Minister of Development Planning and Aid Coordination, Jeremiah Manele presenting a gift to outgoing EU Ambassador Leonidas Tezapsidies
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
Minister of Development Planning and Aid Coordination, Jeremiah Manele presenting a gift to outgoing EU Ambassador Leonidas Tezapsidies
THE European Union (EU) despite its decision to shut down its Honiara Office will still retain its official residence in the country.
Minister for Development Planning and Aid Coordination (MDPAC) Jeremiah Manele during his Ministry’s farewell luncheon to the EU Ambassador to Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, His Excellency Leonidas Tezapsidis, yesterday at the Mendana Hotel encouraged him to review the idea of leaving Solomon Islands permanently.
“I am glad that you are retaining your residence and I hope in the next coming years, your bosses in Brussels will be able to review positions,” said Manele.
“We know that there are job political considerations and developments in the world that do determine some of these actions but we hope that you will one day think seriously to return.”
Tezapsidis during his farewell remarks reminded that though EU is closing its office, they hope that it will not be forever.
“And the move to keep the residence is a first step,” he said.
“Things go in cycles, the houring is to improve as a matter of fact our efficiency by not spreading. That was a decision taken to not spread our limited resources especially in the Pacific in many countries, but concentrate in one and two countries (PNG and Fiji) in order to be more efficient and effective.”
He explained that in Fiji, they now have practically all the expertise.
“While here, we have the Ambassador and the administration but not all the experts that are needed,” said Tezapsidis.
“So I hope even now from Fiji that things will work better. It is even better to be close to our partners.”
ENDS/////////////////// USE A PIC OF AMBASSADOR TEZAPSIDIS
PS for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Andrew Nihopara.
By Mike Puia
THE Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) confirms investigation is underway into reports that some Guadalcanal landowners removed a USA war memorial at Red Beach, in the Tenaru area, on North Guadalcanal.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Andrew Nihopara said his Ministry will work closely with the Guadalcanal police to investigate this matter. The investigation starts today.
Reports reaching this paper confirmed some Guadalcanal landowners in the Foxwood area entered a land owned by Solomon islanders of Kiribati origin and removed a white pillar monument that was planted there to mark the USA Marine Corps 1st and 5th landing spot on Guadalcanal.
The USA consulate office in Honiara, yesterday, expressed dismay over this reports.
US consul, Mrs Keithie Saunders, said “…US is very disappointed to see these important land marks destroyed.”
Saunders said military tourism is very important, not only for historical value but also as a viable income for villagers where the monuments are installed.
War monuments in the country come under the care of the MCT. As for the US monuments, the US consulate office only looks after the US war memorial at Skyline.
Members of the Kiribati community there expressed their dismay over the action.
Secretary of the Te I Tungara Association, John Bakeua, said the monument has been moved to a new site 800 meters inland from where it originally stood.
Bakeua said the monument was removed with the help of Dalgro loaders, truck and drivers.
He said they decided to file a case against those who removed the monument but Guadalcanal police advised not to as the monument does not belong to them.
On social media, the issue attracted interest.
One of them, Joseph Waleanisia said national monuments are national assets regardless of location and whoever destroys it should be charged.
He said lease hold title does not denote ownership of monuments.
Waleanisia said the action should be condemned and the culprit charged for criminal act and civil disloyalty saying “this is an irresponsible and selfish act and someone must be taught a lesson”.
Nihopara said any World War II monument or related relic falls under the Protection of Wreck and Relic Act CAP 150, which is enforceable by the National Museum.
THERE are many challenges not just here but also in Taiwan but the two major challenges in Solomon Islands is communication and power supply.
This was stressed by Professor Yue-Gau Chen of National Taiwan University (NTU) when speaking to the media after attending a reception with other members of the NTU delegation, the Taiwanese Central Weather Bureau (CWB) delegation and officials from Ministry of Environment’s Meteorology Department on July 18.
They are currently working together under the signed MOU on Meteorology Cooperation by Taiwan and Solomon Islands in April last for cooperation in meteorology and earthquake prevention.
Speaking of weather stations and challenges faced, he voiced that while there are a lot of challenges both in Taiwan and Solomon Islands, two major challenges they have come across in Solomon Islands are communication and power supply.
In terms of communication, he said translation is the challenge as languages vary given the number of different islands across the country.
Power supply deemed the most challenging with Professor Chen pointing out that sometimes when the power goes out, they can’t work out anything.
Henceforth, he added that those responsible to ensure that the power supply is maintained have an emergent task to perform so that they can keep the system running.
All the more, Professor Chen said that it is all about working together.
Recently, the Central Weather Bureau delegation travelled to Auki where they visited the Met station and the National Disaster Management Office and installed an A900A seismometer while National Taiwan University’s delegation travelled to Savo’s seismic station to review facilities and collect data.
A team from the Malaita provincial environmental health department will go to Atoifi Hospital in East Kwaio soon
The team will be led by the Malaita province’s Chief Environmental Health Inspector on a number of areas upon request by the management of Atoifi Hospital.
Chief Environmental Health Inspector of Malaita Province, Ms Gloria Siwainao told this paper yesterday that the tour is mainly to deal with two areas the hospital has requested assistance in.
She said they are food handling safety training for hospital’s food vendors and to see the status of the water piping system in the hospital.
Siwainao said as has been requested there was a need especially for women selling food at the hospital to be trained on food hygiene and safety.
She said the women need to acquire proper knowledge on the area and the training will be to upskill their food hygiene and skills knowledge.
Siwainao said upon request, the piping system of the hospital is old and has been recommended for inspection before renovation.
Siwainao said her office has been prepared for the trip for three weeks, but have been hampered by unfavourable weather.
She assured that they will immediately embark when weather permits.
Prime Minister Rick Hou delivering his speech during the occassion marking Renbel’s
25th anniversary.
By Mike Puia
Prime Minister Rick Hou delivering his speech during the occassion marking Renbel’s 25th anniversary.
THE national government, through the Ministry of provincial Government and Institutional Straightening (MPGIS), will embark on a study to look at how to share revenue from resources among provinces.
Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela, revealed this when addressing Renbel’s 25th anniversary celebration at Tigoa, Renbel’s provincial centre, over the weekend.
Houenipwela said a ‘Revenue Sharing Scheme’ study will be conducted to study and formulate an appropriate formula to be applied in terms of revenue sharing.
He said this was one of the resolutions put to the national government by the provincial premiers after the Premiers Conference in Auki, Malaita’s provincial centre, last November.
He revealed the MPGIS will engage a ‘Revenue Sharing Scheme’ expert to conduct the study.
Houenipwela said he hopes the revenue sharing study will provide a policy initiative to be incorporated into the review of the Provincial Government Act.
He said he hopes the study find a way to get everyone to receive fair share of their resources.
“Our people have been sidelined when it comes to receiving a fair share of their resources. As such, this study will enable our Government to have a policy in place to address this issue,” Houenipwela said.
He said it is the wish of the government that services are effectively delivered and that people get maximum benefit from their own resources.
The Prime Minister said the government will need everybody’s support in the development of this key policy initiative.
In terms of legislative review, Houenipwela said Cabinet has already endorsed the continual work on the Provincial Government Act review and the Draft Federal Constitution.
Further consultation on the review of these reviews will be carried out later this year.
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela is to be given a full briefing on Noni farming later this week by none other than North West Guadalcanal Constituency MP Hon Bodo Dettke.
A spokesman said the meeting with the Prime Minister would take place at the Sir Paul Tovua Complex at Vavaya Ridge tomorrow (Wednesday).
It is understood Hon Dettke would brief the Prime Minister, focussing on the positive outcome from Noni Farming, particularly in addressing unemployment amongst women and young people.
Hon Dettke is expected to raise the issue of duty exemptions with the Prime Minister, given that the project is designed to provide employment to people who would otherwise be without a job.
Hon Dettke has always maintained that Noni farming is the answer to providing work or employment for those in the rural areas.
Noni farming has taken the North West Guadalcanal Constituency by storm since Hon Dettke, a businessman turned politician, introduced it about two years ago. He has never looked back.
This week Noni farming took another leap – this time by introducing an Out-Grower Scheme targeting some 300 farmers who are being given free land to grow or farm Noni.
Some 140 plots were signed off on Sunday to take part in the five-year scheme. An estimated 700 farmers would soon move into the land which shared a common boundary with Gilbert Camp in East Honiara.
Group that is attending the Leadership for Civil Society Activism in Israel from 15th to 31st this month.
By Mike Puia
Malaita deputy Premier, Hon Alick Maeaba, posed for a photo with the deputy director of the Golda Meir International Training Center, Ms Shachar Re’em.
DEPUTY Premier of Malaita Province, Mr Alick Maeaba, is one of the 26 people from around the world who are currently attending a 16-day leadership for civil society activism training in Israel.
The training, which started on July 15, is undertaken by the Israeli Agency for International Cooperation and Development (MASHAV) in collaboration with the Golda Meir International Training Centre in Haifa, Israel.
The aim of the training is to equip participants to build and strengthen their civil society. It designed to develop and strengthen local leadership and organisations to address issues of public concern through collective activity.
Among other things, the training cover areas like community leadership models and skills, voluntarism for community development, gender mainstreaming, strategic and financial planning, communication and presentation skills, coalition building and networking.
Whilst in Israel, Maeaba hopes to attend specific meetings on other matters of interest to his Province with relevant stakeholders in Israel.
Group that is attending the Leadership for Civil Society Activism in Israel from 15th to 31st this month.
The training Maeaba attends is one of the many training covering different areas MASHAV is offering each year.
Given the level these training programs are delivered, it will be of great benefit to Maeaba in his leadership career. He will return to the country on the first week of next month.
Deputy Director of the Golda Meir International Training Centre, Ms Shachar Re’em, provided information and photos about the training Maeaba is attending.
The launch included the attendance of government officials, the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA), Ministry of Police, the Leadership Code Commission and Ombudsman.
Oxfam and partners launch EU-funded social accountability project
OXFAM Solomon Islands and members of the Solomon Islands Social Accountability Coalition (SISAC) have launched a new project that aims to empower citizens the ability to influence and hold service providers and key government actors accountable to their work.
The project “Improving Social Accountability in the Solomon Islands” is the first of its kind in the country courtesy to funding by the European Union.
Oxfam aim to collaborate and to strengthen the capacity of the coalition (SISAC) and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) over the next three years to promote inclusive development and enhance democratic governance and accountability among government and civil society institutions in the country.
SISAC is made up of members; Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI), Development Services Exchange (DSE), Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT), Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII), Young Women’s Parliamentary Group (YWPG), Honiara Youth Council (HYC), National Youth Congress, National Scouts Association (NSA) and Oxfam Solomon Islands.
The launch included the attendance of government officials, the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA), Ministry of Police, the Leadership Code Commission and Ombudsman, SISAC members and other CSO organisations.
Oxfam Solomon Islands Program Director, Doreen Fernando officially launched the project this morning thanking SISAC members for their tireless efforts toward social accountability and governance. She acknowledged the support from the European Union through a funding contribution over the next three years to support the work of CSOs in Solomon Islands.
“The project will work with all stakeholders in the implementation of the project; donor partners, CSOs, government ministries, private sector and communities,” said Ms Fernando.
“It is a new approach and we hope that there is understanding, trust and accountability throughout the implementation period.”
She said the project will further support SISAC to provide a platform for CSOs to work collaboratively and strategically as well as resourced to do research, tests and adapt social accountability tools that are contextually appropriate for Solomon Islanders.
The initiative aim is to enable CSOs and citizens to strategically influence national development, public funding policies and processes that enable sustainable growth.
It will also enhance and support CSO collaboration on social accountability and support the creation of public awareness campaigns on government funding, expenditure tracking and budget effectiveness.
European Union funding
Oxfam was one of the successful applicants and was awarded Grant Contract following the EU Delegation Solomon Islands Call for Proposals in 2017 under EU’s Civil Society Organisation.t line.
The priority area of the call for proposal focuses on enhancing the CSOs contributions to governance and development. In the Pacific, the European Union has been very active in engaging and supporting Non State Actors for many years, throughout bilateral and regional cooperation. This commitment has been translated by significant increase in terms of budget with specific financial envelops under the 11th European development Fund, allocated in country as well as regional allocations.
European Union commitment to support CSOs, was also recently reiterated in the European Consensus on Development, adopted in November 2016. The new Consensus updates the EU’s development’s response to current global challenges and promotes the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda in partnership with developing countries.
Jean, Wilhemina and Peter begin their studies at University of Adelaide this year.
Jean, Wilhemina and Peter begin their studies at University of Adelaide this year.
A FORMER Selwyn College student is now ready to begin a new chapter in his academic journey at the University of Adelaide in South Australia.
The experience would be a totally new adventure for 20-year-old Peter Wayne English Iroga, a former head boy and school captain of Selwyn College.
He will begin his Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences at the North Terrace Campus of the University of Adelaide as the second semester academic year begins today.
Iroga was also a Senior Prefect of the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) School last year when completing his form seven studies.
He was among hundreds of applicants for the prestigious Australian Awards Scholarships (AAS) and was finally selected as one of the 42 recipients.
Iroga finally got his admission at University of Adelaide and arrived in the South Australian capital city in June 2018.
He has since completed the Introductory Academic Programme (IAP) – a requirement for all AAS students in the last five weeks and already enrolled for his first semester university courses.
“I’m looking forward to begin my studies here in Adelaide and I’m grateful to be selected for this prestigious scholarship,” he said.
New students attend the O’Week at the University of Adelaide last week.
He joins two other young Solomon Islands AAS recipients Jean Uwesi and Wilhemina Utukana who will also begin their law degrees at the University of Adelaide this year.
Iroga’s admission to the University of Adelaide this semester increases the number of Solomon Islanders currently studying under AAS at the university to five. The others are engineering undergraduate student Ishmael Iro and Priestley Habru who began his masters’ degree this year.
The University of Adelaide is a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight research-intensive universities and ranked in the top 10 universities in Australia.
Some prominent alumni of the University of Adelaide are Julia Gillard who became the first female Prime Minster of Australia, Julie Bishop, current foreign affairs minister of Australia and Penny Wong, Labour Senator for South Australia in the Australian National Parliament.
Adelaide is the fifth largest city in Australia and is home to University of Adelaide (UniAdelaide), Flinders University (Flinders), University of South Australia (UniSA) and hosts of other vocational education providers.
Meanwhile Eddie Osifelo is another Australian Award scholar in his final year of master’s degree at Flinders University in Adelaide with another AAS recipient expected to begin her studies at the same university this month.
Another Solomon Islander studying at the University of South Australia in Adelaide funded by his employer is Glen Buka who began his masters’ degree at the Mawson Lake Campus of UniSA this year.
Blessing of the cross by the Diocesan Bishop of Hanuato’o in Makira Ulawa
Province the Right Reverend Alfred Karibongi
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
ULAWA Island successfully marked 140th Anniversary of the arrival of the first Anglican Missionary that brought Christianity to the people there.
This marks the history of Clement Marau a Vanuatu Missionary who first brought Christianity to Ulawa Island in 1878.
The anniversary programme starting on Wednesday and ending on Friday for three days last week witnessed the official unveiling of the statues of Clement Marau and Walter Waaro from Ulawa who assisted him during his Christian mission.
The unveiling was done by the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM), the Right Reverend George Takeli.
A visit was also followed by the Official Guests to Su’utaluhia where the remains of Clement Marau’s house and stone Alter are built as a drama of Clement Marau and Walter Waaro was played during the night program of Day Two by the Mwadoa Community group seeing other villages doing drama on how the church went to their village as well.
Blessing of the cross by the Diocesan Bishop of Hanuato’o in Makira Ulawa Province the Right Reverend Alfred Karibongi
On the last day the 4th generation descendants of Clement Marau organised a ceremony in honour of their great grandfather in which all proceeded to bless the cross on the seaside rock where Clement Marau and Walter Waaro spent for three years after being told by the heathens on Ulawa to not go further ashore from that boundary.
This included proceeding on to blessing the graves of Clement Marau, Susan Marau (his wife) and Walter Waaro closing the anniversary with a grand feast.
Speaking during the official closing of the historical anniversary, ACOM’s Archbishop the Right Reverend George Takeli thanked the people of Ulawa Island for gathering together to celebrate their history of how Christianity went ashore.
“I hope everything we have come to witness and hear and involve in for the past three days will help us to understand who we are, where we are and what we should be doing as we look into the future,” reminded the Right Reverend George Takeli.
The 4th generation of Clement Marau posing in front of the statues of Clement Marau and Walter Waaro
“The arrival of the two missionaries on Ulawa Island during the past has opened up a new history for us. It is marked by change making us become new people living with love, unity and peace. This is what open’s up blessing on Ulawa Island.
“We must re-look back at the history celebrating this 140th Anniversary. We must re-read it and understand how we have come for the last 140 years, where we are and how we have come to draw ideas. This is a time for reflection.
“This is so that we can reshape our leadership, our Priesthood and Christianity so that it can be relevant for today. Without this the work of the Church will not be strong. We will not meet the expectation of people by not addressing their need and not developing the ministry.
“Look at where and the values of the stories we have come and the challenges. In embracing the future and making use of this knowledge will enable us to re-read and re-design our work, life and community for today.
“It is important because there are a lot of challenges that our communities, Churches and leadership are facing.”
The beautiful church made from sawn coral rock being built at Mwadoa (Ulawa) under the supervision of Clement Marau that still stands to this day.
The theme for the 140th Anniversary was ‘Remembering the Past, Bridging the Present, Enhancing the future’.
Born about 1855 on Merelava Island in the Banks Group of Vanuatu, Clement Marau was the youngest son of Qoqoe, a Ni-Vanuatu chief.
In 1869, Marau, like two of his brothers before him, went to the Melanesia Mission School on Norfolk Island and was baptised and confirmed in 1875.
He travelled to Ulawa with Walter Waaro from that island in 1877 to begin the first school, initially for only three months.
Marau returned to Ulawa in 1878 for another year. He battled very difficult conditions and after three years little progress had been made.
Clement Marau, Ulawa, Solomon Islands. (From a Photograph by Bishop Montgomery.
When he wanted to marry Susie, a local woman, her family requested an exorbitant £50 for the bridewealth payment.
He learned to carve shell inlayed bowls and sold them to raise the money, and they married later married Susie in 1883.
Marau became a deacon in 1890 and a priest in 1903, by which about four hundred Ulawans had been baptised.
He became very influential, and supervised the building of a beautiful church from sawn coral rock, which still stands and was considered the most substantial building in the Protectorate until the Catholics built their stone church at Visale on Guadalcanal in 1909.
Unfortunately, Marau was suspended for some years for faithlessness and returned to Merelava, but he was later restored to the Mission and returned to Ulawa.
In 1918, his son Martin Marau was put in charge of the Ulawa church, a position he held for twenty-four years.
Clement Marau lived quietly nearby at Su’utaluhia until his death in 1920.
