THE Western Province Network for Sustainable Environment (WPNFSE) says it stands by to support the Western provincial government.
WPNFSE is a body set up in the province to coordinate non-government organisations in the province.
WPNFSE had a meeting in Gizo on Monday where it agreed on how it will complement the work of the province.
Speaking on behalf of WPNFSE, David Boseto said their group will carry out awareness on the proposed plastic ban the provincial government is proposing to implement in July.
Boseto said the network will render help on waste management and with small waste recycling at home.
He said their group will continue to complement each organisation with equipment and human resources.
One other big event the group will work on is the event to mark this year’s World Environment Day, World Ocean Day and Coral Triangle day.
A rally was recently held at Takwa Catholic parish for women representatives there.
The rally was organised by Takwa parish where women learnt their role as women or mothers in the church.
Senior catechist, Mr Eddie Kaia said the objective of the rally is to strengthen their faith and their work in the church.
He added that the programme looked at supporting women to build them from their weaknesses both in the community and with parish participation.
Kaia said the rally came under the parish programme which looked not only at women, but other gender groups and church ministerial activities under the parish.
He said there were programmes also for Sunday schools, youths, men’s groups, catechist and other areas under the parish which mainly to strengthen their faith and work in church.
Kaia said women attended the rally were representing 22 Catholic communities in Lau and Mbaelelea under the Takwa parish.
SOLOMON Islands Women in Business Association (SIWIBA) has been an opportunity for women to showcase their skills and creativity while contributing to their household incomes.
This is according to Ms Gayle Ramosaea who hails from Malaita and Western provinces.
She expressed that it was back in 2014 when she signed up as a member before getting into the art of producing locally inspired accessories as a craft artist.
Ramosaea explained that she decided to join the association so that she would be able to help support her husband and children.
She stressed that one major challenge in the journey has been the essence of time in juggling her roles and responsibilities as a wife, mother, grandmother and business person.
All the more, Ramosaea proudly displays her items which range from matching earrings and necklaces, the popular Langa Langa shell money necklaces to head pieces and other accessories.
Besides producing beautiful accessories, she is also involved in two other businesses.
Ramosaea was among other women who showed up at SIWIBA’s first market for 2018 yesterday at the Girl Guides headquarter.
Formerly known as Mere’s Market, SIWIBA is set to hold a total of six SIWIBA markets this year.
IT is encouraging to know that students are interested to learn the Mandarin language after finding out what it is.
This is according to Ms Li Kuei Mi who teaches Mandarin at SINU.
Speaking to the paper yesterday, she said that for this year alone, she has visited more than two schools in Honiara and has come to see that students are pretty much interested to learn Mandarin.
Ms Li explained that as part of her Mandarin awareness activity, she introduces her country, Taiwan, her culture and language through a presentation of brief video clips, songs and questionnaire sessions.
She added that with the help of her students from her Mandarin class at SINU, she also teaches basic Mandarin phrases to see if students are interested to learn the language and mentioned that while the response was overwhelmingly positive it encourages her to visit more schools.
Li stated that she plans to visit schools in the provinces and is already considering Makira and Temotu provinces as the two first provinces to visit.
She furthered that although she is aware how far Temotu province is, she is willing to take up the challenge.
“I want to share with students the Mandarin language and see if they are interested to learn about it because in one way or the other it can help open the door for many opportunities for them. Solomon Islands does not just include Honiara but all the nine provinces so that is why I plan to also visit schools in the provinces,” said Li.
Ms Kuei-Mi Li (right) and Taiwan Embassy’s Deputy Counsellor Mr Oliver Weng
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
Ms Kuei-Mi Li (right) and Taiwan Embassy’s Deputy Counsellor Mr Oliver Weng
LEARNING Mandarin opens opportunities which are significant for Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands has many Chinese investors, tourists and communities, and learning Mandarin is crucial for communication with them whether in business, social and crimes interpretations.
To face these issues, locals can now take Mandarin classes at the Solomon Islands National University taught by Ms Kuei-Mi Li under the Taiwan Embassy programme to help Solomon Islands.
“Plan to expand in other secondary schools across the province is on pipeline,” Ms Li said.
Li said learning Mandarin will help individual Solomon Islanders become future interpreters for communication exchanges.
She said there are over one billion people speaking Mandarin in the world which is one quarter of the world’s population.
“If you can master this language you will have more opportunities for studies, job, traveling, and it is important people in Solomon Islands invest in learning mandarin speaking,” Li said.
Opportunities – It may be difficult to start with Mandarin while having no backgrounds at all, but there comes a great number of opportunities that can make it totally worth it. Learning Mandarin is very convenient and can be a great addition to the skills that you have.
Jobs – it can be a great way for you to be accepted on more jobs out there.
Many Chinese people are investing in business and may need someone who speaks their language fluently so that they can be comfortable working with them.
Business prospects – if you are running a business, you should know that Chinese investors make up a huge portion of the business world.
Knowing their language can help you impress them and increase your chances of securing a deal.
You can also easily get their attention and explain your offers to them.
Meanwhile, Li said there are plans underway for communities who are interested in learning Mandarin.
She said interested communities, associations or organisations can call Taiwan Embassy Solomon Islands for learning Mandarin language or courses and presentations.
Taiwan Embassy’s Deputy Counsellor Mr Oliver Weng said he discussed with country’s officials to be inclusive in offering the learning of Mandarin speaking here.
He said Mandarin is important to be learn for speaking and communication not only exchanging ideas but issues relating to national dealings as well when it comes to interpretation.
THE Parish Pastoral Team Animation committee in Takwa Catholic parish in Lau region of Malaita province have proposed to work on the historical content of the establishment of the parish.
The work will be in preparation for celebrating the parish’s centenary since the arrival and establishment of Takwa parish in 1935.
Senior catechist, Eddie Kaia said the PPTA committee has proposed the work as it will be on various ministries administered under the parish since its establishment.
He said information is expected to be gathered on the history of clergies, catechists, women and men church groups, youths Sunday schools and other church ministries and activities which happened in the parish over the century.
Kaia said the purpose of compiling the historical work is to be told during the centenary celebration.
He added that the work is also important as it will help young generation or researchers of the history of the Catholic Church in Lau region.
Kaia said as part of the work he will be leading the work on profiling the history of catechism work in the parish.
He said he will team up with his colleague catechists in the parish to carry out the work.
Kaia said Takwa parish will celebrate its 100 years in 2035.
MALAITA provincial government, despite being a male dominated chamber, is supporting the push for women agenda in the province.
Malaita has one female provincial member, who is the provincial minister for women, Rose Liata. She is fighting for women’s rights.
Liata said at first it was challenging to be among a male dominated executive which sometimes she found it difficult to drive women agenda. But she says her colleague MPAs are supportive.
Liata said Malaita provincial government is now supportive of women’s issues and ensure activities are implemented according to Malaita provincial government policy and women’s policy.
“With the issues of women, if I bring to the executive level, they respected me and even supportive behind me as well and I see they are really supportive behind women to push for women agendas,” she said.
She said the Malaita executive has been behind her to bring up its women’s policy which resulted in the endorsement of Malaita Women’s Policy, launched early this year.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, UNDP and UN Women formed a women’s caucus network.
The network consists of women representatives from Malaita, Guadalcanal and Western provinces and is with the aim to share women’s common issues and discuss priority areas.
National Programme Coordinator, UN Women Audrey Manu said the women caucus network will help women in the three targeted provinces to connected and share common issues.
She adds such network is set up for women to share common issues and priorities for Malaita province, GP and Western province.
THE Western Provincial government is planning to improve on land issues in the province, says acting premier Maloney Lopoto.
Lopoto in his opening address at the provincial assembly yesterday said land is a sensitive issue and government is undertaking a very comprehensive and easy approach cautious land reform programme as part of its drive to prepare the province for new investment opportunities and partnership ideas with people, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, mining and other sectoral development.
“We have three people owning land in this province, the Commissioner of Lands, the Premier and the Tribe/clans include customary.
“We need to liase and work closely with them in terms of land issues.”
Lopoto stressed that the government through the lands ministry have done so many things with land matters and achieved some progress.
PRINCIPAL Magistrate Leonard Chite has adjourned the case against an accused Luke Kemakeha to June 5 allowing both prosecution and the defence lawyer to sort out outstanding issues on the case.
Appeared in court for the Office of the Director Public Prosecution Dalcy Belapitu said all other disclosures in relation to the charges against the accused has been provided to the defence except for the medical report in relation to the 2010 incident.
The court was told that the prosecution already consulted the Tulagi police in relation to the medical report and they are saying that they will check with Dende clinic in Central Island Province.
Probably the medical report will be provided this week, the prosecution said yesterday.
Meanwhile defence lawyer confirmed receiving the disclosures and said that if the medical report is difficult to obtain then the defence is intending to make negotiation in relation to the charge of 2010 incident.
The defence also said in relation to the charges occurred in 2018 all disclosures were already provided and the accused is prepared to take his plea.
But the presiding Magistrate said both counsels have to sort the outstanding issues before dealing with the case as all facts will be considered on the case.
The accused Kemakeha is charged with one count of unlawfully attempt to strike with knife, one count of causing grievous harm and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.
This is in relation to incidents occurred in Ngella Central Island Province.
SICCI Chair, Jay Bartlett delivering his official remarks at the signing ceremony.
Police Commissioner Matthew Varley delivering his official remarks.
THE Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) have signed a partnership agreement aimed at strengthening mutual relationship to work together.
The signing ceremony held at the Rove Police Headquarter was attended by the members of the business community, SICCI Board, Senior Executives of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and members of the diplomatic corp.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is aimed at strengthening the relationship between SICCI and RSIPF to collaborate. Both parties recognized that there is a strong link between the rule of law, growth and investment which underpins private sector development and job creation.
The agreement will provide a conduit through the set-up of an Executive Group comprising of both parties to explore, discuss and resolve areas of common interest. In brief the MOU will allow both parties to share and exchange information, explore and promote crime prevention initiatives, including recognizing the commercial perspective of businesses in the Solomon Islands. Both parties also recognize and share a social conscience for community wellbeing.
SICCI Chair, Jay Bartlett in his official remarks acknowledged the role of RSIPF in recognizing the need to collaborate through the signing of the MOU.
SICCI Chair, Jay Bartlett delivering his official remarks at the signing ceremony.
“Today our two institutions will mark a historical milestone in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and the significance is in the acknowledgement. It is an acknowledgement that we need each other” said Mr Bartlett.
“The relationship between the public and private sector is one that we believe needs to be continually strengthened in order to adequately face the challenges ahead of us”
The Chair further highlighted that it is time to do things differently, to collaborate, to co-ordinate and to better communicate. “This platform will provide an opportunity for the private sector to take a more pro-active role in supporting our Police Force and vice versa” said Mr Bartlett.
RSIPF Commissioner Matthew Varley also acknowledged the commitment and leadership from the private sector in agreeing to collaborate and reinforcing the need to work together.
“This new partnership that we are cementing together between RSIPF and SICCI recognizes the strength of working together. We can combine the resources and ingenuity of the police and business communities across Solomon Islands to solve problems and improve communities”
“Strong partnership gives strengths to communities and therefore communities can grow and prosper,” said Mr Varley.
The signing ceremony follows 11 months of work behind the scene to finalize the agreement.
