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Solomon Water celebrates 25th Anniversary

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Mines, Energy & Rural Electrification Jeffrey Deve, left, Chairman of Solomon Water, Phil Bradford, and officials attending Solomon Water’s 25th Anniversary. PHOTO BY MANEBONA BARNABAS

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Mines, Energy & Rural Electrification Jeffrey Deve, left, Chairman of Solomon Water, Phil Bradford, and officials attending Solomon Water’s 25th Anniversary. PHOTO BY MANEBONA BARNABAS

SOLOMON Water (SW) had celebrated its 25th Anniversary last week.

Despite approaching a state of collapse early 2000 leading to 2010, Chairman of Solomon Water Phil Bradford assured they are now standing on their feet.

Political instability, poor governance, lack of investment in infrastructure and poor organisational capacity nearly plunged Solomon Water into bankruptcy,

In 2010, the government of Solomon Islands intervened to stabilize the company and assist its performance.

A bilateral agreement between the Government of Solomon Islands and Australia was established in 2011 to improve the economic infrastructure of Solomon Water and it began the long road to recovery.

Under the recovery and action plan program which also included further JICA support, the quality of water supply has improved in the country.

“We’ve got a good future, 8 years ago we had Board members being actually scared as it was a bankrupt institution. We are certainly not in that position now but we’ve got a long way to go,” reminded Bradford.

“We are making small profits each year, we are starting to do some of our own upgrades but we still need our donors. We recognise and acknowledge the efforts of both JICA and DFAT because without them, we could have not gone far from where we are today.”

“When I came and took over we were losing over a million dollars a month, but now we are starting to make profits. 2013 was 70 Million and by 2017, we have made a hundred million. It is not a lot of money in some people’s minds but every single penny we can afford has been reinvested in many ways.”

Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Mines, Energy & Rural Electrification Jeffrey Deve praised Solomon Water despite facing many challenges and difficulties, through their management they have managed to turn around since 2010.

He said significant changes has resulted financial stability.

He added that the turnaround in performance by SW over recent years were made possible by support from development partners in which he acknowledged ADB, DFAT and JICA who helped enable SW to revitalize.

“We assure you of our continuous government support,” reminded the PS.

The General Manager for SW Mr Ian Gooding during the celebration thanked his Staff for their continuous hard work.

“I am very proud, I appreciate the commitment and dedication, I thank the government and donors support and I also thank our Board of Directors,” said Gooding.

SW working hard to tackle water stealing

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

SOLOMON Water’s (SW) General Manager Ian Gooding said they still lose 25 percent of water through people stealing.

For this, SW’s General Manager does not rule out the fact that they still need to do a lot in the water management.

“That is to stop people from doing illegal connections. We’ve got almost 10, 000 connections in which obviously it is a lot of work to go through the areas where illegal connections are but we are working on that,” said Gooding.

He elaborated in sharing also to Island Sun that for years 2018-2019, they are going to make extra resource and energy into what they call non revenue water.

“The other part is fixing the leaks because we lose a lot of water through leaks as well,” said Gooding

City’s youth platform launches new official logo

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Girls from the Hasi uria dianala youth group picture expressed their excitement in a photo shop saying this is a milestone achievement for HYC and Youths.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

 

HONIARA Youth Council (HYC) has officially launched its official logo during the conclusion of a youth orientation workshop last week.

Amongst the youth councils across the provinces, HYC was the first youth-led organisation in Solomon Islands to have a logo and a legitimate body which is still active.

Official launching of HYC’s logo is described as a milestone achievement which signified collective ideas and strong support from partners and young people in Honiara.

Young people proudly smile in the picture with the HYC’s new logo

HYC President Mr Harry James Olikwailafa in his remarks said for HYC to have its own logo marked another milestone of its journey to become recognised and gain visibility.

He said HYC is a legitimate official platform of young people in Honiara City, so having the logo will help its visibility and branding of their work to advocate for youths’ issues.

With the achievement, Olikwailafa acknowledged its partners saying HYC believe and value their collective supports which set as foundation for youth development work within Honiara.

Girls from the Hasi uria dianala youth group picture expressed their excitement in a photo shop saying this is a milestone achievement for HYC and Youths.

HCC-Youth Development Officer, Mrs Mary Tuhaika said it’s about right time that HYC have its own logo for its identification and visibility among stakeholders and young people.

She said HYC having an official logo is important for portraying information to public that there is a legal entity which represents young people in Honiara.

Tuhaika said HCC was very happy to see the growth of HYC, from one man team; now they have a very vibrant board which are proactive with its activities.

She thanked the Queens Young Leadership Award through Comic Relief and through Oxfam Solomon Islands to engage with HYC and youths in Honiara.

Representative from partners and community youth groups in group photo to cut the ribbon as official launching of the HYC’s official logo

At the event, community youth groups were excited and thrilled saying for HYC to have an official logo will be effective for campaign, awareness and advocacy activities to channel youth’s concern.

The logo was designed by Lemuel Steve Rauona, who is a president for CY and HYC executive member.

The event has convened Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, Honiara City Council, DSE, representatives from New Zealand and community youth groups.

HYC acknowledged HCC-YD and DSE for facilitating the designer of the logo and other administration matters relate to the event.

The HYC is a youth governing body that represent the voice of young people in the Honiara City to provincial and national government.

It was formed in 2012 with support from the HCC-Youth Division, MWYCFA and other donor partners.

Group photo of community youth groups and its stakeholders during the launch ceremony at the OG conference room, Kukum

PM Hou supports Japan’s candidate for WHO director

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO IN JAPAN

PRIME Minster Rick Houenipwela has strongly supported Japan’s candidate for the World Health Organisation regional director post.

This was highlighted during his bilateral meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Iwaki, Fukusima in Japan over the weekend.

“I like to again reassure you to know Solomon Islands strongly support Japan’s candidates for World Health Organisation (WHO) religion director position, the international candidate,” he said.

“Apart from that we also strongly support Japanese bid for the expo 2025.”

Further discussions have been made including to confirm cooperation on following up PALM8, to further strengthened partnership between Japan and the Solomon Islands including cooperation for realising “Free and open Indo –Pacific Strategy”, requested cooperation relating to stable operations by Japanese fishing vessels and the project to recover the remains of Japanese soldiers and confirmed cooperation on the regional situation and in the international arena including North Korea.

$5K to enter

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Parliament

Candidate fee for national general election jumps by 40 percent

 

By Alfred Sasako

CANDIDATE’S fee for contesting the national general election next year is set to jump to $5,000, a 40 percent increase on the current fee, the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission has revealed.

“Yes, the new fee for a candidate contesting the election will be $5,000,” Island Sun was told last week.

“The current fee for a candidate contesting election is $2,000,” the Electoral Commission said, adding this would increase by $3,000 on the current fee. The Commission described the proposed fee as “a policy choice of our leaders.”

The Commission said the proposed fee is prescribed in the Electoral Bill 2018, which could become law once Parliament passed it in July this year. The Bill is the second on the Government’s legislative program for the July sitting of Parliament.

The Electoral Commission has also given a birds’ eye view on what to expect as the countdown to the 2019 National General Election has gone underway.

Next year’s National General Election is expected to be held either next February or next March at the latest.

“Despite Parliament dissolution on December 17, 2018, the proclamation notice for the General Election by the Governor General will be issued after New Year.

“This is because the count-down to the polling day, by law, is dictated by the date of the proclamation notice. Although we want the Governor General to issue the proclamation notice after Near Year celebration, he must do so no later than 15 January,” the Electoral Commission said in response to written questions raised by Island Sun.

“If therefore the Electoral Bill 2018 is passed, and the GG made the proclamation by 15th January (for example) the earliest polling day for General Election would be 13th March 2019 (after 56 days from date of proclamation notice).

“If the new Electoral Bill is not passed the earliest polling day would be 27th February 2019 (after 42 days from proclamation notice),” the Commission said.

Meanwhile the Electoral Commission has confirmed that its proposed roll out date for voter registration would be July 27, 2018.

But it warned the proposed roll out might be delayed by two weeks “depending on the arrival of the batteries for the computers to be used by registration officials”.

The Commission said it had been advised that no airlines were able to fly the batteries over to Solomon Islands. As a result the batteries are being shipped to Honiara and are expected to arrive during the second half of July this year.

Problem-plagued HFA league drags on

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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HFA President Baddley Alaha

BY ROMULUS HUTA

HFA President Baddley Alaha

THE kick off date of the 2018 season league of the problem-plagued Honiara Football Association (HFA) is being dragged on for another week but still pending further confirmation.

The kick-off is being dragged on due to constant failures to sort out outstanding issues carried on from last season, forcing the Honiara football governing body to remain unsettle and so as yet to figure out a new possible kick-off date.

Speaking to SunSPORTS yesterday, HFA President Baddley Alaha said two meetings are scheduled to take place next week to discuss issues pertaining to the affairs of the league.

“One meeting will be held with the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Executive and the other meeting is with the clubs.

“After these two meetings are over then we can be able to announce the new kick off date,” Alaha stressed.

Initially, the league was scheduled to kick off last Saturday as announced in March by Alaha and his executive after carrying out strings of successive meetings in past months since the beginning of this year.

Last month, HFA was trying to address the issue of prizes for winners last season where to this point, nothing is said to have happened yet due to financial difficulty.

Registration for the 2018 season had closed earlier this month and Alaha admitted only few clubs came in to pay up their affiliation and competition registration fees.

“Only few clubs have paid in their affiliation and registration fees and we are still working on that.

“This will also be put on the table for discussion when we meet with the clubs next week.

“We hope to resolve some of the issues pertaining to the affairs of the league during the two upcoming meetings and get to announce the new kick off date after that,” Alaha expressed.

In gearing up for the new season since the announcement of the previous kick off date, most affiliated clubs have shaped up in their preparations and are now in ‘ready mode’.

Meanwhile, unlike the previous seasons, the HFA competition structure went under a review recently and this new season will see the introduction of the newly-adopted two-divisional leagues comprising 18 teams each for the premier division and second division, respectively. The restructure is to allow Honiara clubs to play more matches in one season.

Kooline maintains lead

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Koloale’s Lenson Bisili with possesion as George Steveson of Kooline sets up defense.

Futsal Solympics back in second

By Taromane Martin

Koloale’s Lenson Bisili with possesion as George Steveson of Kooline sets up defense.

KOOLINE futsal team remains top of the 2018 Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) national futsal league after their sixth win in the competition on Thursday.

Kooline defeated Koloale 2-1 in a pulsating match at the Multipurpose Hall to see them with 19 points on the competition table and also keep their undefeated run in the competition alive.

Atana Fa’arodo gave Kooline the lead after excellent team play with Dickson Ramo for their first goal.

Team captain Coleman Makau doubled the lead in the second half but saw Eddie Taevo pulling a goal back for Koloale from the set piece.

Taevo made matters worse for his after he was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Philip Maeta two minutes later.

The win puts Kooline back on top of the competition table after the Futsal Solympics temporarily jumped top of the table with 18 points, after defeating Mataks 5-2 in the 2pm match yesterday.

Futsal Solympics Head Coach Stanley Puirana was pleased with the three points but admitted his young side will need to work on their mental fitness and must learn to play as a unit.

“I’m pleased but not entirely. The boys played well together to set up our opening goals,” he told SunSPORTS yesterday.

“I think so far in this competition the concentration of the boys need to improve. Our discipline needs to also step up more.

“First half we dominated ball possession but attitude of selfishness and individuality let us down with our chances in the second half.

“But its good we identified this now than later so we can improve on it.

“With youth teams like this you not only have to work on their physicality but also on their mentality.

“I told the boys their mindset need to be focused and disciplined for our games because without discipline the results will eventually come out on the field.

“We’ll keep working and keep our head up for our remaining four matches,” he said.

Meanwhile Indo-Solo bagged their third SIPA Futsal League win after defeating a wasteful Real Kakamora side 4-2 yesterday.

Two goals from Iani and one each from Fred and John Indo-Solo was enough to cancel out Mona Sam first and second half goals for Real Kakamora.

The win Thursday sees Indo-Solo move up into sixth position with nine points after seven games played.

New school building for Santupaele

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITI

GIZO

The newly built school building of Santupaele, Ward 23, North Kolombangara.

THOUSANDS witnessed the handover ceremony of Santupaele’s new school building in north Kolombangara Ward 26, Western province.

The handover and dedication of the building was held at Santupaele Village on Wednesday.

The building was dedicated by SDA pastor Kele Hana.

Cutting of ribbon was done by guest of honour former PM Gordon Darcy Lilo, RDP team leader John Paranga Labere, SDA education Director Machline Jilini and Western education authority officer Liliati Pitakaji.

Santupaele school building sub-project is proudly funded by the Rural Development Programme (RDP) with financial aid from SIG, European Union (EU), World Bank (WB), DFAD, administered by the Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination (MDPAC), implemented under the auspices of the Western Provincial government.

Santupaele school building cost RDP $200,000 and it cost Santupaele Community contribution $390,000 worth of in-kind contributions totaling up the full project cost to $590,000.

RDP Western province team leader John Paranga Labere said Santupaele marks a milestone achievement in the development and this is not just an achievement that suddenly springs-up but track record of a journey in development for the community.

“You now own a good looking school building that will help to provide helpful leaning environment for your children, now and in future.

“This building is one of the 26 projects implemented under RDP since 2015, unfortunately one was terminated, so we left with 25.

“17 were completed by now including Santupaele, 8 are still ongoing, this means Santupaele community contributes more than RDP.”

He said since 2009, RDP implemented 101 projects in Western province. Unfortunately, 7 projects were terminated due to disputes and poor community efforts. This leaves with 94 projects in full implementation.

The ceremony was witnessed and attended by guest of honour, Gordon Darcy Lilo and community elders, men, women, youth and children of Santupaele, MPA for ward 26 North Kolombangara Michael Aquila, Western province education authority officer Liliata Pitakagi, SDA education authority Director Machline Jilini, community leaders and people of Ward 26.

Santupaele school building construction began on August 8, 2016.

The school will now accommodate more than 50 students, expecting to commence their academic next year.

United Church centenary brings reconciliation

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Mike Puia

Gizo

THE centenary celebration held at Nazareth Village, Marovo lagoon, in the Western province on Sunday has brought about reconciliation among disputing families.

Former Member of Parliament for North New Georgia Constituency, Job Tausinga, stood at the celebration and declared that he is dropping a court case against his relatives.

Tausinga, who served 26 years as an MP, said the action he is proposing serves to fulfil the purpose of the centenary.

United Church members in the province and in Choiseul province and Honiara attended the event.

The event commemorates the day the gospel reached the Choe people who now live in Nazareth village. Tausinga is also a man from Choe.

Tausinga and his relatives have been in dispute over an island call Ngaringari.

According to people living in the Marovo lagoon, the Ngaringari dispute is a long time dispute between Tausinga and his relatives.

Tausinga said they desire peace and this is why he has decided to cancel the court case.

The declaration received a round of applaud, with much enthusiastic loud shouting and clapping of admiration.

According to Tausinga, the dispute is a family dispute but it had reached a point where it separated them.

Rural women in micro-business recognised

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The five women award winners in micro-business with their certificates.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

The five women award winners in micro business with their certificates.

“SOMETIMES I feel that I have been neglecting my children and I try to balance work with family and it is quite difficult trying to maintain that balance. But when I won this award, I feel as if my hard work had paid off.”

Mrs Jesca Theokheranga was the woman who won the Gold plaque or first prize of the CBSI award for Women in micro-business 2018 that also includes a cash of $10,000.

Initiated in 2015, the Women in Micro-business awards was endorsed by the National Financial Inclusion Taskforce (NFIT) to support the financial inclusion of rural women’s participation in financial services. NFIT consists of representatives from the government, private sector, non-government, civil societies, women’s groups and donors and is chaired by the Governor of CBSI.

The awards this year is the second biennial award ceremony for women in micro-business.

Held yesterday in a simple ceremony in Honiara, the micro-business award recognises women micro businesses that have potential to impact lives and contribute to economic growth in the Solomon Islands.

Speaking to Island Sun, Financial Inclusion Manager of CBSI, Linda Folia says the process to select the awardees had not been easy. She says the process began in October 2017 and includes site visits to the businesses establishment.

“It had been grueling but full filling.”

She says for the women, this award will assist them in gaining recognition from businesses and stakeholders which will be a boost for them.

Also speaking to Island Sun, first prize winner, Mrs Theokheranga, says the win was quite a surprise for her.

“I am really encouraged and it has given me a reason to continue to work hard in my business. I encourage young girls and women not to give up but must continue to work hard. We must be determined, disciplined and must be willing to work and be honest in order for us to be successful,” Theokheranga says.

Meanwhile, third prize award winner, Esther Tali Suti, a honey producer from Simbo says it only comes back to people’s attitude. She says everyone alike need to change how they portray government’s assistance.

“So many times we think that government has not been supportive. But for me, I believe government has been supportive. Most times we rely on government for handouts. This is not the only support from government,” Mrs Suti says.

She says women should make use of the constituency funds available and not only ask for handout assistance. She says government play a crucial role in ensuring programs like the one witnessed now benefitted people in rural areas.

The five award winners for the CBSI Women in micro business 2018 are selected from 112 nominations.

They are Mrs Ruth Lolo, poultry producer from Guadalcanal, Mrs Jemimah Ellen, Cocoa producer from Guadalcanal, Mrs Esther Tali Suti, honey producer from Simbo, Mrs Lucy Kasimwane, cocoa producer from Makira and Mrs Jesca Theokheranga, copra and cocoa producer from Vella la Vella.

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