Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) President William Lai and Vice President Eddie Omokirio
THREE officials will represent Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) at the FIFA Congress and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Congress taking place together in Russia this month.
The two congresses are happening days apart from each other but will coincide with the staging of the FIFA World Cup that is due to kick off in Moscow on June 15 (June 16 Solomon Islands Time).
The three-man delegation will be led by SIFF President William Lai.
The other two are SIFF Vice- President Eddie Omokirio and Honiara Football Association (HFA) President Baddley Alaha.
The trio will depart Honiara on Saturday. The OFC Congress will be held on Monday next week while the FIFA Congress will take place two days later.
One of the main highlights in the OFC Congress will be the deciding of an acting President to lead Oceania until January 2019.
Seven candidates have put themselves forward for the position of acting OFC President, and thus FIFA vice-president. They are Mr Deryck Shaw (New Zealand), Mr Alexander Godinet (American Samoa), Mr Laupama Solomona (Samoa), Mr Henri Thierry Ariiotima (Tahiti), Mr Rajesh Patel (Fiji), Mr Lambert Maltock (Vanuatu) and Mr Steeve Laigle (New Caledonia).
The process that will be taken to decide on the acting President will be monitored by FIFA in accordance with the FIFA Statutes and the FIFA Governance Regulations.
The OFC’s presidential position was left vacant after PNG’s David Chung resigned in April.
Chung stepped down from the post citing personal reasons.
However, it was revealed later that he quitted after an audit into a multi-million dollar Auckland football development revealed potential wrongdoings.
Meanwhile, the SIFF President has held a press conference this morning at SIFF Academy where he gives more detail on other matters pertaining to his delegation’s trip to Russia.
Inside of Tulaghi Clinic’s current ablution block having been said to be used for nearly two years now without addressing
its unhygienic issue
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
IT has been almost two years now and Tulaghi clinics ablution block used is only a local kitchen leaf hut type.
This has raised grave concern from the clinic patients, members of the public and including insiders of the clinic as well as the mentioned ablution block being the only one there is currently used together by the Labour Division, Postnatal Patients, children and parents.
What is confusing according to report is no one seems to know of what are any arrangements to address this concern as this norm issue has been for some time now raising question against those having the power to address it.
The former permanent ablution block being used by both males and females at the clinic had been destroyed purposely to build a new extension building for the clinic which is reported to have only turned out being a failed plan causing the ablution block situation.
It has been almost two years now and Tulaghi Clinics ablution block used is only a local kitchen leaf hut type raising concern over health issues. PHOTOS BY MANEBONA BARNABAS
With the delay of projects and its funds plus with the understanding of budget cuts to all ministries by the National Government this year including other areas lacking financial support is now only forcing a planned committee to be formed in Tulaghi Clinic to address the issue. Or else nothing will be done in the next coming years.
Now pulled into the spotlight for assistance in ways of raising funds for a new temporary or permanent ablution block is the famous Ngella Forum (NGF) Team visiting the clinic to discuss over the matter during the past weekend.
From discussions made, NGF is only waiting for Tulaghi Clinic’s member’s response in their plans to work together before the aim will be carried out in raising fundraisings and working on other areas to raise funds for the plan.
What is important first is for the clinic members to create a social network committee to work with NGF.
“We want to put this out so that the authority above would also now of the issue’s here as well,” said sources.
To add, there is no proper laundry as well where questions fall back to the clinics management.
“It is unhygienic as the high risk of spreading disease is possible. The ablution block needs improvement and should be infection free,” said concern being raised.
Inside of Tulaghi Clinic’s current ablution block having been said to be used for nearly two years now without addressing its unhygienic issue
From discussion sighted over the issue on social media’s Tulaghi Hospital Discussion Page, more concern has been raised by first hand users describing the unhygienic it produces.
“Postnatal mothers use the ablution block to wash after delivery and as well as for their privacy purposes so it is one of the urgent needs to have a new showering place,” said one concerned.
Another concerned mother expressed that women deserve better as having no privacy as well falls way below the acceptable WHO standards.
“The hospital Management needs to do something about this,” raised the concerned mother.
According to insiders of the clinic, they revealed that many of the clinics issues have not been properly raised to the Ministry of Health.
“If these issues have been raised to the Ministry, we believe that something would be done. There might be some assessment as such,” said sources.
“These issues have been bypassed all these time.”
It is said also that it should be the Planning Office of the ministry of Health who should be responsible to address such issues in which call attempts to their Office were not successful yesterday.
Tulaghi Clinic now needs grave assistance calling for help to its issues purposely for a safe guidance to people’s health.
Members of the Gizo Dive Shop and volunteering team loading the rubbish straight to the pickup truck.
BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO
Members of the Gizo Dive Shop and volunteering team loading the rubbish straight to the pickup truck.
THE people of Gizo, in the Western province celebrated the ‘World Environment, World Ocean and Coral Triangle Day’ with this year’s slogan, ‘Beat plastic pollution’ on Tuesday.
Hundreds participated in the celebration and joined the Western Province Network for Sustainable Environment (WPNSE) and various environment and tourism stakeholders and the provincial government division officers in celebrating the day.
Provincial Secretary Jeffrey Wickham officially opened the celebration on Tuesday in front of the Gizo Hotel.
The celebration started with a massive cleanup campaign in Gizo island and surrounding islets.
Gizo residents, business houses, shops workers and volunteers participated in the cleanup, while a good number of volunteers, especially youths going to surrounding islands at Logha, Nusatupe, Olosana, Kennedy, Naru, Olasana.
Among the cleanup activities was the scouring nearby reefs for crown of thorns starfish and removing them.
Pile of cans, bottles and plastic collected from Nusatupe
Secretary of WPNSE Julie Kalamana thanked the general public and young youths who participated in the cleanup campaign.
“I would like to thank the general public for the good work done at the general clean up day surrounding Islands and along Gizo Township.
“We thanked local business operators especially Mobile for sponsoring one drum fuel, Zilava for providing pickup truck to collect rubbishes, cans and plastics and TTC group of companies to provide their pickup trucks and others who support the cleanup campaign.”
BEING the only all-female group among the recipients, the Girls For Change are striving to do what they do best – to support each other.
Girls For Change president Karrie Jionisi sees the signing agreement as a milestone achievement for her group.
Girls For Change is a community of interest group or a network of young women that works to improve the lives of single mothers in Honiara. They operate more on ad hoc basis with a fixed meeting location.
Karrie says their project will focus on capacity building trainings for out of school and single mothers to have the right skills and learn to have the self-confidence to participate in socio-economic activities.
“This signing today was a very big achievement for us as a girls group. We see this as a milestone that will help us step forward and use this opportunity to help other girls in our community. While we will make at least small changes with this grant, we hope to make a bigger impact to the lives of our girls.”
Keep Clean Commission
Evolved out from a thriving local boy band, N2Y Active Citizens is a community-based youth group at Naha 2 representing the young population of over 40 homes.
N2Y aims to redevelop their community’s landscape with the combination of road work, gardening and recycling means.
“On behalf of the Naha 2 Youth group, I’d like to thank Oxfam and its partners for giving us this opportunity to improve our community through our Keep Clean Commission Project that aims to give a landscape development to our community as well as establish a workforce opportunity for our unemployed youths,” says Sam Ziokera, vice president of N2Y.
“Our youth group joined the Statim Faia program earlier this year and we went through many workshops and trainings to prepare us to effectively execute our project. I am confident that we will achieve what we planned.”
Oxfam Country Director, Dolores Devesi signs the grant agreements with HCC and HYC. Photos by OXFAM Media
Oxfam, HCC and HYC rolls out second phase of youth grant scheme ‘Statim Faia’
“ONE, two and three say Statim Faia!” Sixteen young leaders representing youth groups across Honiara cheered before the camera as the Statim Faia project successfully rolled out its second phase of providing grants for youth initiatives.
Waving their signed agreement papers in the air, the photo captured it all. Smiles of relief, satisfaction and the energy of determination.
Earlier that afternoon representatives from 16 youth groups signed the grant agreements with Oxfam in Solomon Islands (OISI) Country Director Dolores Devesi, Honiara City Council (HCC) Head of Youth Sports and Women Division Roland GK Pauku and President of the Honiara Youth Council (HYC) Harry James.
Karrie Jionisi, president of Girls For Change is a community of interest group or a network of young women that works to improve the lives of single mothers in Honiara.Ali Barnabas aims to boost the Solomon Islands Deaf Association by making video productions in the hope to attract more intepreters.A participant with his certificate.
The grant program is funded by Comic Relief fund and Royal Commonwealth Society, under the Queen‘s Young Leaders Programme in honor of Her Majesty The Queen’s 60 years of service to the Commonwealth.
A total sum of SBD$349,397 was signed by the participating youth groups to carry out their proposed projects over the next six months.
These vary from business models to plastic recycling ideas, landscaping and agriculture, empowerment programs and many more creative initiatives.
“Personally I am always excited to support youth groups. We see you as leaders – not for the future – but as leaders of today,” Ms Devesi told the youth representatives at the signing event.
“Our generation today looks upon young people and leaders like yourselves to bring up our society. We’ve seen for ourselves the many issues that our country is facing, particularly issues affecting our young population.”
She said the Statim Faia project is purposely aimed to give youth groups the chance to put their ideas into practise, however with the challenge for young people to learn about sustainability.
Oxfam Country Director, Dolores Devesi signs the grant agreements with HCC and HYC. Photos by OXFAM Media
“It may not be able to cover all the costs that were proposed but it gives you the capability to start something which can continue to be sustainable even when your grants run out.”
The Country Director congratulated the participants in reaching the funding stage of the project and wished them well in their implementations.
Roland GK Pauku, head of HCC’s Youth Sports and Women Division says HCC is thankful for the existing partnership with Oxfam and will commit to continuously work closely together.
“For us at the Honiara City Council, we are really thankful for what Oxfam is doing,” he says. “As much as possible we will commit to work more closely with the teams involved [Honiara Youth Council and Oxfam’s Youth Governance project] so that we will continue to implement this project.
Roland GK Pauku, head of HCC’s Youth Sports and Women Division says the City Council will commit to continuously work closely together with its partners.
“I’ve seen the values and commitment of the Oxfam team in implementing this program and I highly applaud them. We must accomplish things,” Pauku urged.
HYC president Harry James in a brief comment encouraged the youths to make use of the opportunity and deliver with uttermost dedication to support youths in the country.
The Statim Faia project was launched in 2015 with the aim to support young women and young men in the Solomon Islands to participate and have their voices heard on issues they care about.
OISI’s Youth and Governance Coordinator Neil Nuia, who takes lead in the Statim Faia project, says the project attracted more participating youth groups than the first year.
Oxfam Youth and Governance Coordinator, Neil Nuia drives the Statim Faia project in partnership with HCC and HYC..
“Compared to seven successful grants in 2017, this year we were very delighted to have 16 youth groups in Honiara who successfully completed the Statim Faia small grants process,” he says.
“I must congratulate these young active citizens for bringing their creative yet powerful ideas forward and putting into proposal their proactive ways of raising youth voice. Now it is time to make positive change and have their impact trickle down to other youths in other provinces.”
We take a look at three of the successful recipients:
Learning sign language in DVD
Ali Barnabas is president of the Solomon Islands Deaf Association (SIDA), an association formed in 2014 to engage and support people with hearing disability.
Though speech impaired, Ali has championed being a vocal voice behind SIDA in raising the concerns of the disabled population – loud enough to get the attention of Prime Minister Rick Hou who agreed to meet with SIDA earlier in January.
A youth participant signs on behalf of his group at the Oxfam Honiara office.
Ali signed the Statim Faia grant agreement on behalf of SIDA with an aim to increase the knowledge of sign language through video productions.
Speaking through an interpreter Ali said: “In our project, we propose to promote sign language through DVDs that can help others to learn with an easier medium. We hope our proposed videos will reach as many people as possible. We also plan to channel our productions to schools and disability centres whom are already aware of our project and are eager to see the output.”
SIDA had undertaken similar projects in the past, but by print materials and books.
Ali said SIDA is in need for more interpreters and he hopes that by using DVDs more people can be reached.
MY government is totally committed to ensuring that every child in my country has access to basic water, toilet and hygiene facilities in schools. We realise that WASH facilities in schools are critical not only to achieve health and educational results of children.
The above statement was made by acting Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Manasseh Sogavare during the launch of National Standards on WASH (Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene) in schools on June 5 at Mendana Hotel.
Speaking on the lack of appropriate and inadequate WASH facilities in schools, he said this may be the reason for the increase of dropout rates in primary schools and in the junior secondary level.
“Lack of appropriate and adequate WASH facilities in schools may also partly explain the situation of drop-out rates at primary schools [and junior secondary level], which has increased in the period 2007-2009 from 8 percent to 11 percent, and -1 to 4 percent respectively. In particular, girls show higher drop-out rates than boys at 13 percent and 8 percent respectively,” said Sogavare.
He stated that this brings us to the question of how and when we can achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country for basic WASH services.
Henceforth, Hon Sogavare emphasised that as influencers of opinions and practices in their families and as future adults who need to learn the correct life skills for a generational change, they understand the crucial role of children.
Furthermore, he thanked the government of New Zealand and UNICEF for their support in the WASH project in 42 schools in Guadalcanal province.
“We look forward to the results of this project, so that the learnings can be taken to scale in the entire country. Providing WASH services in all schools of the country is achievable and this project can show us the way”
“I am happy to note that two main ministries – Ministry of Health and The Ministry of Education dealing with water and sanitation have converged here to align their priorities on WASH in schools,” said Sogavare.
He noted that he looks forward to more collaboration between the government, UNICEF, donors, bilateral organisations, NGOs, academia and other institutions to collaborate and address WASH on schools on the priority to achieve the SDGs on water and sanitation.
Proud and satisfied recipients - The MUP VPWs in their uniform with the bicycles.
BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE
MINISTRY of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening’s (MPGIS) Community Grievances and Management Project (CGGMP) through the Makira Ulawa provincial government (MUPG) donated bicycles and mobile phones to Makira village peace wardens (VPW) on May 19 at Kira Kira.
This is according to MPGIS’s press release statement which said that 20 bicycles and 19 mobile phones were presented by CGGMP’s Management, Information Management and Project Officer Mr Clinton Zinihite to the Provincial Secretary for Makira Ulawa province (MUP), Mr. James Taeburi and MUP Provincial Police Commander Mr Peter Sitai in the presence of the project’s provincial coordinator, Ms Daisy Zazariao, the VPWs and a number of provincial staff.
Proud and satisfied recipients – The MUP VPWs in their uniform with the bicycles.
Zinihite expressed that as transportation and communication have been identified as the two most pressing challenges, now provided with these equipment, VPWs will carry out their duties more efficiently and effectively thus enhance connectivity and access to rural villages.
He said that they hope these tools will help spread knowledge, build relationships and improve governance and grievances resolutions in the communities.
“When the VPWs perform on time and to the expectation of the communities consistently, then this will instill confidence and trust in the communities,” said Zinihite.
Taeburi in support of Zinihite’s statement urged the village peace wardens (VPWs) to exercise proper care when using the equipment.
On behalf of the VPWs, Mr Danny Danegu who is the VPW for Kokana expressed that this was a moment they have been waiting for and are so thankful that it has finally arrived.
Some of the MUP VPWs and their PS and Police Commander could not resist the joy of trying out the bicycles.
MPGIS emphasised that VPWs needed the bicycles so they can travel and reach more villages especially villages that can’t be covered when walking.
“The mobile phones are also just as important as transportation as the VPWs needed to use the communication equipment for passing messages not only amongst themselves but to their village counterparts and Police in Kira Kira,” said the press statement.
The VPWs as stated are in their roles expected to support the chiefs and existing community governance system to help resolve conflicts and maintain peace in the community.
They are as well expected to build relationships and build better linkages between the communities, the provincial government, police, national government and relevant stakeholders, working in partnership to uphold peace in the community.
The report stressed that the development objective of the Community Grievances and Management Project (CGGMP) is to strengthen community grievance management capabilities and boost the effectiveness of linkages with the government in targeted communities.
In addition, MPGIS administers CGGMP and supports the VPWs, COs and CLOs by providing training, equipment and linking them with national ministries.
Some of the proud and satisfied Makira Village Peace Wardens of the CGGMP pose with the new mobile phones with MUPG PS Mr. James Taeburi and MUP Police Commander Mr. Peter Sitai (2nd & 3rd from right).
The respective Provincial Governments that host the CGGMP recruit remunerate and deal with any issues of the Operative Field Officers and in this case, it is the village peace wardens of Makira Ulawa province.
Moreover, this project as said by MPGIS was piloted in Makira and Rennell and Bellona provinces since 2015 and is still underway in these two provinces.
By 2017, the Community Grievances and Management project extended to Malaita province for work on the recruitment of 15 officers to become Community Liaison Officers (CLOs), a process that is still progressing.
The latest province expected to benefit from this projects in the third quarter of 2018 is Central Islands province.
Furthermore, MPGIS highlighted the importance of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIP) in supporting CGGMP Operative Field Officers which include VPWs, COs and CLOs.
RSIP through the office of the respective Provincial Police Commanders provides support for the officers by offering stand by support to help them handle any serious cases should it be violent or law breaking and are also there to assist them in preventing crime by engaging in activities such as conducting crime prevention and grievances awareness during community activities.
Henceforth, reports produced by VPWs, COs or CLOs to provincial police are important sources of information and collaboration.
“CGGMP is funded by the World Bank and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Solomon Islands Government support the CGGMP. Together, through MPGIS, RSIPF, and the Provincial Governments, the public is urged to support the CGGMP’s Operative Field Officers (VPWs, COs, CLOs) to work with communities to resolve grievances and conflicts,” said the press statement.
PRINCIPAL inspector of the Honiara City Council (HCC) Ms Ella Rizworld has called on all Bahai street food vendors to cooperate with them (HCC) and comply with the council’s food hygiene and safety regulations.
This was made this week following the vendors’ lack of cooperation with HCC inspection officers and breaching of the council’s food by laws.
HCC is looking to gauge the vendors to work together and introduce hygienic standards to their service.
Speaking to a food hygiene and safety workshop this week Ms Rizwold said they carried out an initiative of street food vendor’s inspection earlier this year followed by demolishing of street food stalls on that site but they (vendors) still did not comply to HCC laws.
“Therefore I strongly called on Bahai street food vendors to cooperate with the us and come with one common understanding (HCC) because the particular environment the foods are prepared and sold is not conducive for the type of foods like fish, chicken and Rice, it can poses major health risks and microbial related issues.
“This is due to the location it was located near the road where the foods can easily expose to dusts particles which are small enough to be exhaled may cause health issues and the lack of water to name a few ,” she said.
Rizworld furthered the council does not prohibit them from selling their food.
TWENTY-plus street food vendors underwent a three-day food hygiene and safety workshop in Honiara.
The workshop was initiated by United Nations Women purposely to support women in the Solomon Islands in the arena of advancing women’s economic empowerment.
Women’s participation in economic empowerment activities allows them (women) to effect positive changes in their own lives and communities, contributing to positive effects for the whole nation.
Speaking to this paper Ms Ella Riswold, Principal Inspector of the Honiara City Council (HCC) who facilitated the training, said the training was based on food hygiene and safety and it was a prerequisite for all who venture into the food business in this country.
“Hence it is important for all food vendors to have basic understanding of food handling and preparations with regards to hygiene and safety and as well as knowing the councils by-laws that govern the foods.
“Good food hygiene is an important practice that we need to observe to ensure our food is safe for consumption, without this healthy practice, harmful germs that cause food poisoning can spread very easily during food preparation process, it is therefore our full responsibility to keep the food that we and our loved ones eat very clean and safe during and after preparation on a daily basis,” she said.
She said it also essential for vendors to have this knowledge because they also contribute to the economy of this country in a small but important scale.
The market for change project is a six year, multi-country initiative that aims to ensure market places in rural and urban areas of Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
George Titiulu, Head of Environmental Health Division at the Honiara City Council.
By Ezekiel Talatau
LITTERING ordinance has been enforced since 2009 but lack serious action, it is reported.
Honiara City Council (HCC) health inspector Mr George Titiulu on Wednesday explains that there are two types of littering – major and minor.
Major littering is rubbish that are bigger than the drum height, which Titiulu says is an offence.
Minor littering involves throwing rubbish from a vehicle or seven metres from one’s boundary.
Titiulu said under the littering ordinance, major littering charge fee is $10,000 and minor littering is $1000.
Titiulu shares that on May 31 this year he caught a person littering by throwing a cigarette butt onto the ground, and he fined him on the spot.
He asks the public to take extra care when throwing rubbish because if HCC staff manage to catch anyone in the public littering they will take action.
“Friends of the City is doing well in cleaning up our city for the past few days and we citizens should be responsible in looking after our city. Such activities will also contribute in creating a better environment as well as it will help us reducing plastic waste in around Honiara.”
