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Strengthening democratic institutions and promoting peace

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ELLISON.T.VAHI

COMMONWEALTH Heads acknowledged that as globally agreed under Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda, promoting peace, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive national institutions, at all levels, are essential for development to flourish.

Heads welcomed the recent establishment of the Commonwealth Office of Civil and Criminal Justice Reform (OCCJR) and its role in providing support to member countries in the creation of effective national laws.

Heads further agreed to adopt the Report of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG). They commended CMAG for its constructive role in advancing the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values, and its complementarity to the preventative nature of the Secretary General’s Good Offices.

Heads agreed the importance of strengthening the Secretary-General’s Good Offices and its capacity to support national requests for peace building to enable sustainable peace and security, through the establishment and strengthening of national peace and dialogue processes.

Recognising the valuable role of Commonwealth Elections Observation in supporting member countries to improve democratic processes and institutions, as highlighted in recommendations by Commonwealth Observer Groups, Heads agreed a refreshed approach to election observation, by adopting the Revised Commonwealth Guidelines on Election Observation in Member Countries.

Heads encouraged the strengthening of National Human Rights Institutions in line with the Paris Principles.

They reiterated the continued importance of sharing human rights best practice and expertise across the Commonwealth.

They agreed to support National Human Rights Institutions and the Universal Periodic Review process, as well as to strengthen the Commonwealth Small States Offices.

Heads reaffirmed their commitment to the Commonwealth Principles on the Accountability of and Relationship between the Three Branches of Government (2003) as an integral part of the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values.

Heads requested the Commonwealth Secretariat work in partnership with other Commonwealth organisations in promoting dialogue between the three branches of government, including through the full application of the Latimer House Principles Toolkit, which provides a practical guide to enhancing the separation of powers.

Heads noted that 2018 marks the centenary of the birth of the former President of the Republic of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, and affirmed that the Commonwealth shares and is inspired by the values and objectives he espoused.

They called on the international community to use this centenary year to address the global challenges of poverty, inequality, discrimination and underdevelopment and to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts globally.

Assistance for Pupuku community

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

CHIEF Abraham Sirodana of Pupuku Village in Ward 12 at Northwest Choiseul has raised concerns against their MPA regarding community assistance with any development project.

According to Mr Sirodana, they are still waiting for any assistance from Ward 12’s Member of Provincial Government (MPA) Gideon Panisaga since he was elected to power.

“Apart from usual receiving of Christmas token’s for parties, we are still hoping for any further developments to take place at our area,” said Sirodana.

Attempts to contact Mr Panisaga were futile yesterday.

Choiseul province is currently looking forward for its provincial government election to take place soon.

Western province full assembly date set

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

THE Western provincial assembly will convene their last full assembly sitting from May 22 – 29 in Gizo.

Premier Wayne Maepioh confirmed to Island Sun Gizo yesterday the 26-member assembly house will convene their last sitting before the Western province election on June 13, 2018.

Maepioh said that the final assembly sitting under his capacity will discuss the Division reports and the Audit report for the last financial in year 2016-2017of the provincial government office.

“It’s a wind down full assembly sitting of the 10th assembly under my capacity of the provincial government.”

“This would be the last assembly meeting of the 11 executive under my premiership over the four years,” said Maepioh

Maepioh said that the venue for the full assembly sitting will be known after a final programme is drawn.

Taiwan reaches out to Bethel village

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Mr Samson Hsu explaining to the men the importance of soild they need to understand when preparing soil for their farming during the visit to Bethel village on Monday

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

Mr Samson Hsu explaining to the men the importance of soild they need to understand when preparing soil for their farming during the visit to Bethel village on Monday

MORE than 30 male farmers from Bethel village in West Kwara’ae have learnt new methods of planting root crops.

Manager of Adaliua Taiwan Technical Mission Mr Samson Hsu went to their village and taught them simple ways of farming or planting potato.

He first went through with them on the theory side of planting potato, then later took them out to the field where they underwent practical demonstrations on the methods he had taught.

During demonstration he also encouraged them to use natural fertiliser from green manure which will save them from costly commercial fertilisers.

Hsu did some measurement of spacing between the location of rows where the men put the fertilisers and dug the soil into them to make the rows.

After completing about two rows for the demonstration, he taught the men on how to plant the potato with only a vine per row.

He told them that he identified local farmers using up to eight vines to plant in a mound which is too many and will not make good harvest.

Hsu also points out that nature is also a very important player in farming, which determines whether the yield will be good or bad.

In addition to that he said “caring for your farm is very important ensuring your farm must clean from unnecessary weeds to make them grow healthy”.

Hsu encouraged the men that applying the Taiwanese method of root crop farming requires less resource and time, however, gives good harvest.

Naha residents suffer short bus routes

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The SDA bus stop

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

The SDA bus stop

RESIDENTS from Naha to Borderline are complaining that nothing is being done on the short bus routes which they are still being forced to pay for.

They say buses are still running short routes unabated, with no sign of authorities stepping in.

Concerned commuters are calling responsible authority to monitor bus services running from Naha to Borderline.

They say that bus drivers and their conductors now have a new cunning technique of deceiving passengers.

They put signboards saying Central Market in front of their buses, but only turn around at the SDA bus stop.

They also say that buses running from Naha Kola deceive passengers by putting central market signs and those picking from borderline and Kobito bus stops do not put any sign board.

According to the Honiara City Council, route for Naha Kola should be from Central Market to borderline and return while Naha is from Central Market to Naha store and borderline.

The SDA bus stop is not the official required destination for both destinations -Naha and Naha Kola, according to HCC.

Civil registration and vital statistics training

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Participants practise entering of data through tablets during the training.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

Participants attending the Verbal Autopsy training in Auki on Monday

A two-day training on civil registration and vital statistics especially on verbal autopsy ends on 8th May in Auki.

The training is part of a project under WHO which has been carried out in the country since 2016.

Data for Health Country Coordinator of WHO, Mr Rodley Ruskin said the project aims to improve civil registration and vital statistics in the country.

He explained that civil registration and vital statistics covers areas on vital image of death and birth.

“This is to collect data on births and deaths in the country and also to improve registration.

“At the same the vital statistic part of it is to improve data to produce report where work can focus on its outcomes.

“For example, upon data collected especially on deaths in the country, we identify diseases leading to the death where it helps us to work on the disease,” Ruskin said.

He said the focus of the project for Solomon Islands is on collecting data on death.

“Last year we did training under the project for doctors across the country for certifying diseases resulted in deaths in the hospitals.

Participants practise entering of data through tablets during the training.

“Thus, we see a need to go right to rural areas with the project since big percent of deaths occur outside of hospitals.

“So this year we did verbal autopsy with the focus of certifying deaths happen outside of hospitals where sometimes happen in clinics or homes,” he said.

Ruskin said with this verbal autopsy method rural health practitioners can take probable cause of death (which is the disease) and enter them in the database for analysis.

“So the training now is to train rural health practitioners to understand how to use tablets with process require entering the data on deaths,” he said.

Ruskin said 15 health practitioners from across Malaita province are attending the training.

He said the training is facilitated by WHO and funded by Bloomberg Data for Institute and DFAT.

Culinary and hospitality training wraps up

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Participants of the Culinary Training posing for a group photo with Hon. Minister of Culture and Tourism Bartholomew Parapolo (front row, third from right)

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

One of the participants receiving his certificate from Hon. Minister
Bartholomew Parapolo.

THE culinary and hospitality training initiative carried out at the Honiara Hotel last week has successfully wrapped up over the weekend with certificate awards to the participants.

18 participants were taught on how to cook local food and basic hospitality.

Minister of Tourism and Culture Bartholomew Parapolo conveyed his appreciation to people who have supported the training, saying “Thanks for the support dedicated towards this very essential undertaking especially the betterment of catering and hospitality sector of the tourism industry in Solomon Islands.

“Participants you are so fortunate to be part of this training, hence I asked you to practice and use up knowledges obtained from this initiative.”

Rachel Bennett, a female participant, said the knowledge obtained on how to cook and prepare local foods will help Pacific island countries in terms of promoting local food for visitors to have a taste of the natural flavours and recipes.

Chef Collin Chung facilitator of the Culinary training.

“I would like to thank Chief Colin Chung to have taught us different styles of preparing and cooking of local foods as well as the hospitality,” she said.

Chef Colin Chung said a large part of this training is to empower communities to showcase the components of this country’s culture in terms of catering and hospitality.

“I believe that this initiative not only possible, but essential as selling tool and bonus to the country’s experience.”

The training was facilitated by Chef Chung.

Culinary and hospitality contributes to growth of tourism: Parapolo

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Hon. Minister for Culture and Tourism, Bartholomew Parapolo.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

Hon. Minister for Culture and Tourism, Bartholomew Parapolo.

THE Minister of Tourism and Culture Bartholomew Parapolo has highlighted that culinary and hospitality has contributed to the growth and advancement of Solomon Islands Tourism sector.

He said this at the closing of the weeklong culinary and hospitality training at the Honiara Hotel over the weekend.

He said tourism industry is one sector that has contributed a lot to the expansion of this country’s economy.

“Hence organising and hosting of culinary and hospitality trainings is a bonus of the tourism industry.

“All this things have contributed a lot to the advancement of this particular sector because we are dealing with visitors,” Parapolo said.

A participant receiving her certificate from Hon. Minister Bartholomew Parapolo.

He said with regards to this initiative it is important the country must produce quality local foods and that the hospitality offered must be of standard to reflect Solomon Islands cultures and history.

The warm and friendly hospitality from the Happy Isles must be maintained, he adds.

Sandfly community on ‘mining destructive outcome’ awareness

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Kenneth Sagupari member of the Ngella Forum speaking during the awareness session. Photos by Aelanlife Photography/Ngella Forum page.

BY DANIEL KAKADI

Members of the Ngella Forum posing for a group photo.

THE Sandfly community in Ngella, Central province, have engaged in a two-day awareness on the destructive outcomes of mining over the weekend.

The talk was organised by a small team of four self-funded volunteers from the Ngella forum social media group.

The talk was held at Leitongo-1 and Dala villages attracting more than 100 listeners.

Speaking to the Island Sun, Ngella forum members said, “The purpose of the trip is to make awareness on the destructive outcome of mining if the sandfly people would allow mining to take place in sandfly.”

Leaders from both villages applaud the Ngella forum members for taking up the initiative to facilitate this awareness to their people, and are calling on the provincial government to listen to the people on such matters of concern.

One of the leaders in Leitongo-1 village says the Ngella forum group must work together with the Valevoukolu ( house of chiefs) to address mining and logging issues facing the province.

He questions whether mining is in the best interest of the Ngella people, or whether the people stand to benefit in the long run.

He adds that they have learnt lessons from neighbouring province Rennell and Bellona and the social and environmental problems the people there are facing, so as in neighbouring countries like PNG and Vanuatu.

Kenneth Sagupari member of the Ngella Forum speaking during the awareness session. Photos by Aelanlife Photography/Ngella Forum page.

The last day of awareness at Dala village have shown that people have expressed their support with the Ngella forum saying

Participants, during the last day of talks, expressed that “it is a good thing to see indigenous sons and daughters the upcoming generation of Ngella are taking the big steps to tackle issues that affect the people and the islands”.

Among the key speakers, were Kenneth Sagupari a degree-graduate in tourism and hospitality from USP and Francis William Rea, studying information science in the Philippines who also has experience in tracking mining in the Pacific.

Ngella Forum strongly condemns mining and logging in the Central province.

“One of the obvious avenue that fits Central province is tourism with the beautiful islands of central province once mining takes place as logging, mining and tourism don’t go together in development s we will lose our potential for tourism for ever,” says Mr Sagupari during the talk.

The team have thanked people who have supported in preparing and launching the talk. “It shows that we do have a big concern for our islands.”

Munda leads the way in West’s plastic-free campaign

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Woven coconut baskets at the Munda market

By Mike Puia

Gizo

A man doing his marketing using his coconut basket.

MUNDA, another big township in the Western province, is leading the way in the province’s plan to ban plastic as of July.

Most market venders in Munda are selling baskets for shopping that are weaved using coconut leaves.

At present, the use of plastic for shopping in shops and in markets is very high in the province. Apart from Asian shops, locals also buy plastics and re-sell them in small retail stores and in markets.

With a ban on plastic now coming up in the province, some people have commended the initiative as well as the practice done by Munda market vendors.

Perry, a Munda resident, told Island Sun Gizo that a ban will not be a surprise for their vendors.

He said the use of shopping baskets produced using tree leaves is good as they are environment friendly.

The young Munda resident said the ban will be an additional benefit for women in Munda who are into traditional basket weaving.

Woven coconut baskets at the Munda market

When announcing his province’s plastic ban plan, Premier Wayne Maepioh said his administration is aggressively pursuing it.

Maepioh said his administration is conscious about the environment of the province therefore the need to impose such restriction.

He said the plastic-free campaign has now reached its phase two for implementation.

The ban will cover shopping bags in markets and shops and ice-block plastics.

Maepioh also noted the ban would give the women of the province a lucrative business opportunity to tap into.

Munda vendors appear to have been enjoying home-basket weaving for shopping purpose.

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