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Mewa sworn in as new Minister of MNURP

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Milton Ragaruma
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Hon Mewa was sworn in as the new Minister for Peace & Reconciliation yesterday morning by acting GG Sir Albert Palmer.
Hon Mewa was sworn in as the new Minister for Peace & Reconciliation yesterday morning by acting GG Sir Albert Palmer.

MEMBER of Parliament for Temotu Nende Constituency, Commins Ashton Mewa, has been sworn in yesterday as the new Minister of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace (MNURP).

Mewa replaces former Minister and Member of Parliament for East Central Guadalcanal Constituency, Ishmael Avui.

Mewa was sworn in at the Government House by the acting Governor General Sir Albert Palmer and witnessed by the Prime Minister, his cabinet members, government backbenchers and senior government officials.

Mewa was the former Minister of Home Affairs.

–OPMC PRESS

West affected by drug shortage

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Milton Ragaruma
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Western Province Director of Health Services, Dr Dickson Boara.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

Western Province Director of Health Services, Dr Dickson Boara.

HOSPITALS, clinics and area health centres across the Western province are feeling the brunt of the drug shortage problem, which is also felt in Honiara and other provinces.

Western Province Director of Health Services, Dr Dickson Boara told Island Sun that the national ministry of health is working tirelessly to address the problem.

He adds that in the Western province, the worst hit are the people in the rural areas.

He said the Gizo medical pharmacy is strictly monitoring drug administration as means of economising the usage of drugs during this time.

“One strategy which was introduced at the Gizo Hospital was to properly manage drugs issued on daily basis.

“We now focus our attention on critically ill patients as well as all our prioritized patients at the Hospital.

“We only attend to in-patients already admitted at the Hospital and emergency cases, but he confirmed that the number of in-patient at the Hospital is manageable.”

Meanwhile, he encourages people to take preventative measures against sickness.

Taiwan responds to NRH drug shortage

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Milton Ragaruma
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Dr Rooney Jagilly receive donation from the Taiwan Deputy Counselor Mr Oliver Weng with other members of the Taiwan Embassy in Solomon Islands

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Dr Rooney Jagilly receive donation from the Taiwan Deputy Counselor Mr Oliver Weng with other members of the Taiwan Embassy in Solomon Islands

THE Republic of China (Taiwan), through its embassy in Honiara, on Tuesday donated medical supplies to the National Referral Hospital’s operation theatre and surgical ward as a quick response to the country’s current drug shortage.

The donation targets NRH’s operation theatre, mainly to meet emergency cases while waiting for medical supplies from the Solomon Islands Government and other funding agencies.

The donation comprises of gauzes, bandage, barrier surgical gowns, gloves, laryngeal mask airways, endo tubes, ambu mask, filters, surgical sutures and Nasogastric tubes, Foley tubes, microsurgery knifes, blades, haemostats, anesthetic and disinfection agents.

The medical equipment had cost Taiwan’s Government SBD$80,000.

The assistance has been described as timely and could not have come at a better time by NRH’s acting chief executive officer, Dr Rooney Jagilly.

He adds that the recipients will be the NRH’s operation theatre and surgical ward. Other province’s will receive theirs later.

Jagilly also mentions that the drug shortage is not only experienced in Honiara alone, but is felt nationwide.

He adds that his ministry is actively addressing the matter.

Jagilly thanked the Taiwanese Government through its Embassy for ‘such a generous donation’.

Taiwan Deputy Counselor Mr Oliver Weng said supporting NRH is what Taiwan always does since both countries are good friends – and if there is a need Taiwan will always help.

“Chief of the Taiwan Health Centre under the instruction of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, they were working very hard and closely with the NRH and they are aware of the case so they made a quick response to help the situation.

“I can guarantee you such corporation between Taiwan and Solomon Islands in health sectors are very positive and we will always willing to help if there is any need,” Weng said.

Agriculture can cushion logging revenue downfall

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Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

DECLINE in logging will see agriculture pick up downfall in revenue to stabilise the economy said the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL).

This is if through serious allocation for more support to address the constraints the agriculture sector is facing to compete in trade.

MAL’s PS Mr Oswald Ramo, during the launching of Solomon Islands Enhancing Capacities for Agriculture Trade (SIECAT) project on Monday, said agriculture plays a major role in Solomon Islands employing an estimated 84 percent of the population comprising of 40 percent of the national GDP, along with Fisheries and Forestry.

“MAL in collaboration with other ministries and stakeholders need to strengthen and be strategic and more precise in what to achieve to address agriculture in trade going forward,” said MAL’s PS.

He said there is an urgent need now than ever to device good policy and institutional environment to enhance going into agriculture exports and value additions.

“We need to put more resources in agriculture to build research facilities that allows research and innovation, capacity to improve and support the Ministry’s planning department. We need economist, capacity in livestock, support to boost extension, biosecurity to support our farmers which will support more investment in agriculture economy,” Ramo said.

He also noted that the SIECAT project will enhance the capacities of national agencies to meet international market standards and requirements.

“Accreditation and recognition of the national agencies/labs is vital.

“Having accredited facilities will give more confidence to our importers and will also help local companies to test and analyse their product to meet standards,” explained MAL’s PS.

He said this is very important and it is one of the barriers the country continues to face when trying to export agriculture products overseas.

“There is no short cut in trade. Importing countries always demand that certain standards must be met first to allow products and export to pass through their borders”

“To be able to trade in agriculture, you not only need to be well versed with the systems, but must have the appropriate faculties, capacity, good communication with all stakeholders, financial support and the resources to be able to produce and analyse or test your product,” Ramo explained.

MAL’s PS urges that it is a challenge everyone must all work together to overcome.

He reminded that despite of the recognition that agriculture is the major subsistence economy and priority sector that rural and urban people survive on, it has lack of support in terms of providing appropriate facilities and farm inputs, machineries and acquiring new knowledge and skills in farming.

MAL’s PS pointed that these are some of the challenges currently faced that impede Solomon Islands to participate fully in trade.

Secret deal

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Milton Ragaruma
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Three PM’s with the Coral Sea Cable company executives.

Is Solomon Telekom undermining government’s joint undersea cable project?

By Alfred Sasako

SOLOMON Telekom, trading as Our Telekom, appears to have set the stage for confrontation with the Government over the controversial fibre optic undersea cable project.

Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela last week signed off on the dotted lines with Canberra and Port Moresby for construction work to start on the project, being partially funded by Australia as a sweetener to let go of Huawei, the Chinese telco giant.

Since the deal was initialled, Our Telekom has reportedly been working quietly behind the scene in an apparent move to upstage the government, by being party to another undersea cable project, according to sources who spoke to Island Sun on condition of anonymity.

The revelation comes as another State-Owned Enterprise, Solomon Islands Postal Corporation (SIPC), has entered a secret deal with an unnamed Chinese company without being cleared by the Government to do so.

SIPC last month paid its staff and board members $30,000 and $10,000 apiece in what was described as a special bonus to help boost staff morale.

On the undersea cable, Our Telekom was contributing some $300 million as an investment in the project on the understanding Huawei would get the construction contract.

The proponents of the move argue that all technical equipments used by Our Telekom are Huawei products. The Government rejected Our Telekom’s request because Canberra had elbowed Huawei from the project, citing security concerns.

“SIG never realises that their step is putting Telekom in danger. Telekom/NPF needs to survive.

“Tel/NPF took off to China without government’s notice and made peace with Huawei. They also arranged that Telekom/NPF has their own fibre link from Vanuatu and still have Huawei as Contractor. The deal was fixed,” the sources said.

The Solomon Islands National Provident Fund has denied any of its staff or board members travelled to China to make peace with Huawei.

Work on Our Telekom/NPF undersea fibre optic cable is set to start next year.

“The question is, after the government has completed their own undersea cable, which technical equipments are they going to connect too? Are they going to sell it to Bemobile or invite a new mobile company? If SIG is not careful, their efforts and money would be wasted,” one source said.

On the other hand, the source said once Our Telekom’s project is completed, it would easily be hooked up to its existing equipment used on their networks.

In Vanuatu, Interchange Company Limited confirmed yesterday it is constructing a subsea telecommunications cable between Port Vila, Vanuatu and Honiara, Solomon Islands with a branching unit spur connecting to Luganville, Vanuatu.

“This cable, “ICN2” is being supplied by USA Company TESUBCOM and this is not a joint venture with SolTel (Our Telekom). Huawei is not part of our project in any way (either),” Interchange Company Ltd Managing Director, Simon Fletcher told Island Sun yesterday.

“Interchange Limited is a private company registered in Vanuatu which 75 per cent owned by Nivanuatu citizens via their National Provident Fund, Government and a state owned enterprise plus private investors,” Mr Fletcher said.

“We have commenced the construction phase of ICN2 and expect to bring the cable into commercial service on 9th November 2019,” he said.

Athletics to impose strict standard

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Milton Ragaruma
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A recap of last month’s high school sports carnival organised by the Athletic Solomons.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

THE national athletics governing body will impose strict measures on its athlete selections for the 2019 Pacific Games and other future international events.

President of Athletic Solomons (AS) James Iroga said the imposing of the strict qualifying standards is a new strategy to ensure Solomon Islands is represented competitively at the regional level and other international events.

Iroga said gone are the days where the national athletics federation is always lenient in its athlete selections for representation in international events.

“Solomon Islands will host the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara and in order for the country to be competitive against other countries; we must step up by putting in strict measures.

“I have already worked on the qualification standards that athletes should reach before they are qualified to participate in the Pacific Games next year in Samoa,” Iroga stressed.

Iroga emphasized that the new qualification standards will be based on the timing of the bronze medal winners of last year’s Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu.

“We must not set our own standards; we need to set the standard on most recent games.

“The qualification standards are the bench mark not only for next year 2019, but also bench mark for 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands.

“The immediate focus now is the 2019 Pacific Games but it will be reviewed after that as we prepare for the 2023 event,” Iroga explained.

Athletic Solomons organised two big yearly events last month. They were the national school championship and the national athletics championship.

Iroga stated that the recent two events were held successfully with exceptional results attained by high school students.

“Some athletes have already reached or just about to reach the qualifying standards.

“With the reviving of our National Inter-Secondary School athletic sport carnival, the road ahead regarding the preparation of our athletes for 2023 looks very promising indeed.

“Some young athletes have managed to beat some national athletes already.

“It looks as more than half of the contingent for 2019 will be from secondary Schools.

“What we need to do now is proper training and more competitions,” explained Iroga.

See below is the new qualification standard for sprint and middle distance events based on Bronze medal winners at the Vanuatu Pacific Mini Games in 2017.

       MEN

 

      EVENTS        WOMEN
     10.92        100m    13.00
     22.00          200m    26.53
     49.00        400m    1:06.36
     1:57.34        800m    2:30.17
     4:19.88        1500m    5:06.30

 

Marahare and KOSSA refutes media report

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Milton Ragaruma
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BY ROMULUS HUTA

FORMER KOSSA head coach Eddie Marahare has refuted an article carried on this paper yesterday stating he was axed from his former club.

The article stated that KOSSA Football Club had sacked their Head Coach Eddie Marahare as the new Telekom S-League (TSL) season gets ready to kick off.

Responding to the article, Marahare denies being issued with any marching order by KOSSA.

He however, stated that he resigned from his former club to take up the new offer given to him by Henderson Eels FC.

“I was not sacked by KOSSA but resigned to take up the new offer from Henderson Eels for the new season of the TSL.”

On the same note, the KOSSA Executive also refutes the article regarding the sacking stating Marahare resigned on his own accord to take up his new offer with Henderson Eels.

Yesterday, owner of Henderson Eels FC Hudson Wakio made an official announcement upon Marahare’s appointment as the new head coach of his club welcoming the local experience coach onboard the Eels coaching team.

Marahare in charge of Eels

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Milton Ragaruma
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BY ROMULUS HUTA

Henderson Eels new coach Eddie Marahare.

LOCAL soccer coach Eddie Marahare will take on the head coaching role of Henderson Eels Football Club for the new season of the Telekom S-League.

This follows his resignation from long-time club KOSSA FC last week.

Marahare will assume responsibilities with his new club this week, Henderson Eels owner Hudson Wakio confirms yesterday.

“Henderson Eels FC Management would like to formally announce that Eddie Marahare has been appointed as head coach to lead Eels FC for the 2018 TSL season.

“Eddie will be assisted by Chris Asipara as the TSL assistant coach.

“Chris Asipara will still look after Eels HFA team and will be assisted by Stanley Puairana.

“Eels team trainer for the new season is Eddie Koke. Other technical positions will be announced soon.

“In the meantime, I would like to wish Eddie Marahare, Chris Asipara and the team best of luck for the new season.

“The management will always support you in whatever plans you come up with to move Eels forward this new season,” Wakio stated in an official statement issued by the club.

Marahare is one of KOSSA’s longest serving coaches.

Acknowledging Marahare’s many contributions to their club over the past seasons, KOSSA Executive Committee Member, Robert Seni wished their former head coach all the best in his new appointment with Henderson Eels.

“We would like to offer our most sincere congratulations upon your assumption of your new responsibilities.

“We at the club pledge our further support and look forward to a productive cooperation with you.

“We wish you every success in your future role as the coach of Henderson Eels,” Seni expressed.

The new TSL season will begin Wednesday next week.

Western province to launch newest policy

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Milton Ragaruma
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO

THE Western Province Women’s Empowerment and Transformation Policy for Development (WPWETPD) will be launched in Gizo, Western province.

The launching program is going to be held at the Women’s Resource Centre tomorrow at 9am to 12pm.

Hundreds of Women from all 26 wards in the Province and women’s organisation in Gizo, and representatives from UN Women/UNPBF, the Western Province Government and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs will attend the launching.

According to Media Advisory and Communication Specialist Ms Merinda Valley stated that the Western Province Women’s Empowerment and Transformation Policy for Development is a blueprint for the strategies, projects and programmes the province can use to address needs and obstacle that prevent women from developing their talents and fully participating as equal partners in provincial development.

She highlighted that the women’s policy endorsed by the Western Province Government Executive in May, Un Women is organizing a policy launch through the UN Peace building Fund (UNPBF) project in partnership with the Western Province Government, women’s organizations in Western Province, the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs and the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening.

Domestic wharf will still take place: Vasuni

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Milton Ragaruma
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CIP Premier Hon Patrick Vasuni

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

CENTRAL Islands Province (CIP) Premier Hon Patrick Vasuni said work on a new domestic wharf at Tulaghi will yet take place soon between July and August.

This comes after locals raised query if whether the Premier’s announcement has only reached a dead end, as it is now approaching the end of July.

He explained that the domestic wharf will be built at the “Smoking” area of the former National Fisheries Development (NFD) Base in which the land there has already been given back to the province by the fishing company.

According to the Premier and his Provincial Executive, there are other positive developments for the province expected this year.

From the development to take place is why Smoking residents will have to move inland according to the Premier.

Island Sun is still yet to get the Ministry of infrastructure’s (MID) side of information from this new development proposed.

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