale our foods to help us, gain some profits so that we can find some things we need in town, when we go back to our provinces.

“The problem with us today is that, most of the prices of foods we sale is not worth us a profit, this is because, our expenses such as sea fare, sea freight and town council fee are increase and our food price is not supposed to be this low.

“For example, if we sell our cabbage for 15, most people well only go for the lower price which is 10. This is really unfair for us.

“There are growing concern on some of the some local farmers in Central market thinking that, the price of foods sales here must meet our expenses in order for us to sustain and continue to do marketing.

“If what we earn does not meet our expenses, then it likely that the most farmers will not be tolerated to do marketing in the future.”

MEHRD achieves government’s priorities

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

MINISTRY of Education and Human Resource Development has achieved government priorities and education reformed initiatives embedded in the National Education Action Plan 2016—2020, it is reported.

From the MEHRD’s annual report 2017, it stated that the Ministry has successfully delivered key government priorities and reform initiatives which were embedded in the NEAP 2016—2020.

According to the MEHRD, it said the achievements last year are shaped around three long term education outcomes.

The outcomes are; now girls and boy have safe and equitable access to complete education irrespective of social, economic and other status.

Girls and boys receive quality education with relevant outcomes, and management system and practices are embedded and sustained at school.

“These high-level outcomes are supported by a comprehensive set of performance measures and indictors across all MEHRD activities set out in the MEHRD Results Framework,” Ministry said.

However, Ministry adds its challenges are there is imbalance expenditure between education sectors in Solomon Islands.

In tertiary level, $425 Million spend for 2,756 students while ECE, Primary and Secondary budget is $224 million cater for 216, 137 students in the country which described imbalance share.

Besides that, Ministry also adds that teachers and students did not have enough learning resources.

Premier Gina says border issues urgent

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

WESTERN Province Premier David Gina says his government views the western border issues as an ‘urgent matter’ and recognises the need to find a ‘practical and lasting’ solution.

Gina on Tuesday said the matter has received strong backing by stakeholders during a workshop last week which brought together chiefs, the Western provincial government and other stakeholders.

He said the ongoing breaches of the territorial sovereignty and territorial integrity of Solomon Islands border by Papua New Guinea nationals is against the intent and spirit of the treaties.

He adds, there is an urgency to bring this to the attention of both governments.

“The status of the various treaties signed and ratified with Papua New Guinea Government and that both governments are now undertaking a comprehensive review of these treaties and agreements.

“The existence of province border committees and their participation in the senior officials meetings in the past but seems not to be effective now,” said Gina.

Gina also mentions that there is a strong desire among leaders in both sides of the border for the establishment of a permanent border post.

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