BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) underwent a two-day workshop at the Heritage Park Hotel for its workforce based on various aspects with regards to their employment.

The workshop was organised to enhance and broadens the SIPA workforce understanding of various aspects of industrial relationships between management and employees, connecting of efforts towards harmonious relationship, trust and confidence in the organization.

SIPA board secretary Charles Ashely on behalf of the board said the workshop is timely and crucial for strengthening of partnership between the employers (SIPA) and its employees.

He said an effective partnership is crucial hence both the employer and the employees need to work together as a team to achieve the common set and visions mandated.

Staff training/development policy manager cooperate service of SIPA James Gerea said “The significance of having an effective workplace partnership between management and employees is very crucial for the organization, the employees, our stakeholders and nation at lager.

“As an organisation we have our own issues and problems .However no problem is too big to solve. We can solve whatever is our problem are.

“At the end of the day what matters is for us to work together as a team to achieve our goals and realised our visions and mission as a hub port of pacific and port of choice,” he said.

The workshop commenced on Wednesday and will be concluded today with a theme of Building and effective workplace partnership.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

ON Wednesday Solomon Islands Ports Authority employees who have attended a two-day workshop were told to work together for mutual interest.

This statement was addressed by Mr Chris Elphick of the Breadfruit consulting.

“We need to change our old habits to work together for our mutual interest, not our own positions and to change our habits and mindset towards each other because there is just one team at SIPA which includes all management, staff and union members,” he said.

Elphick said this process recognises the appropriate right of managers to manage and unions to represent their members but it focuses on win results

“Our goal should be for a productive organisation that produces excellent services which will increase profitability and therefore job security and create more jobs for Solomon Islands,” he said.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) employees learnt of positive workplace partnership yesterday at the Heritage Park hotel in Honiara.

Speaking in light of the topic Chris Elphick from Breadfruit Consulting and the facilitator of the topic said positive workplace partnership involves the working together of employers and unions to build positive workplace relationships.

He said this is in order to change, build capability and improve performances, worker contributions and the quality of the workplace for employees.

Elphick explained that partnership is about new employment relationships based on mutual gain.

“It is in the interests of both employers and union members for their workplace to excel in what it does and as a place of work. In a partnership there is something in it for all,” he said.

Elphick said in a true partnership conflict gets worked through in a way that preserves the non-going relationship.

He adds communications, active listening, joint problem solving, empathy, engagement and participation are keys to effective partnership.

“We need to change our old habits to work together for our mutual interest, not in our own position because effective workplace partnership needs respectful workplaces and smart workplaces,” said Elphick.                                                                                

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

SENTENCING submission on the case against a man charged with one count of attempted murder will be made today.

This is the case against John Kebol who was charged in relation to an incident occurred in Sukiki village Weather-coast of Guadalcanal.

The Prosecution said that the accused on June 13, 2015 had an argument with his nephew regarding a bicycle, their argument heated up in which the accused intend to stab the victim with a kitchen knife.

The allegation said when the knife missed the victim all others who were present during the argument reacted and stoned the accused in which he fell onto the ground and sustained injuries.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution prosecutes the matter in court while Rodgers Tovosia is representing the accused.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

MANY youths in Temotu province have benefited from the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) projects since its implementation in 2008.

Among many projects Temotu province achieved under the PCDF project, Youths and Sports development of the Provincial Government have touched the lives of young people by providing opportunities.

In a report delivered by the provincial government of the two projects implemented for youths and sports sector, 4,051 females and 4108 males have directly benefited with 69 job employment created for young people.

According to Temotu provincial government, Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening continues to serialise the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) projects delivered by nine provinces.

It said since the inception of Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme (PGSP) in July 2008, there has been positive impact of development successfully implemented and Youths and Sports is one of them.

Other beneficiaries for young people are the development of new decent dormitory for 120 boys at Luesalemba Secondary School, Temotu provincial government adds.

Provincial government also adds the completion of the two sixth form classroom block which provides a lot of opportunities to students to complete their sixth form in Temotu.

It said since the completion of the sixth form more than 500 students went through sixth form and few have made it to various universities of higher education.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

A concerned citizen is calling on responsible authorities of Honiara City Council (HCC) to address the issue of street sellers and the overcrowded Central Market bus stop.

James Menai of Nangu village, Santa Cruz stressed the above to the paper yesterday.

He said that having seen law enforcement officers dealing with street sellers’ day in and day out only for them to return when they are not on site is a waste of time and makes no sense at all.

Menai stated that if HCC can provide a 24 hour security service, placing their law enforcement officers around the capital to ensure people don’t sell goods on the street then this would prompt street sellers to stop the practice as they would see the officers present for a long period of time in areas they would normally sell their items.

He went on to speak about the current overcrowded Central Market bus stop.

Menai explained that while the bus stop is designated for buses heading for KG and Naha Kola, buses destined for Mbarande and GIPPOL in East Guadalcanal are also swerving onto the bus stop area, taking up space of KG and Naha Kola buses.

He expressed that this has caused people and buses to hover over each other for space at the bus stop with buses causing traffic on the road.

Menai suggests that HCC find a way to deal with these buses.

He reiterates his call for Honiara City Council to address these issues and bring them to the table in their next council meeting.

“We need to develop and development involves you and me. We cannot wait on the government because the government has already provided for us. It us people who must work together to develop our country”, said Menai.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

CHIEF Infrastructure of the Ministry of Police and National Security Christian Suri explained the bid process when he was testified in court on Wednesday.

Mr Suri in cross examination confirmed that anybody can participate in the bid when any project is tendered by the government.

He said that he was the chair of the Technical Evaluation Committee and his job is to assess and evaluate the applications before recommending to the Ministry Tender Board.

He also confirmed that the former PS Edmond Sikua is also the member of the MTB.

The defence Lawyer Gabriel Suri also questioned the witness on whether or not in any paragraph of the Request for Quotation that mentioned of no relatives or families of the employees within the Ministry to participate in the Bid, the witness said nothing like that was stated in the forms.

Christian Suri is one of the Prosecution witness giving evidence on the case against Mr Sikua who is charged with counts of official corruption contrary to section 91(a) of the Penal Code Cap 26.

Mr Sikua was charged in relation to the allegation on 22 December 2016 for allegedly awarding government tenders worth $630,436.50 to Beeds Investment, a company registered and owned by his two daughters.

Prosecution alleged the accused Sikua is by default the chairman of his ministry’s tender board.

The allegation said between 18 December 2015 and 29 August 2016 Beed Investments responded to calls for tenders and was awarded business contracts for service delivery to the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services on seven different occasions.

The Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services have made payments of $630,436.50 to Beeds Investments for these services.

Prosecution further alleged that Sikua used his position of power and influence within the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services to manipulate the tendering process for his own and his family’s pecuniary advantage.

Sikua is the third public officer to have been arrested by Janus, since the establishment of the joint taskforce.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown in court.

By Ezekiel Talatau

PROMOTING healthy diet lifestyle is the least thing most people in Solomon Islands think about when consuming food. At later stages, they regret it.

About 50 to 80 percent of chronic diseases are related to or affected by poor nutrition.

Chronic disease such as, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and stroke are high in Solomon Islands resulted from poor balance diet.

An Australian dietary report said that practising poor diet is a result of poverty but not education.

It is estimated that about 12.7 percent of population in Solomon Islands live below the poverty line and are categorised poor as reported from Solomon island national statistical office.

Increase in poverty is more likely to influence the high rate of people consuming unbalanced diet.

A concern citizen also stated that, most people living in Solomon Islands are living with a low wages and only few a high wages working class people.

To date, country population is increase since the last census in 2009, more youths are unemployed and the country standard of living is high, meeting the balance food for people in Solomon Islands could be a great concern in years to come.

Since most death case in the National Referral Hospital (NRH) are the results of chronic disease. The Ministry of health and medical services are working firm in promoting healthy food diet through SIBC, Public awareness and providing stickers and charts to Honiara City Council clinics and other private clinic in Honiara to tackle unbalance diet.

By Ezekiel Talatau

LEARNING about human rights is empowering women to speak out and improve equality in Solomon Islands.

A report issued from the global educations on human rights in Solomon Islands has divulges that most women are taking responsibilities in addressing the needs of or the family such as gardening, house cleaning, marketing, cooking and washing as part of their daily job.

Some woman are concerned about the consequences of their low status, including their powerlessness in decision-making and the high levels of domestic violence.

Since logging is a common issue in Solomon Islands resulting from man making decision. A well trained human rights Paralegal female Miri (partly funded by Australia Aid) is very concern on the logging issue by the large international company.

Meri stated that logging is significantly affecting the forest and the community have very little benefits as a results.

She added that in her cline, females had no power against males to speak for the right of the Community.

When their clan gathered his people to discuss the logging issue, she also attended. When Meri was about to share his points, she first ask the men if he could add something, but the man family couldn’t allow her to spoke on behalf, but she apologise to those men before she spoke.

She added that, their clan only receive short term economic benefits but looking in the long term, his generation will suffer from the effects of logging. Her points creates a door way for his people to see that she has a concern for the future generation of his clan.

Step-by-step the women of Solomon Islands are showing that they are capable of doing many things that they had previously been excluded from. Others can see that the culture survives and even thrives with the greater participation of women.

BY ELLISON VAHI

MALARIA is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. It can be fatal. Occurring in the tropics, about half the world’s population live in areas where malaria is present.

Prevention and control of malaria can be through limiting mosquito breeding areas of stagnant water, spraying around homes, preventing mosquito bites, and sleeping under mosquito nets treated with insecticide.

Young children, pregnant women and people living with HIV (who have depleted immune systems) are those most at risk of malaria. Healthy adults who live in malaria-prone areas are likely to have developed a degree of resistance and their symptoms may be less severe than those with no immunity. Malaria mostly affects poor people who cannot afford treatment or have limited access to healthcare. It traps families and communities in a downward spiral of poverty.

Combating malaria requires a multi-pronged approach: tackling the parasite that causes malaria, the mosquito that transmits it and the infected human whose blood multiplies it.

Preventing mosquitoes from biting humans is vital to limiting the spread of malaria. People can sleep under bed nets that have been treated with long-lasting insecticide, tucking them under bedding even though they may be hot and stuffy, and ensuring to check them for holes. They need to seek healthcare quickly if they have malaria in order to limit its spread to others.

Also, Mosquitoes can be prevented from entering houses by spraying insecticide on the walls and ceilings. Burning mosquito coils made from pyrethrum daisies (most commonly chrysanthemums) and coconut husks also limits mosquito bites at night.

Early treatment reduces the severity and length of the illness. Quinine harvested from the bark of the cinchona tree in present-day Peru and Ecuador was traditionally the main form of treatment. While quinine interrupts the parasites’ breeding cycle, it is short acting and can have serious side effects.

In the 1940s a synthetic medicine, chloroquine, was introduced. It was inexpensive, safe and provided long-lasting protection against all forms of malaria. However, poor usage led to the development of resistance.

Since the 1980s a new drug based on a traditional Chinese herb, qinghaosu, has been used. The active ingredient is artemisinin, and it has significantly contributed to the decline of malaria. Artemisinin is used in combination with other drugs to reduce the development of resistance.

The global malaria eradication campaign, launched by the World Health Organization in 1955, was effective in eliminating malaria in many temperate and subtropical-zone countries through treatment, swamp drainage and spraying walls with DDT. Lack of funding prevented the expansion of these programs to tropical countries.

Recently the Roll Back Malaria Campaign and the Millennium Development Goals have renewed efforts to tackle malaria.

Whilst, The Solomon Islands Government has supported malaria elimination programs for more than 40 years, but difficult terrain, use of outdated drug regimens and lack of finance led to a peak number of cases.

New programs, treating those infected quickly, distributing treated bed nets, indoor spraying, drain clearing and community education, are reducing the incidence of malaria. A network of medical centres, with doctors, researchers and other medical staff using radios to communicate across the country can respond rapidly when high numbers of malaria cases are reported.