BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

SPOKESMAN for United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) (2018-2021) Mr Jacob Rumbiak has expressed his disappointment at an invitation sent to Indonesia for the upcoming Melanesian Arts Festival (MACFest).

Rumbiak said he came few months ago and approached the Director of Culture under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Dennis Marita, who Rumbiak said had extended a welcome for them to take part in the 2018 MACFest.

However, since then, Rumbiak says there has been no communication with the director of culture. Not until he came to the country last week; only to be advised to instead see the ministry of foreign affairs (MFAET).

Mr Jacob Rumbiak said the invitation said to be sent will not be going to West Papua as a Melanesian group but Melanesia-Indonesia as ULMWP and Indonesia are both in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). When Indonesia has the right to come, ULMWP also has the right. ULMWP should have an invitation also going through him as the one working for them with the government of Solomon Islands to receive an invitation.

“After I received response I could not continue, for this issue, I hope the Solomon Islands West Papua Solidarity Group here can ask Hon Manasseh Sogavare to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs for an invitation. But then it is up to the SI Solidarity Group,” said Rumbiak.

Speaking with the Director of the Culture Department under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism during his recent visit, Mr Rumbiak received confirmation from him

Rumbiak, meanwhile, says that Mr Marita has reassured him of the welcome to the people of West Papua, which still stands, citing that ‘West Papua is part of the MACFest and there is no exception culturally, socially and physically as all are Melanesians’.

Marita said then that at the moment, they are waiting for advice and confirmation from the MFAET to get a correspondence to send the invitation through for West Papua.

“We do not wish to get political sentiments, we just want to see this festival as a cultural one being a time to share our cultures and remember them to learn and appreciate each other’s cultures. That is the main focus of the festival,” said Director Marita.

Rumbiak said that he will have to apologise to their delegation already preparing and explain that the process has changed and they should wait patiently for the right time hoping they would be picked to travel.

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

THE national general election fever is reportedly on the rise, months away from the polling date.

Some intending candidates are reportedly carrying out awareness campaigns.

A concern voter in Auki John Thompson said, “The coming national election is crucial and I treat it as a decider for the nation.

“We know all our problems and hiccups and we indigenous Solomon Islands to vote wisely.”

He voices the concern that most candidates are reportedly resorting to using cash as a means of buying favour, something which he said should have been done away with.

“I appeal to all Solomon Islanders during when we cast out votes we are not to elect those people that give us money but vote quality leaders that heard and know the cries of our women, men, children in our rural areas.

“Today the future of our children is in our hands and we must make good decisions for the future.”

PATRICK Wong, the man whose ownership claim of Russell Islands Plantation Estates Ltd (RIPEL) has fuelled on-going controversy, has fired back at Russell Islands’ tribal landowner, Silas Selo, saying Mr Selo has no business talking about RIPEL.

“Mr Selo is a confused man. He has inaccurate and misleading information,” Wong said in a statement.

The Sydney-based businessman was responding to claims by Selo that Wong no longer has any business to do with RIPEL because he had sold his interests in 2010.

“Lavukal Trust Board is a matter for the Lavukal people and has nothing whatsoever to do with either the Company or Patrick Wong. LTB has a registered constitution and Patrick Wong is neither a member nor a Trustee of LTB. If Mr Selo is concerned about LTB, he should play an active role and start by consulting his fellow Chiefs.

“As for Mr Patrick Wong dealing in RIPEL matters, like Patrick Wong has nothing to do with LTB, likewise Mr Selo has no business talking about RIPEL,” Wong said.

“It is correct that one of the Shareholders did contract to purchase Mr Wong’s share in late 2014. However, as the Supreme Court of New South Wales has found, in their various Judgements, including the most recent judgement on the 14th March 2018, that Mr Van Vlymen is yet to pay Mr Wong. Until Mr Wong is fully paid, Mr Wong has full entitlement to remain in RIPEL and LSL,” he said.

“How can anyone sell something but have not been paid. It is simple, the item is only sold, only after full payment is received. This is exactly what the Court found.”

On March 17, 2017, the Supreme Court of NSW agreed and it was ordered that Wong may appoint a Receiver Manager over Mr Van Vlymen’s 50 percent share, due to non-payment.

Wong said that if Selo is to be believed, he should stop telling ‘untruth’. Instead he should only tell the whole truth.

“Mr Selo should first do his own research, before publishing such non-factual nonsense, otherwise he would be exposing himself to a potential law suit,” Wong said.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO

A female candidate of ward 8 in Western province has been disqualified from contesting.

Mrs Mary Doko from Maravari Village, Ward 8 in South Vella la Vella Island has been confirmed as disqualified by the Returning Officer Gizo, Hopeful Piosasa.

He said she was disqualified because she had not registered her name under the province according to Electoral Act regulations.

Piosasa said to be qualified for an office, candidates must satisfy certain legal requirements, such as citizenship, residency, and voter registration.

“There are three intending candidates from Ward 8 who wish to contest this year election against the current provincial Minister for Planning & Project Coordination and MPA for ward 8 Carlos Kesiana.

“Mary claimed that her name appeared in 2014 registration list, but we couldn’t locate her name so we decided to disqualify her nomination.

“She has not met all the criteria regarding the electoral and provincial act. Therefore she is not qualified to nominate and contest for this year’s election,” said Piosasa.

Meanwhile, Piosasa said the final list for this year’s provincial election intending candidates from ward 1 to 26 will be released on Thursday.

Nomination for this year’s provincial election began on Wednesday, May 9, 2018.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

MENSTRUATION has offered multiple challenges for girls in schools across Solomon Islands that don’t have proper WASH facilities available for students, it is reported.

This is according to a study on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in schools in the country.

These setbacks include lack of water and adequate ablution facilities, barriers to accessing absorbent materials, inaccurate information on menstruation and menstrual hygiene, besides cultural barriers.

The report spells out that the impact of these setbacks lead to absenteeism, feelings of shame or embarrassment, and lack of concentration and reduced participation in class for girls.

It furthers, girls and their teachers in schools have identified the elements of lessening these menstruation-related challenges and some of these include quality of school WASH facilities, availability of hygiene materials, access to accurate information about menstruation and support from school managers and teachers.

Based on the identified barriers, recommendations include improving of school policies, facilities and resources available for girls to manage menstruation at schools, give girls knowledge and skills to maintain their menstrual hygiene safely and effectively at school and improving of national policies and monitoring of MHM in schools.

BY ALFRE PAGEPITU
GIZO

THE last provincial assembly meeting under Premier Wayne Maepioh convened briefly yesterday and was adjourned to continue today.

During the meeting, Speaker Richard Tekifono introduced the order paper number 1 for the current sitting.

This included review of the meeting minutes of March 26, 28 and 29, and to deliberate on Division’s Annual Report for the 2017/2018 Financial year.

Tekifono then moved the introduction assembly sitting adjournment motion supported by the non-executive MPAs.

The full assembly is held at the Women Resource Centre.

Western Province Clerk to the Assembly Kevin Paia encouraged MPAs to attend the final full assembly meeting for the current house under Premier Maepioh.

Paia said the house was empty with only few MPAs in attendance.

The Western provincial government under Premier Maepioh’s captaincy will conclude on the last full assembly sitting – Thursday, May 31, 2018.