TRANSPARENCY Solomon Islands (TSI) has commended the provincial secretary Jeffery Wickham to call on the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) for an immediate audit of Western province’s coffers – before a new Western provincial government is formed.

Wickham said funds have been misused and the only way to find out is to carry out auditing of financial statements that contain funds the Western provincial government has expended in the past years.

He urges the new government to comply with Financial Management Ordinance as required under the law.

TSI sighted the OAG report on provincial governments in 2014 to 2016 revealed Western provincial government has made some significant improvement during these years as the number of issues identified and the severity of the issues were reducing.

The Auditor’s office recommends provincial governments to control its account payables to meet its obligation on a timely basis, comply with Provincial Financial Management practice.

Corruption gravely undermined development in the country. Clear examples of such corrupt acts undermining our development can be noted from the 2017 Auditor General’s report that TSI have sighted.

The said report clearly shows blatant corrupt acts of some public servants within some of our government line ministries.

TSI praise Auditor’s General Office in fighting corruption by identifying corrupt practices and reporting them to the appropriate authorities like Leadership Code Commission (LCC), Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), and Police.

–TSI PRESS

THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is deploying three more officers to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, South Sudan in Africa. They will depart tomorrow.

They are Inspector Agnes Ape, Sergeant Charles Alisineuli and Sergeant Andrea Kierre. This contingent will be headed by Inspector Ape.

“This mission marks another great achievement for Solomon Islands, more particularly the RSIPF,” says Supervising Police Commissioner, Juanita Matanga.

“To the three officers, let me congratulate you for successfully meeting all the criteria that are required of you. As you have experienced in you preparations, this is not an easy task, but you have stepped up to the mark.

“As you prepare to leave the country, I want to remind you that RSIPF and the country are expecting you to be our ambassadors at the international level. We do not ask for more or less but we ask you to display professionalism at all times when serving abroad. Your journey is yet to begin and I wish you all the best as you are ready to be deployed.

“To your family members, you should be proud of these officers for having successfully achieved the criteria as outlined by the UN Mission. Having a family member away for a year won’t be easy. There will be a lot of challenges ahead not only for you but also for them. And in order for them to complete their mission, the RSIPF will look to you to support and understand them so that they too can complete their mission.”

Speaking at the same occasion, Minister of Police National Security and Correctional services, Moses Garu says, “I wish to congratulate the three of you and applaud you for demonstrating your excellent commitment and professionalism for this UN Mission.

“To our first female officers for the UN Deployment; you are truly an inspiration and a beacon of motivation for other female police officers to work consistently towards being accepted for UN deployment missions overseas in the future.

“To the three officers, the Government, RSIPF and the people of Solomon Islands pledge our full support to you for your mission overseas. And we will pray for your safety and security as you serve in the UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur, South Sudan.

“To your families who will remain back in the country, I acknowledge your tireless support, understanding and cooperation as well with the three officers. I trust that we will collectively support our officers for this important deployment.”

The three officers, who leave Honiara this Saturday June 23, 2018, will be deployed for one year, along four other RSIPF officers who left late last year on the same Mission.

The RSIPF started deploying officers to the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur in 2016. With the three officers just commissioned, it brings the total number of RSIPF officers deployed so far on the UN Mission to 12.

–POLICE MEDIA

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

TODAY marks Money Smart Day in Solomon Islands.

The event is a rebrand of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) to promote financial literacy in the country and to promote child and youth financial education.

On this occasion, commercial banks and financial institutions and NGOs is setting up their booths at the SINPF recreational compound in Town Ground.

The main goal of this day is to educate our young people to learn and develop personal financial management skills and behavior, including good habits related to dealing with money.

At the same time, ANZ Bank with support of the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) has been promoting its ‘GO MONEY’ platform to the populace of Honiara through various locations since its inception.

ANZ goMoney is a mobile banking service that allows customers to access their ANZ accounts securely from their mobile phone.

The functions of goMoney includes cash withdrawals, or deposits at any ANZ goMoney merchant, transfer money to another ANZ customer, transfer money between linked ANZ accounts but to name a few.

While there are different services available through the goMoney scheme, one of the most recent services provided by ANZ bank is the platform available for parents to pay for their children’s school fees.

Now, with goMoney, parents can pay school fees conveniently and currently this platform is active for a few schools in Honiara.

Future plans are to roll out this platform to the rest of the country.

With this platform, parents do not physically need to go to schools to pay school fees but they can pay their children’s school fees through this goMoney platform.

For the Money Smart Day activity, ANZ bank is also supporting this activity to educate our Youths, children and young people on the need to be money minded and to raise awareness on how to be a good entrepreneur.

In a previous Money Smart Day event, the Governor of CBSI, Denton Rarawa has said that it is time for everyone, “the government, financial institutions, schools teachers, parents and family to empower our children and youth with knowledge and experience to participate in resource saving habits and avoid habits that can incur costs”.

The theme for this year’s Money Smart day is ‘Money Matters Matter’.

The theme was adopted from the Global Money Week 2018. Global Money Week (GMW) is an annual money awareness campaign built to inspire our children and young people to learn more about money matters and entrepreneurship.

BY ELLISON.T.VAHI

THE Momotu youth cultural panpipe group from Isabel province will be travelling to perform in Honiara from July 1-10.

As one registered youth cultural group under the ministry of culture and Tourism, they will not participate during the Melanesian Arts & Cultural festival but see the importance of the event as they travel to witness it.

Speaking to this paper, the group leader of Momotu, Mr Chris Neo said that organising and bringing in such a group from the province is an expensive exercise in view of transportation, accommodation and meal, however, they see that culture provides important social and economic benefits as well with improved learning and health, increased tolerance, and opportunities to come together with others, culture enhances quality of life and increases overall well-being for both individuals and communities.

He said that since forming the group in 2014, their aim is to bring as well see the youths revive forgotten old traditions, songs and dances being once performed by their forefathers, mothers and grandparents in the past, in a form of panpipe.

Relating their aim with the Melanesian Arts & Cultural festival theme; “Past Recollections; Future Connections” he said that their tour is timely and reinforces the significance of this festival as a time to reminisce on their history and cultures, whilst at the same time connecting themselves as one people in diversity for a brighter connected future.

He also stated that the true spirit of their tour is sharing in unity, whereby through their recollections they are then connected together as they journey forth into the future, hoping that connectedness will contribute towards enabling them to gain new and deeper understanding with appreciation of one another’s cultures.

He adds that together they can face the future with greater courage and confidence to stand side-by-side.

One special thing about the group is that there is a gender balance in the team, compare to other cultural groups from the islands. The groups consist of 12 females and 18 males. Girls also play the instrument.

Neo said their coming to Honiara is to raise funds in aid for any future development plans for the group.

For many members, this will be their first trip to the nation’s capital.

Neo thanks the group for the support and trust they put on him despite the challenges faced to come over to Honiara. He also extends his thanks to those in any way help the Group as well.

All in all, Neo said that despite having the pride to see Honiara the importance of having pride in their identity is they believe the basis of making great decisions for their province, decisions that proves that they care and aware of who they are and the values that makes them who they are.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

ON June 12, Koloale Primary School got first-hand information on gender based violence and the Family Protection Act (FPA) after an awareness activity was facilitated at the school by RSIPF Community Policing and Red Cardim Violence (RCV) Gender based Violence project.

This is according to Mr Golden Kiloko, the Country Programme Manager for Live and Learn, Red Cardim Violence (RCV) project.

He explained that students and staff were introduced to gender-based violence (GBV), its causes, the negative impacts it has on thousands of women, children in family circles and communities and ways to help reduce it at home and in the communities.

Kiloko added that they were also given a brief lesson about the Family Protection Act (FPA), in which they were enlightened about the act, what it provides and how an individual can be susceptible of facing prosecution with heavy penalties and imprisonment if caught in an act of violence.

“Family Protection Act was also highlighted during the awareness, which is now known and become a law in the country, and anyone caught in act of violence, will be prosecuted with heavy penalties and imprisonment.

“The awareness was on Family Protection Act, it is an act to provide for the protection of families from domestic violence and to promote the safety, health and wellbeing victims of domestic violence and for related purposes,” he said.

Kiloko said that the awareness activity is not only the first of its kind for the school but one that sparked an interest for more information especially from some of the teachers.

“Some of the teachers admitted that they were victims of domestic violence and are eager to learn more,” he said.

Kiloko said that students were also urged to share what they have learned with their parents and communities.

He expressed that lessons learnt from the activity are; teachers and students who experienced violence at home and in school were eager to learn more about issues of violence and the FPA, students were of a good age group to learn about gender based violence given the positive impact it will have on them as they grow into adults and whilst the GBV issue is still widespread in the country, community policing, teachers and students have acknowledged that strong Christian faith will ease the challenges of gender-based violence in Solomon Islands.

“Although the issue of GBV is still rife in Solomon Islands, the Community Policing, Teachers and students have acknowledge that having a strong relationship in Jesus will ease this challenge of GBV in Solomon Islands.

“In overall, the awareness was good as teachers and students have heard and got firsthand information from the facilitators on the violence and its different forms, its causes which have affected women, girls and children in our family and our communities and ways to reduce violence,” Kiloko said.

BY ELLISON.T.VAHI

CULTURE is engrained in the social fabric of our nations where human creativity, traditional skills and practices are the norm. Such practices, both formal and informal, are the basis of income-generation for many traditional and non-traditional artisans, producers and performers.

The Framework for Pacific Regionalism recognises our diversity and heritage and promotes an inclusive future in which cultures, traditions, and religious beliefs are valued, honoured and developed.

This regional recognition of the need to protect and nurture Pacific traditional knowledge has existed for decades.

Meeting in 1965 as members of the South Pacific Conference, Pacific leaders agreed to the creation of a South Pacific Festival of Arts. First hosted by Fiji in 1972, the festival has evolved into a popular event that attracts not only Pacific people but a significant international crowd.

The South Pacific Festival of Arts eventually became the Festival of Pacific Arts and its organising committee evolved into the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture. In 2004, Pacific leaders initiated a process that eventuated in the Pacific Regional Cultural Strategy 2010-2020.

Besides the fundamental role they play in our everyday lives, the growing interest in the cultural and creative economy has given rise to global efforts to profile culture in sustainable development policy to better leverage cultural industrie’s contribution to economic growth.

Cultural dimensions are also incorporated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) forming part of the wider 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and building on the Millennium Development Goals.

Globally, cultural and creative industries generate about $US2.2 billion ($F4.61b) in annual revenue, equating to 3 per cent of the global GDP, and providing 29.5 million jobs, according to a 2010 UNCTAD report.

Global exports of creative goods and services almost doubled between 2002 and 2011, with annual growth of 8.8 per cent. This places the cultural and creative industries market as the fourth largest in the world, after oil and gas, electric equipment and electronics, and machinery and vehicle markets.

In recognition of the potential of a formalised industry and to comply with international standards, regional and international agencies have taken steps to work towards the development of appropriate policies to support the growth of cultural industries.

Though there is widespread recognition across the region of the economic potential of our own cultural and creative industries, our nations are at different stages of development as far as the sector is concerned, with many still at the infancy stage.

Support for the industry at the regional level is led by the Pacific Community (SPC) with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat playing a complementary role in terms of securing political will, supporting policy and legal development alignment with international framework negotiated in the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC), and the provision of technical support to foster national and regional policy developments through country consultations and resource mobilisation.

Solomon Islands hosted the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in 2012 at a time when the nation was just beginning to crawl out of political and socioeconomic trouble. By 2013, Solomon Islands had adopted a national culture policy and by 2016, two major provincial festivals; the Kodili Festival in Isabel Province and the Yam Festival in South Malaita underlined the resurgence of cultural practices and traditional knowledge, which was now also fodder for its infant tourism industry.

A milestone has been the establishment of Certificate III and IV programs in Applied Fashion Design provided by the Australian Pacific Technical College; this will be offered regionally from 2018.

One of the issues highlighted at the Brussels meeting by the Pacific delegation comprising Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu was the lack of data in the cultural and creative industries sector; it labelled by Mr Ali as “our greatest limitation as an industry”.

“We want to be able to say in confidence that our industry as a whole contributes 5 or even 10 per cent of the total national economic activity and that it is growing. Our industry cannot grow at the pace we would like without direct intervention from our national and regional governments, and this effort is hampered by the lack of data to support our applications for support,” Mr Ali said.

The ACP Secretariat in Brussels hosted 79 members and development stakeholders for its 4th Meeting of ACP Ministers of Culture including the Forum Secretariat and the Pacific Community. The two agencies worked together to secure an EU-ACP grant for the promotion of cultural industries in 2013 which saw a 30-month long collaborative project work between Fiji, Samoa and the Solomon Islands with a range of government and private sector organisations.

The Forum Secretariat supported the project as a financial associate and as a partner in the design and implementation of the project.

With regional policy consultations currently underway, the Forum Secretariat is interested in submissions that can contribute to the development of regional policy responses that protect our culture and heritage while supporting further growth for this valuable industry.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

SOLOMON Islands National University’s (SINU) Acting Vice Chancellor, Mr Donald Malasa and Telekom CEO, Mr Loyley Ngira signed a contract on June 19 that will have the local telecommunications company install a Phase 2 of fibre reticulation system at Kukum Campus.

This is according to SINU’s press release statement, issued yesterday.

The university expressed that the reticulation will link the Vice Chancellor’s office, Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, School of Business and Management, Business Investment and Commercial Services Department, Research Department and students’ general computer lab via fibre.

SINU added that the installation will further enhance internet services in these areas to implement internet based services such as voice over IP system, CCTV cameras and so forth.

Additionally, the university stated that the initiative will put SINU in a better position to experience new high speed internet services when the proposed submarine cable lands in the country.

SINU stated that while it is already on fibre connection with Solomon Telekom, Kukum, Ranadi and Panatina (DFL) campuses have also been interconnected via fibre.

Meanwhile, as noted, the School of Education and Humanities at Panatina Campus will be connected to fibre once the new three-storey complex currently under construction at the campus is completed.

“Each party had agreed to work together to support SINU in its endeavor to improve ICT services to enhance teaching and learning at the university,” said SINU.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

FROM the successful participation last year, three students from the Woodford International School have been selected to represent Solomon Islands in 2018 First Global Robotics Competition in Mexico City.

Three students from Woodford International (WIS) will be among students from more than 175 countries in the world to compete in the 2018 First Global Robotics Competition.

The Challenge will take place from August 15-18, 2018 at the Arena Ciudad de México.

The second time participation of WIS student in the FIRST Global Challenge will boost students’ knowledge in STEM and promote Solomon Islands on the global arena.

The FIRST Global Challenge is a truly international robotics event which will bring together aspiring science engineering from more than 175 nations across the world traveling to Mexico City to participate.

Participating teams are composed of students – aged 14 through 18 years – with the common goal of increasing their knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Team Solomon Islands are mentored and trained by Mr Rakesh Pandey and include three motivated and aspiring Year 9 students namely—William Poznanski, Edward Patternot and Renney Sufiona.

Mr Rakesh explained the competition aimed students become next generation of scientific leaders.

The scientific leaders who will work together to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems, from food security and access to clean water, to finding better medicines and securing cyberspace, he explained.
This year’s theme is: “Energy Impact”.

From commonly used fossil fuels to environmentally friendly resources like solar and wind, energy is a tool that powers the different parts of our world one way or another.

FIRST Global seeks to inspire leadership and innovation in young people in the fields of science and technology to address the most relevant problems globally and improve the quality of life of communities.

In July 2017, four students from WIS part of the first edition of the FIRST Global Challenge held at the Washington DC, where young people competed in a challenge about providing access to clean water.