BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

MORE than 50 incumbent, intending and aspiring women candidates filled the National Parliament yesterday for the opening of the five days “Practice Parliament for Women” program.

Tim Breese the Acting Commissioner of the New Zealand High Commission in his opening speech asked what is the value of more women in parliament.

“More women in government equal better government.

“Governments are more open, free, transparent and successful with more women,” said Breese.

Speaker of Parliament, Ajilon Jasper Nasiu, being one of the key addressors during the opening program welcomed the women participants with great enthusiasm and confidence that in the near future, together, will be breaking the glass ceiling open in Solomon Islands.

The opening program was also addressed by HE Mr. Shigeru Toyama, Ambassador of Embassy of Japan, Ms Azusa Kubota the UNDP Country Manager, as the key note address was given by the Speaker of Parliament.

“This is our place and we should be here,” said Rose Liata, participant and Provincial Minister for Women in Malaita Province.

“The only barrier is culture, and when our people are educated on their constitution and the role MP’s should be playing as helpers to their communities, the barriers will break down,” said Mrs Liata.

According to Vois Blong Mere Solomon (VBMS) in their Press Release yesterday, it is an exciting time for women’s representation in parliament as the afternoon session featured a Panel discussion with Honourable Freda Tuki and the newly minted Honourable Lanelle Tanagada.

Mrs Tanagada’s election marked first time two women having held seats, concurrently, in National parliament.

“Be the voice for the voiceless, be the one who will touch lives, be honest, be humble and maintain your integrity,” Mrs Tanagada implored the participants.

“We must be the voice for the voiceless, champions of our women and the vulnerable.”

The five days program will educate participants in election procedures, ethical campaigning, working with media, good governance, separation of powers, law making processes and Parliamentary procedures.

Practice parliament is the work of a coalition of Solomon Island’s women organisation’s as well as UNDP, the High Commission of New Zealand and Embassy of Japan.

“Women’s rights organisations, like WRAM, are preaching equality of opportunity. We want credit to be given where credit is due. We should not select a man over a woman just because he is a man,” Pionie Boso the Practice Parliament for Women Working Committee member and WRAM Program Manager said.

“Rigid gender norms, traditions, structural barriers and stereotyping have blocked gender equality for too long.”

“Our participants are strong and capable women. It is pleasing to see that we have a few young women and girls here as well, young women who are keen to learn and skill themselves for the Future.”

“Solidarity is an important factor here. By bringing these women together, we hope to strengthen their resolve to be the change so many of us wish to see in our country.”

If one would like to see the participants in action, the Practice Parliament will conclude with a public debate on the Environment Act 1988–‘RESOURCES AND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT’, starting 8:00am Friday at the National Parliament.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SINU’S Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Basil Marasinghe has finished what he had come to do for the new institute.

Marasinghe said his three-year contract with the Solomon Islands National University is now lapsed and he is in Australia as a happy man who had contributed successfully to SINU.

“My Mission was to convert a College of Higher Education to a fully pledged University has been fulfilled.

“This achievement was made possible by commitment and support of academic and non-academic staff, hardworking senior managers and support of students.”

Marasinghe said although SINU was given university status on January 1, 2013, when he arrived in June 3, 2015 for practical purposes, it was still a Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE).

He explained during the first three years not a single new academic programme or a significant infrastructure project had commenced.

Given the duty as Acting Vice Chancellor from 2016—2018 there are tangible developments seen because of the team work of SINU board and staffs throughout.

Marasinghe said from 2016—2018, 30 new academic programmes were introduced followed by 10 bachelor’s degree programmes offered at SINU.

20 percent of academic staff are abroad conducting studies leading to masters and doctoral degrees.

Some staff are studying online and SINU pays their fees. Some other staff are conducting research leading to PhDs in SINU.

Now SINU conducts postgraduate degrees in emergency medicine and also in health.

In terms of development projects of infrastructure and students amenities, Marasinghe said nearly 20 projects commenced during the last two years and most of them have been completed and others are nearing completion.

Fisheries Complex commenced, completed and declared open, and although this project was largely funded by South Korea, SINU too had to spend $10million, he said.

The science, teaching and research complex is expected to be by end of June which completely funded by SINU, he said.

Education Complex—this world class facility is fully funded by SINU (SBD120.0 million); it will be ready in 3 months before the scheduled date.

Students amenities development includes study huts built for every school, 12 computer labs set up for five schools and Panatina Pavilion now refurbished.

Dormitory in Ranadi Campus which has not been used for over 5 years has been refurbished.

Fences for Panatina and Kukum Campuses almost completed except where there are issues with illegal settlers, and fence at the Ranadi Campus has been completed.

Library for Panatina Campus is ready, and funds have been allocated and contracts haven signed to refurbish dormitories in Panatina and Kukum Campuses.

Funds have been allocated to purchase new beddings for dormitories.

He said it must be noted that in most of the universities in the Pacific region and in the world, beddings are not provided and students have to bring their own beddings. 

“When I arrived in SINU 3 years ago, occupancy in dormitories was less than 30 percent now all the dormitories are fully occupied but we will have to build more dormitories soon,” he said.

Until 2016, SINU Accounts have never been prepared and sent to be audited by Auditor General.

Now   the accounts from 2013 – 2016 have been audited by Auditor General. 2017 accounts will be forwarded to AG shortly.

PAYE taxes to the Inland Revenue have not been paid since SINU was given university status.

This has been done and now and SINU is up-to-date with PAYE taxes.

Assets of SINU have been done now by registered assessors (which was never done since SICHE days).

Preparing Annual Reports from 2013 to 2017 are done.

For the first time Students Handbook was published in 2017.

Students gave their fullest cooperation to the management and they are appreciative of infrastructure and students amenities developments.

For the first time since SICHE days a students’ protest and a strike ended in a total failure.

The overwhelming majority of the students rejected recent calls for boycott of lectures and the situation in all three campuses has been peaceful.

BY ELLISON.T.VAHI

AUSTRALIA through its direct aid programme will support Magotu Schools with building materials to complete their school classroom building.

Magotu a primary school in Isabel province provides education to children across five communities from Susubona Port to Kaevanga Port within Hograno district, a constituency of Minister Jeremiah Manele.

It us understood that Mr Manele together with the people of Magotu built this classroom from fundraising and RCDF funds.

During the handover on the project, Second Secretary, Australian High Commission Alexandra Little said that Australia through its direct aid programme is happy to support Magotu primary school.

Australia’s timely involvement means that the classrooms will be completed in time for use during the second semester July – November of the school year.

These classrooms will replace existing classrooms built 32 years ago.

The Direct Aid Programme (DAP) is a flexible small grants programme funded by the Australian Government and managed through the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) overseas posts.

The programme aims to support projects with a strong development focus that complement Australia’s broader aid programme which contributes to sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction.

Whilst, while congratulating Magotu Primary School more especially people from Galatha, Momotu, Riusisi, Mabiosi, Ghove and Riuvate, Alexandra. Little said that she is happy and is looking forward to visiting once the project has been completed.

By Ezekiel Talatau

THE Goodview area in Rove, west Honiara is one of the sites that have been cleaned up by the Friends of the City, ministry of fisheries, ministry of environment (MECDM), youths and volunteers.

However, a few days after, the site is seen to be once again filled with garbage.

For the past years, this site has been regarded a dumping site.

But Honiara City Council (HCC) has decided to stop the area as a dumping site and created a notice to public to stop throwing rubbish in the area since last year.

Yesterday morning, a photo on Facebook showed the area was again flooded with plastics and rubbish.

Some people commented that this must be an individual rubbish drop-off.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SOLOMON Islands is among Pacific nations which contribute up to 13 million tonnes of plastic reaching the ocean threatening marine bio-diversity every year.

Across the Pacific, a Great Pacific Garbage Patch has collected an estimated of 13 million plastics, and rivers are described as main highway for plastic litter.

With the huge pollution of plastic in the ocean, scientists believe it will take 400 to 1000 years to break up.

According to the UN Environment, 13 million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean which is equivalent to dumping the contents of one garbage truck into the ocean every minute.

A recent study found that when corals come in contact with plastic, the likelihood of disease shoots up from 4 percent to 90 percent.

In the Solomon Islands context, more plastics in our ocean will be detrimental to marine wildlife, to the planet and to humans.

Also it will threaten the country’s economy as we rely as well on marine resource particularly the fishing industry.

Solomon Islands can help manage plastic pollution in the ocean through the 3R method.

Reduce drastically the amount of single-use plastics you use; switch to containers and other convenience items you can reuse; and recycle what you no longer need.

As SIG’s step towards addressing the plastic pollution, the director of Environment Mr Joe Horokou said they are currently reviewing the current Environment Act to be able to deal with the issue of plastics.

He said firstly they will do a review on the environment act and look at various options available, and any changes will need to be reflected in the principal Act and the regulations.

Horokou encouraged citizens to apply the 3R method as the best option for managing single plastics before it reaches our ocean.

Chief Conservation Officer for the Ministry of Environment Agnetha Vave Karamui, said Solomon Islands government through its Ministry already teaching waste management as part of the syllabus for certain subjects.

Ministry of Environment ensures waste management is taught in the school syllabus but to make it more effective schools should not only teach waste management but also practise waste management.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

GIZO residents are celebrating yesterday’s rainy respite after more than a month of dry weather, but they are also being advised to brace for more heavy rains and thunderstorms.

This is confirmed by the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service Division when contacted yesterday.

They said there is a cloudy period with a few showers and isolated thunderstorms. Light to moderate northeast to southeast winds.

“This week especially Western Province will face heavy rain and thunderstorms in coming days and the future outlook the province will face heavy rain fall.”

They advise everyone in the province to listen out for further notice on the radio and local newspapers.

Police officers yesterday advised travelling passengers from Vella la Vella not to overload the boat at KHY area before departures.

“If you notice darkening clouds, volatile and rough changing winds or sudden drops in temperature, play it safe by getting off the water,” the officers said.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

A five days Solomon Islands Practice Parliament for Women (SIPPW) session commenced yesterday morning at the Solomon Islands National Parliament in Honiara.

According to Marisa Pepa a Civic Officer at the National Parliament it’s a programme attended by women leaders from all over the country to debate on the motion on “Inclusive Development” and to advance women participation in political decision-making in terms of very low representation of women at the national parliament.

“This debate is to provide women with practical skills and exposure to the realities of policy –making and parliamentary processes and also an opportunity to practise at the highest legislative chambers.”

She said the training starts yesterday and is only for participants, however, on the last day of the session which is on June 15 the debate will be opened for public to attend.

The official opening of the SIPPW was held yesterday evening at the Mendana Kintano Hotel. 

By Ezekiel Talatau

SALT-FISH is popular in the central market, which is being sold at affordable prices, but is it safe?

Director of the National Public Health Laboratory, Mr Dickson Manongi had previously said that people are attracted to salt-fish because of its affordability. However, he cautioned that it contains very high levels of salt, which is being used as a preservative (slows down the rate of rotting).

He had also explained that salt-fish can be differentiated from regular fresh fish from its physical appearance.

There have also been reported cases of people complaining of getting ill after consuming salt-fish.

Yesterday, Honiara City Council (HCC) Health division staff, Ms Tina Onahikeni reassured that salt-fish is not toxic for human consumption.

“The only problem is transportation and temperature. Most of the salt-fish are transported to the Central market by bags which is a concern if the bag is clean to put the fish inside or not.

“The other problem is the differences in temperature. The salt-fish has stored in the ship freeze with salt at a low temperature. When it reaches the central market, most of the sellers seem to expose those salt-fish at the high temperature; therefore it creates an issue whether the salt-fish is good for human consumption or not at that temperature.

“The other problem is how the sellers handle their fish.”

Mercy Nunua from HCC Health division said most sellers in the central market use the contaminated seawater to wash their fish, this could be one factor that causes those fish to be contaminated.

She advises public to judge which fish to buy from the physical appearance of the fish.

Onahikeni adds that there not been any lab test done on salt-fish this year.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO

AFTER more than a month of dry weather, Gizo residents are soaking in the heavy rains which fell on the Western province capital yesterday.

“It has been a miracle,” says TC residents.

Families were able to collect rain water for drinking and cooking.

Up until yesterday, Gizo residents had been forced to scour the streams and drilling boreholes in search of water.

The water shortage has caused Gizo citizens to question their leaders when they will address the problem.

A Mr Andrew Koke said, “A lot of promises have been sound absolutely to the people regarding water issues but we kept questioning the responsible people over the long standing issues that why they fail to address for many years now.

“I’m very sad to hear responsible authorities always hoping for rains to come and solve the water crisis as people struggling to get water during dry session.”

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

AN outspoken citizen Mr Andy Lima who hails from Malaita province has called on the Solomon Islands government and responsible ministries to strictly monitor money allocated for projects.

He expressed his concerned through this yesterday in an exclusive.

Lima said there have been few citizens seeing and heard awarded with project after handing in their project proposals to government ministries but they did misused it without using it for its right purpose in terms of the development implementation.

“Hence I called on the government, responsible ministries and organisations to strictly monitor money acquired to implement projects so that all can go through right process rather than using it for own beneficiaries,” he said.