RECENT published studies from Australia says that five islands in the Solomon Islands are dropping below the ocean surface and some others are severely eroded.
The researchers carried out the study based on monitoring system using satellite and aerial images of 33 islands made from 1947 to 2014 and drew additional accounts by local residents.
The five islands that had vanished were all vegetated reed islands of noteworthy sizes and were uninhabited, but subject to occasional use by fisherman, the study reveal.
Between 2011 and 2014, 10 houses were swept in to the sea on one of the six reef islands that have undergone severe erosion damage from the rising sea – result from global warming.
In addition, the receding shorelines of two sides had forced communities that had existed since 1935 to relocate, the researcher said.
Sea level rise has risen three times than the global average, making the islands an ideal place to study such phenomena.
IMPACTS of forest loss on community and ecosystem in some of our provinces in SI divulge a significant threat to our wildlife ecosystem.
University of Queensland wildlife conservation society research team (WCS) have stated that Solomon Islands has been found to increase land clearing for logging. Even if the best manageable practice is in place, the country has already experienced unsustainable levels of soil erosion, and significant impacts of downstream water quality.
WCS added that these impacts will compromise the integrity of the lands for future agriculture uses, interrupt access to clean drinking water and degrade important downstream ecosystems.
Impacts of Logging does not only affects our forest but it also affects animals living within the forest.
Dr Christopher Fillardi of the American Museum of Natural History has also exposed that the poorly managed logging operation has a clue to an extinction of a population of birds. He added that, for 20 years, they have search for a bird which he describe as a Ghost bird (Moustached Kingfisher). A rare species found in Solomon Islands only.
He added that increased logging could result in the decline of this species.
A concerned citizen also reveal that logging in Isabel province (Medoru) has influence in extinction of one of the unique mangrove shells that was used for red money and the nearby communities are struggling to find mud crabs.
The permanent secretary of forestry and research has also declared that Solomon Islands forest ecosystem has suffered from the massive harvest.
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela during the 40th Independence anniversary on Friday last week paid a special tribute to the men and women who served in the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
He said through RAMSI our Pacific brothers and sisters were part of the journey in these forty years of independence.
“To the brave men and women of RAMSI, your families, your nations, we owe a deep sense of gratitude.
“To the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that our people can now enjoy peace and stability again, your sacrifices will never be forgotten, and we offer our most sincere and heart felt gratitude for sacrifices you have made,” PM Houenipwela said.
He said now that law and order has maintained it is Government’s core responsibility to always ensure that Law and order is maintained.
And is being carried out through the RSIPF crime prevention and community strategy.
In terms of our Border security issues, the Government is currently working on a new strategy for enhancement of the Border Security and Management System.
PM Hou also highlighted that the international scene, RSIPF is now linked with Interpol, regional and international police, security and intelligence agencies.
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela says corruption must be prevented otherwise it will deprive people’s benefits expected from the country’s resources.
“We must prevent the culture of corruption from taking hold in our country.
“If we do not, it will lead us down a path that will deprive our people of the benefits they should rightly expect from our country’s resources.
“In this regard I am happy to inform the nation that the Anti – Corruption Bill (2018) and the Associated Whistle-Blower Protection Bill (2018) will be tabled in Parliament this year,” PM Houenipwela said.
He also said in a relatively short period the SIDCC Government has driven a number of key legislative and policy reforms and economic opportunities.
And some of those reforms were also championed by the previous DCC government with bipartisan support. These reforms represent important milestones in our journey since Independence and going forward into the next 40 years, PM Houenipwela said.
Olevugha (Olex) Women Dancing Group who performed during the 2018 Independence Cruise Pana Festival as well. PHOTO CREDIT
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
Olevugha (Olex) Women Dancing Group who performed during the 2018 Independence Cruise Pana Festival as well. PHOTO CREDIT
THE next Pana Festival at Ngella to be organised soon coming next year according to its organizing committee should be more in terms of its showcases and set-ups.
Kenneth Sagupari speaking to Island Sun said plans will not delay as they will be going according to plans as soon as possible within coming days meaning they are starting preparations now.
The ‘Pana Festival’ held for the first time at Ngella by the Haroro Community and its surrounding communities coinciding with the 2018 Independence Cruise to mark Solomon Islands 40th Anniversary is history in the making for Ngella people to showcase a root crop having significant value in their tradition being part of their culture.
Many witnessing the showcases during the one day event included visitors attending the MACFest in Honiara as well.
It is understood that Ngella’s Pana Festival will be an annual event.
Local Dancing group entertaining a dance foretelling a custom story of the
Fantail Bird during the 2018 Independence Cruise Pana Festival
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
IMERIAL Travel Service 2018 cruise to Ngella marking Solomon Islands 40th Anniversary created history coinciding with the one day ‘Pana Festival’ held for the first time at Haroro Village.
Occurring during Friday last week, Imperial Travel Service cruise and traditional Pana Festival (root crop) got visitors from Honiara and overseas enjoying the day with local communities of Sandfly and Big Ngella showcasing 14 different varieties of Pana and the different styles they are prepared for eating.
Along with the showcasing were traditional dance performances as well entertaining all throughout the day.
Haroro Community being the host reminded stakeholders and everyone attending the special event that the cultural celebration is meant to bring the world together, a little closer in front of their doorsteps.
“In this case we are trying to contribute in promoting the tourism industry of the country so that it can be reachable to our rural areas,” said Haroro Community’s rep.
“This year’s 2018 Imperial Cruise and Pana Festival are not on a trial basis as we are beginning to show ourselves that we too own the future and there are factors to embrace it.”
“With this peaceful state of mind, we urge you to spread news of the ‘Pana Festival’ out to the world, in any means of communication that is applicable. For the responsible authorities this is very important.”
Haroro Community and Sandfly (Big Ngella) as a whole are grateful that despite the fact of hiccups faced, they thank everyone who has assisted in one way or another along with Imperial Travel Service to make the festival take place into reality.
The Managing Director of Imperial Travel Service, Ender Rence, and the hardworking committee behind the Pana Festival coinciding with the 2018 Independence Cruise last week Friday
This includes the Tulaghi police and business houses who have contributed in kind such as the Solomon Star, Tropic Aluminium and Glass, 8 Note, Sunday Isles Media and Fair West Shipping.
Ender Rence the Managing Director of Imperial Travel Service during the festival celebration expressed that as the country turn’s 40 years old, she urged everyone to know and see their purpose being something lacking in Solomon Islands.
“My message for today in this 40th Anniversary is we must look back to our purpose and ask why we are here. Know our history as we have to own a purpose before our future is focused,” reminded Ender.
“To not lose the traditional purpose of Pana, we have to activate and cultivate the purpose of this unique root crop. These resources as such will help clear the pathway for the future of our country’s development.
“We are now 40 years old and we should be delivered from the wilderness. Our shores should be open embracing our resources owned to recognize their values and purpose.
“If we do not understand their purpose yet then we will not know how to evaluate our resources. Solomon Islands is full of natural resources.”
She elaborated that during the last 40 years, the country has been robbed by activities such as logging and so everyone needs to sit back and evaluate what has happened.
“Recently we have come to recognise one of what we have and that is the root crop Pana, one of our valuable resources,” said Ender.
Local Dancing group entertaining a dance foretelling a custom story of the Fantail Bird during the 2018 Independence Cruise Pana Festival
“The likes of Yam, Banana and Kodili Festivals are pictures of how unique our valuable scattered resources and traditions are.”
“So as the famous saying goes, ‘United we stand Divided we fall’, in order to promote our valuable resources, our eyes must be open to link all the available resources and logistics that we have to jointly enjoy the value and the purpose of our resources.
“We have to be mobilised so that our eyes can be open, we have been stagnant in the last 40 years so it is about time to break free and move forward in enabling ourselves as we have been locked up behind our own shelves for a long time now.”
“Solomon Islands is a very rich country in terms of natural and human resources but we have to recognise what we have so that we utilise.
During tasting different recipes made out of the different varieties of Pana
“Pana is a resource that is contributing in giving colours to this nation so let us all promote it, let us show the world and let us market it being the purpose of us being here today.
“Let us take pride of this event, let us show our uniqueness and reveal to the world that what we have promotes our purpose of existence. Let’s build, collaborate and link what we have in order to evaluate so that we can all promote our resources.
“By working together, we will be able to see on the other side the good things that we have.
“Pana Festival is the first of its kind to happen here at Haroro Village as we have to acknowledge our effort in bringing back the uniqueness of the culture in order to evaluate parts of its varieties, contents and beauty that is fading away.”
“Let the wonders of Pana explode during when its event such as today takes place.”
She added that the Pana Festival is a memorable occasion thanking everyone attending and enjoying the cruise that their presence is part of recognising the natural resources of the country meaning they must promote the showcase and purpose of Pana including the festival’s vision.
“We are here to promote and embrace our natural resources as such will help boost our tourism industry in the country,” said Enda.
Because of the uniqueness of the festival is why Imperial Travel Service has collaborated with the Haroro Community being headed by local senior Mr Peter Sagupari to organise the memorable event.
Such event is also dubbed to promote peace, happiness and unity within Solomon Islands.
“Imperial Travel Service is proud to be part of this festival as we will do more collaboration throughout the years to come and market the event that also contributes in promoting tourism,” encouraged Enda.
The Guest of Honour and Deputy Premier of Central Islands Province (CIP) Hon Selwyn Luga before declaring the Official opening of the festival said the theme of the festival; ‘Own your future, Embrace it’, reminds everyone to make analysis of the society’s current situation and then meaningfully lay out their destiny through realistic planning, sustainable development and conservation of resources for the future generation.
He assured that the provincial government of the day pledge support and priority on its productive sectors like the fisheries, agriculture, forestry and commerce in accordance with their visions and goals.
“Tourism has been targeted to be developed, improved and enhanced so as to provide effective services of delivery to our people,” said Hon Luga.
“In this context, we will continue to encourage, support and assist our rural communities and operators in their development aspirations to realise their potentials and benefits that would be gained from the sustainable use of their resources.”
A sample of Pana from different varieties showcased during the ‘Pana Festival’ at Ngella last week. PHOTOS BY MANEBONA BARNABAS
The Pana Festival will be an annual event being suggested.
Haroro community and its surrounding celebrated the local food crop for the first time (Pana) being culturally significant to the custom of Ngella people.
Explaining the significance and history of Pana at Ngella during the event was local elder and leader Mr Ray Mano.
Speaking to Island Sun, local Ngella women appreciating the event said the festival gives them the chance to showcase Pana’s significant value of life in how it is planted, harvested, eaten and respected by the people of Ngella being similar to how other food crop festivals are showcased around the country.
Local senior leader of Sandfly Mr Ray Mano giving a brief history of Ngella’s
Pana during the 2018 Independence Cruise to Ngella marking Solomon
Islands 40th Anniversary coinciding with the one day ‘Pana Festival’
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
THE first ‘Pana Festival’ being held on the 6th of July at Haroro Village, Big Ngella, should be a living memory for the people of Ngella.
These are the words of Mr Ray Mano a local senior leader of Sandfly who was preferred to give a brief history talk of Ngella’s Pana (root crop) explaining its significance for the people of Ngella during the 2018 Independence Cruise to Ngella marking Solomon Islands 40th Anniversary coinciding with the one day ‘Pana Festival’.
“Historically Pana is not a discovered root crop but a traditional crop on its own in the history of Ngella people,” explained Mr Mano.
“In Ngella it is usually grown in large scale being a staple food bearing a significant merit in the culture and tradition of Ngella people’s lifestyle.”
“Its absence in any traditional ceremonies and occasions such as over land, hand-over’s, marriages, feasts and other important occasions is regarded as of low morale.”
Different varieties of Pana being displayed at Haroro Village during the ‘Pana Festival’ at Ngella last week 6th July. Photos by Barnabas Manebona
Mr Mano elaborated that Pana is grown from local gardens of slash and burn traditional method, rotationally of crops system.
“Pana has many different varieties with different names according to their behaviour and characteristics of taste, appearance, size and growth. There is the preservation need from harvesting to the next new planting which usually takes about six to seven months to harvest after new planting,” said Mr Mano.
Some of the different Pana recipe’s in Ngella being also displayed during last week’s Pana Festival includes flavours such as in puddings (Ghola) mixed with coconut creams or dried Ngali nuts and Tutu Pana (a special Pana recipe being cooled with dried nuts).
Local senior leader of Sandfly Mr Ray Mano giving a brief history of Ngella’s Pana during the 2018 Independence Cruise to Ngella marking Solomon Islands 40th Anniversary coinciding with the one day ‘Pana Festival’
Some of the types of Pana amongst the 14 different varieties in Ngella are Pana Tina, Gani, Pana Sisi, Kavu meme, Roma, Pana Vohe, Pana lusemu, Pana Uvi, Pana Rumaga, Pana Tutupi and Pana Moli.
“Go around the stalls and ask for information if you are interested in the different types of Pana with their recipes,” encouraged a happy Mr Mano to the visitors to Haroro last week through which from observation, many tasted from the different recipes of Pana Varieties enjoying their time.
“A Ngella family’s wealth is measured also by ranking through the number of Pana gardens and Pana sizes they have,” said Mr Mano.
“The larger a family is set-up with their Pana determines how they will be honoured in Ngella.”
“Any family who has less or none of such will be regarded as of low standard.”
Pana in Ngella context is also used for bartering and being the custom food to welcome Chiefs and high ranking people.
Making a style meaning a story of a culture and traditional beliefs.
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
NARU Wan dancing group from the Republic of China (Taiwan) made a spectacular cultural performance at the Panatina Melanesian Village and the Art Gallery on Monday.
Friends of Taiwan representing 16 tribes in Taiwan made a stunning performance highlighting the cultures of the people living in the coastals and highlands.
Monday’s performance came from the Paiwan tribe and Amis tribe in their colourful cultural costumes decorated with designs reflecting the coastal and mountain people and elegant dances which are a collection of the 16 tribes’ cultural beliefs.
Director General for Indigenous People Cultural Development Centre, Council of Indigenous People in Taiwan Mr Tseng Chih Yung picture with the Taiwan performers
Director General for Indigenous People Cultural Development Centre, Council of Indigenous People in Taiwan Mr Tseng Chih Yung said their entire cultural performance showcased to MSG members highlight the coastal and mountain dwellers in Taiwan.
He said in their cultural dance they want to tell the Melanesians who are part of the 6th Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival that its purpose of participating is to tell all that Taiwan preserves its culture through songs and dances.
Mr Yung said the Taiwanese grouping performed on Monday is actually from different tribes, not just Paiwan and Amis and they are here to tell its traditions and beliefs.
Spectacular performance made by the Naru Wan dancing group of Taiwan.
“Our purpose of coming at the MACFest is to tell everyone that we preserve out traditional through songs and dances, this is us, we are minority but we are strong in preserving our own culture,” he said
Yung said, “We present sound of our land and sound of our culture, so our story is we bring our past and connect with younger generation goes forward to the future.
“Other than dance and songs, we also bring our traditional handicraft that was passing down from thousands of years, the way it made and we love to share with everyone and the MSG members.”
Making a style meaning a story of a culture and traditional beliefs.
Meanwhile, Naru Wan dancing group did three performances yesterday. They brightened the morning programme at the Melanesian Village poolside at Panatina, and in the afternoon graced the public at the Art Gallery with their mermerising dances. In the evening they took to the main stage to the delight of the crowd who have grown to love our brothers and sisters from Taiwan.
As all good things must come to an end, today ends the MACFest 2018, and our Taiwanese Melanesians leave the country for home on Thursday July 12.
Amis tribe dancing a song reflecting the activities of people live by the coastal areas.
DEAR EDITOR, this is a common sentiment often advertised during election period that advocate the roles of the legislative elected members of parliament.
The major roles and obligation of MPs voted into parliament is to make appropriated legislatives that help address common issues that affect the lives of the people in the nation.
They represent the voice of the people and must be proactive and voiceful in parliament during debating, scrutinizing and making changes within our legislatives.
The nation currently need to change some of the old colonial laws that still exit in the productive resources government line ministries such as the forestry, fisheries, agriculture, lands and mining that are already expired, non-relevant and may not helpful towards the economic resources beneficiaries of this nation.
And so the nation is in a critical need for proactive and voiceful MPs to make changes towards productive regulations and legislatives especially in our resources sectors that safeguard our natural resources from unsustainable and over exploitation usages by the acutely incoming of the foreigners that has been experience today
Solomon Islands is 40 years old after gaining independent in 1978 a matured age nation that should now has its owned well designed and strong productive legislatives in its resources sectors that protect its natural resources for its people future benefits and prosperity.
While the foreigners who have nothing at their homelands have come and hugely benefit themselves harvesting our natural resources at the unsustainable and destructive manner mostly within the forestry and fisheries sectors with little or none benefits at all under the current national legislatives that govern our resources sector without any changes done by our MPs does not make sense and is so very abusive towards the rights of the people from gaining maximum benefits out of their resources.
It only reflects poorly on the elected legislative MPs who form government that fail desperately to perform their roles and obligation mandated by the voters and citizens of this nation.
The most MPs elected into parliament do not have great concern for the welfare of the nation but are there for their own hidden agenda. They become voiceless, visionless, non-knowledgeable and proactive when debating important legislatives that essential towards the future prosperity of the nation.
If this nation continues with such a trench of leadership, our natural resources will be depleting at the fast rate with little or non-benefits by the locals in many years to come. This is a very sad situation for this beloved nation Solomon Islands.
The 2019 national election is coming nearer and the nation is in great need for change in legislative leadership that has new height of visionary level that has political will venturing into manipulating the legislatives that help towards benefiting the nation.
Those proposed MPs who wish to contest 2019 national election must prepare to face the challenges in leaderships to acquire changes needed by the people.
The nation no longer want to entertain voiceless, visionless non-knowledgeable and sleeping MPs in the parliament house who only wish to benefit from RCDF and other government funds to build their own wealth at the expenses of the poor voters of this nation.
This nation needs very constructive MPs who should have vision towards manipulating the usages of our abundance natural resources to benefit the nation or else we will be continuing slaving in our own land under the leadership that has no visions for the nation in many years to come.
The establishment of strong and vibrant legislative that govern the nation resources is important for the future prosperity of our children. And so electing the right leaders is the way forwards for this nation.
Your vote is your voice in parliament that enable your future prosperity.
DEAR EDITOR, to add to the letter of mine you published in your newspaper last week on the same subject, I should like to mention that in recent days the Fiji Police seized more cocaine with an estimated value of about $US15 million from an island in the Lau group.
It was reported in the Fiji Times that the Fijian Customs Service, acting on a tip-off, found 30 blocks of cocaine with a combined weight of 40 kilograms.
This latest seizure come after a week when Fiji authorities had also seized $US15 million worth of cocaine and ecstacy from a yacht at Denarau, along with guns, cash and ammunition.
