ABOUT 14 Treasury Divisional staff from Western and Choiseul provinces are attending a two-week training in Gizo, Western province.
The training, which was officially opened by the deputy provincial premier, Maloney Lopoto, on Monday promises to enhance the capacity of treasury staff.
The training is conducted under the Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme (PGSP) of the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS).
One of the key areas the training focusses on is the International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS).
In his opening remarks, Lopoto said the training has improved the performance of their treasury staff since its introduction in the province in 2010.
He said it has led to the province being able to produce its first financial statement (2011/2012).
The deputy premier told training participants that they are part of a crucial training that would help them in their work to be able to perform their duties competently.
He said it will help political leaders and administration to be responsible in managing public resources well.
Western provincial government’s chief planning officer, Walter Salo, said the training is an ongoing programme under the PGSP.
“No, this training is not a respond to any reporting issue in the province. It’s an ongoing programme to capacitate provincial treasurers and accountants,” Salo said.
Besides looking at financial statement production, the IPSAS also looks at issues relating to budgeting and other financial concepts.
Salo said provincial treasurers and accountants need to be regularly updated about the IPSAS.
He said all provincial treasurers and accounting officers must be well versed and report up to the current provincial government financial reporting.
An expert in IPSAS, Momodou Sawaneh, and a staff of the MPGIS, Priscilla Cheka are facilitating the training.
THE Nende/Santa Cruz indigenous landowners of Nea/Noole ward 10 have refuted the MOU allowing access to customary land for bauxite prospecting on Nende which was signed on April 27, 2018.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by representatives of the prospecting objecting party (POP), prospecting consenting party (PCP), representative of Eight South Investment Limited (ESIL), and Premier for Temotu province.
It was witnessed by MPA Nevenema ward seven, MPA Lata/Luova ward eight, MPA Graciosa Bay ward nine and MPA for Temotu Neo ward 17.
However, the landowners who claim indigenous landownership over the tenement say they do not recognise the MOU.
“We treat it as their own piece of paper with no value to us, and it has no mandate and is not binding and important to us indigenous landowners for ward 10 where bauxite are,” the indigenous landowners said.
“The title of the MOU is Access to customary land for bauxite prospecting Memorandum of Understanding who gave them the right to sign a MOU to access to our customary land. We are questioning, why do we have to have understanding on this access to our land?
“Understanding means compromising but we do not want prospecting and mining on Nende.
“Our position is plain clear for our customary lands and our understanding is no prospecting and no mining – no more, no less.”
Section 4 of the MOU says ‘the purpose of the MOU is to allow equal participation of landowning groups and ensure equal distribution of benefits derived from the customary prospecting activities and ensure peace, unity and harmony amongst all parties is maintained’.
The disgruntled landowners question this: “Any equal distribution of benefits amongst members of our tribe can be agreed among us not the TPG or pro-miners and mining company.
“When did we give away our tribal customary land for prospecting? Who does the POP represent and when did we appoint them to sign as MOU on our behalf?
“We also question why curbing of security situation turned an MOU into access of customary land for bauxite prospecting? Why resort to any MOU when full Nende landowners are not aware of the MOU’s purposes?”
LOs said the parties who signed never held any awareness or public consultation to get views from landowners on accessing their land.
“There has never been any public awareness given to us to resort or given that MOU prior to study it and understand its contents. It belongs to those who signed only, not us the indigenous landowners.
“This was in breach of our constitutional rights and indigenous rights to have a say on what affects our lands and properties.”
The LOs said what POP and PCP did is likened to stealing their (LOs) birthrights, and they have given away tribal customary land for prospecting without first consulting tribes and clans.
“The so-called MOU is vague and has a lot of loopholes for manipulation and corruption especially on section 5.2 and 5.3 (a b and c),” the LOs said.
Participants attending the two-day mental health training in Auki.
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Auki
Participants attending the two-day mental health training in Auki.
MENTAL health is still a hushed issue, with many refusing to openly talk about or address.
With an aim to stress the importance of disseminating information on mental health, a workshop is current in Auki to train health practitioners on mental health, domestic violence and the family protection act that links with the health component.
The training workshop is a continued module of a project that looks at educating health practitioners from various health establishments in Malaita province.
Facilitator of the workshop, Dr Rex Maukera from the National Psychiatric Unit at Kilu’ufi Hospital, said the training is very important as it teaches the participants to understand mental health and important areas relating to it.
He said one area of importance is the understanding that a healthy life does not simply mean the absence of disease or physical illness.
“Health also associates with our thinking which means if you are not thinking right or always thinking negative it also affects your health.
“We talk about major mental disorders and minor mental disorders, for example, anxiety disorder, stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“We also discovered areas on gender base violence, domestic violence, sexual violence and the family protection act itself.
“Other areas we covered include mental health and well-being, psychosis and schizophrenia, bipolar and depression,” Maukera said.
He said another area was also on the referral pathway for clinical intervention to domestic violence.
Maukera said the training will end next week where it took two days of this week and another two days of next week.
He said participants attending the training were staff from various departments within Kilu’ufi Hospital and health practitioners in central region of the province starting from Hauhui in West Are’are to Fauambu in West Fataleka.
Maukera said the other four regions in the province were yet to cover, but that depends on the funding from Oxfam to continue with the project.
Director of Civil Engineering under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development, Mr Harry Rini.
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
MINISTRY of Infrastructure Development’s (MID) Director of Central Projects Implementation Unit (CPIU) Harry Rini confirms that the city road works falls within their jurisdiction.
Rini said this in response to accusation from public to a recent article on City Mayor Andrew Mua who said that the responsibility for road improvement and maintenance belongs to MID.
The Mayor had been accused of shirking responsibility and pushing the blame on MID regarding road works in Honiara.
Mua had, in the article, responded to calls by public for the Honiara City Council (HCC) to improve and do maintenance work on the roads in Honiara.
He clarified that HCC is only responsible for licensing or giving authorisation to businesses wishing to operate in Honiara.
Rini, in defence of the City Mayor, says, “Now there are sometimes reports that are not consistent making people confused but yes I can confirm that the responsibility for addressing the conditions of the roads in Honiara falls back on MID as the ministry responsible.”
The CPIU Director did not deny the fact that bus operators have also complained to them over the road conditions after the short routes were enforced.
“It is because of the roads conditions are why they decided on making this complaints but it is our responsibility,” said Rini.
He admits that the roads in Honiara are in a bad state, and that immediate measures need to be taken to address this problem.
“Currently what JICA is doing in construction along the roads of Honiara will really relieve a lot of problems faced on the main road.
“This project on phase one (1) will be completed by the end of this year. On the other phase we are currently discussing on with JICA will start off from where phase one is completed, going all the way reaching Henderson Airport. So we will have a better main road when it comes to year 2019 and 2020.”
The CPIU Director said there are bigger plans coming up, but with the financial situation currently faced with the Solomon Islands Government stretching the budget, MID cannot really do much with what they have.
ILLEGAL squatting is slowly growing in Gizo, the provincial centre of Western province, raising concern among public.
Some provincial workers confirmed the issue is now becoming clear in the township.
They also said the last government had been planning to tackle the issue but could not implement its plans before the new government came in.
The current government has expressed concern over the issue but is yet to come up with a tangible action plan.
Provincial secretary, Jeffery Wickham said they are worried about this issue but to date there is no serious discussions around it.
“The province is concern about this but it has yet to come up with a concrete plan although there have been ad hoc discussions around this issue,” Wickham said.
He said the issue of illegal squatting exists in every developing country because of the gap between the rich and poor.
“Illegal squatting is in every developing country. It’s an issue that is not easily be dealt with,” Wickham said.
The issue is also reported in Noro mainly on national and provincial government lands.
Wickham added there are ‘things’ which must be addressed first before any move to deal with illegal squatters.
Members of the Solomon Islands hockey teams who participated in the recent Oceania Youth Qualifiers in PNG last
week during a visit yesterday to the Ministry of Home Affairs office thanking them for the support rendered to them
by the government. PICTURE: ROMULUS HUTA.
BY ROMULUS HUTA
MEMBERS of the national under-18 men and women’s hockey teams paid a courtesy call to the Ministry of Home Affairs to thank them for support rendered to them during their participation at the recent Oceania Youth Olympic Hockey Qualifiers.
The qualifiers were held last week at the Sir John Guise Hockey Pavilion in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Solomon Islands participated in the event with both the women’s and the men’s teams.
The qualifying tournament is part of the qualification pathway for this year’s Youth Olympic Games which will be held in Argentina in October.
During the visit yesterday, the youth teams were received by the MHA Permanent Secretary George Palua.
The men’s under-18 team captain Linford Talosui thanked the government through the ministry responsible for sports, the Ministry of Home Affairs for the financial assistance rendered toward their participation.
“We are humbled with the support we have received from the government. We have tried our best and the bronze medal was the result we ended up with.
“We are proud ambassadors and will be always be honoured to carry our flag whenever we represent Solomon Islands in future international competitions,” he said.
Members of the Solomon Islands hockey teams who participated in the recent Oceania Youth Qualifiers in PNG last week during a visit yesterday to the Ministry of Home Affairs office thanking them for the support rendered to them by the government. PICTURE: ROMULUS HUTA.
On the same note, the women’s under-18 captain Claudia Votu said the assistance given by the government through the Ministry of Home Affairs has enabled them to play to their best.
“We are thrilled by the assistance and are thankful for the support. Our visit to your office is basically just to thank you for your assistance,” Ms Votu told Palua.
The men’s under-18 won a bronze a medal and that was enough to them to earn a spot for the event scheduled to run from October 6 to 18 in Buenos Aires.
The women’s under-18 team finished in fourth place and missed out on qualification.
The spot won by the men’s under-18 will be confirmed by the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) when they lodge their final submission to the Organisers of the Summer Youth Games come August 31 deadline.
This is due to the limited quota where only a few team sports will be eligible to represent each participating country at the world event.
Real Kakamora’s Michael Mona shields a G-Camp player during their match
yesterday. G-Camp won 4-1.
“We lost concentration”: Loloito
By Taromane Martin
Real Kakamora’s Michael Mona shields a G-Camp player during their match on Tuesday. G-Camp won 4-1.
HEAD Coach for the Real Kakamora futsal team Barnabas Loloito blamed their lack of concentration for their downfall yesterday.
Real Kakamora lost 4-1 to 2017 Wantok Futsal Cup champions G-Camp FC at the Multipurpose Hall.
Eddie Huniehu gave G-Camp the lead after a well worked counter that left Real Kakamora goal keeper Philip Mango diving the wrong way.
Real Kakamora had chances to level the scores in the first half but saw Michael Oge missing all four of his chances to trail 1-0 at the break.
Real Kakamora almost levelled when second half resumed but saw their shout for goal waved off by the match referee.
Huniehu thumped three more goals past Mango before setting up their fourth goal to seal the victory yesterday.
“I think our goal in the second which was disallowed also affected our concentration which left our defence open,” Coach Loloito said.
“In the second half we reminded the boys to stick to the basics but unfortunately we lost concentration.
“Take nothing away from G-Camp they are a champion side and I think the boys were sucked into playing the game to their speed and rhythm.
“We’ll go back and continue working on the things we’ve been working on because to be honest the boys did not fully execute what we have been doing, so that is what we’ll do for our remaining games,” he said.
G-Camp Head Coach John Tome although pleased with the result said his boys still need to improve on their fitness and other areas for their remaining seven matches.
“I’m pleased with the result. This year we are missing some of our senior boys but we try as much to be competitive in this competition.
“We still have a lot of areas to improve on and fitness is one of them which I will be working hard on to improve for our remaining seven matches,” Coach Tome adds.
The win for G-Camp yesterday sees them with nine points after three matches played while Real Kakamora are with three points after four matches played.
Meanwhile, the 2018 SIPA National Futsal league will continue tomorrow with three more matches at the Multipurpose Hall.
Matches for tomorrow will see Kooline FC taking on FC at 2pm followed by Vania FC up against Indo-Solo at 3pm while the final action will the Futsal Solympics taking on Guntimac Fc at 4pm.
DEVELOPMENT Service Exchange (DSE) rejects claims that it is officially represented in the Solomon Islands trip to West Papua.
DSE is the peak body for civil society in Solomon Islands and has not endorsed anyone to represent civil society on this visit.
Participants are acting solely as individuals. They do not represent DSE or any other civil society organisation in Solomon Islands.
DSE advocates for human rights, justice and self-determination and has continued to show its strong support for the people of West Papua. DSE has continued to advocate for the Solomon Islands Government to uphold these values in our country’s trade and foreign policy.
DSE values the strong relationships between West Papua and Solomon Islands civil society.
“We admonish all members of this group for failing to include, consult or even inform West Papuan civil society of their visit.
“DSE management was informally made aware of the trip the evening before participants flew to Indonesia. The participants assured DSE management that they are attending in an individual capacity, and would not be representing DSE or any civil society organisation. DSE was not privy to details of the trip or its terms of reference.
“We call on the Government and in particular the Prime Minister’s Office to formally approach DSE or its members on any matters that require CSO sector representation.”
Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Culture and Tourism Andrew Nihopara
Visit to Japan opens more doors for SI tourism in Asian market
By Gary Hatigeva
OFFICIALS from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism have held a one-week visit to tourism stakeholders in Japan in an effort to strengthen relations and tap into the country’s fast growing tourism market.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Andrew Nihopara and his Director, Barney Sivoro were in Japan to visit the Solomon Islands tourism office, which is currently being housed under the country’s Embassy in Tokyo, and review the office’s operation programme.
The visit according to Nihopara also gave them an opportunity to visit and meet with existing stakeholders as well as potential key stakeholders and tourism operators in Japan in the hope to extend Solomon Islands’ tourism network in that region.
The two heads also met with top officials from Japan’s Association of Travel Agencies (JATA), where discussions were centred on the trends in the tourism sector and ways forward for the two countries’ tourism developments.
Nihopara added that the meeting with JATA officials was also focusing on how Solomon Islands as a potential tourism product can be added in the association’s programmes and the possibility to collaborate with the association to help bolster Solomon’s overall tourism product.
They also met with top officials from Air New Guinea’s office in Tokyo where discussions were based on how best established initiatives can utilise the airline’s current service.
Nihopara added that from all the successful talks with tourism stakeholders to enter into collaborative programmes, “we see that Air New Guinea is the gateway, with an already existing twice a week flights there”.
“The meeting with Air New Guinea officials was had also extended potentials to increase the number of flights from two to three a week, which if eventuates, will surely boost any partnerships and collaborations that we have discussed with our tourism stakeholders in Japan,” Nihopara further added.
Following the review programme, the visiting delegation also collaborated with officers at the tourism desk to device a strategic plan to help guide the office’s programmes for the next 12 -24 months, as it continues to work closely with stakeholders to see that all discussions are put to realisation.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary expressed his thanks for the hospitality extended to them during their Japan visit and assured to continue building an effective relationship to enhance the tourism partnership forged.
From this meetings and visits held while in Japan, the Ministry according to the Permanent Secretary, will put together a cabinet paper to present to the Prime Minister who will leave for Japan later this month for the Annual Palm Meeting hosted in Japan.
Nihopara stressed that the paper will be delivered with hopes to see that what they have initiated and highlighted, are also taken up to the leaders’ levels, where they can further discuss and cement whatever partnerships that are vital to the development and benefits of the country’s tourism sector.
L-R… Prime Minister Rick Hou, Cabinet task force chairman Hon Steven Abana, HHC Mayor Andrew Mua and Under-Secretary for the MEHRD Education Authority Ambrose Malefoasi during the signing of the MOU on Monday at the PMO conference room.
2023 Pacific Games MOU signed
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
PROGRESS has been made with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) yesterday between the Government and key stakeholders to secure land for the construction of facilities to host the Games in 2023.
Attending the MOU yesterday at the Cabinet Room were stakeholder representatives from Honiara City Council, the Ministry of Education, SIFF, USP, National Council of Women, St Joseph’s Tenaru School, King George VI School and the Solomon Islands Christian Association.
Representatives from the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) whose grounds have been identified as primes site for the main sporting stadium were not present during the signing yesterday due to other reasons but are confirmed to sign the documents today.
In thanking stakeholders, Hon Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela said the MOU signing is a very important milestone in the country’s preparation to host the 2023 Pacific Games.
“The government sees the project as a national project and not the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Prime Minister Office project,” reminded the Prime Minister.
“The project covers all the sectors of the economy of Solomon Islands. We are talking about food security, transport, tourism, education, the airlines and every other sector is being covered. This is why it is a very important project.
“Therefore all the ministries and agencies, government bodies including everyone must play their role in this project.
“Our government now sees that we have reached a point in this project of no turning back as we must continue with it. Turning back is not an option.
“The seriousness of this project has seen the Caucus and Cabinet appointing a Sub-committee. This is showing how much emphasis is being put into the project.
“In fact, the government is considering establishing a ministry of its own and a Minister purposely for the upcoming games.
“I do not know what the government of 2019 will be doing but it is a very serious consideration that has come to the Cabinet to do it in which they do not have the time making the decision to appoint a sub-committee to drive this project,” he said.
The Prime Minister also elaborated that countries who host these types of games already have facilities when they are at the bidding stage and urges the sub-committee that they do not have the luxury of time.
“This is why we have to urge everyone to quickly come together to address this project,” said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister explained that when the concept of the games came up in Parliament, an important principle the Parliament was very happy with was the concept of using and developing existing facilities owned by existing institutions and agencies to make this happen.
“There is a lot reasons but there are two important ones. One important one is when upgrading existing facilities the costs will be cheaper,” said the PM.
“Second is with the idea of establishing facilities within institutions and agencies lands. The problem the South Pacific has is when you have a grand stadium there will be additional problems such as how to use them and maintain them.
PM Houenipwela said another important thing for the signing is the three parts that are important to these games.
“This MOU signing today is a very important significant milestone in assuring the government’s commitment in hosting the games.
“One of course is the government. We had side Cabinet meetings and everyone is very concerned having said to ourselves that this is a national project.
“The second part I am happy of is assuring the Pacific Games Council on our commitment.
“Third part is the money we will be asking aid donors to support the upcoming games because the government does not have any money to fund it.
“We have to reach a milestone to assure the people we will be asking to help fund this project.
“Raising money for the project will be on the government side. There are many non-traditional partners who are willing to help directly inside this project but it is up to us to stitch the project together.
“I understand there are seven or eight venues for twenty-three or twenty-four sports in which we need to stitch these projects together so that when I travel overseas, I can showcase too on the current stage of development we are in our preparation,” he said.
The responsibility of the 2023 Pacific Games is now re-assigned to the Prime Minister’s Office and means that the Prime Minister is the Minister now responsible for reporting the 2023 Pacific Games progress to Parliament.
Meanwhile Chairman of the 2023 PG Cabinet Sub-committee and MP for Fataleka Hon Steve Abana also explained that the idea that Caucas and the Cabinet has come with is for the sub-committee to work alongside and enhance the work of the taskforce in some areas that needs pushing in assistance.
L-R… Prime Minister Rick Hou, Cabinet task force chairman Hon Steven Abana, HHC Mayor Andrew Mua and Under-Secretary for the MEHRD Education Authority Ambrose Malefoasi during the signing of the MOU on Monday at the PMO conference room.
“I am very humbled indeed for the Prime Minister on your behalf and the taskforce and my team especially for the stakeholders to come forward during the past six to seven weeks for their concerted effort for us to work together to consul, agree and disagree leading to the signing of the MOU,” said the Chairman.
“The signing of the MOU paves the way forward for the next step. As of tomorrow for the next two weeks is the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that should bind individual stakeholders with the government in terms of moving forward especially with the lands they own.”
“It is not an easy task. This is something that we need to sit down and understand each other and then move on forward. As of tomorrow (today) we will start working on the MOA’s.
“This is a project for the country and we are preparing for our regional family who will be visiting us within the next four to five years time.”
Hon Abana also assured the Prime Minister that they are going to prepare drafts and estimates for him to take with him when travelling to Japan and Taiwan during his next visit to his counterparts.
“It is not easy, we have some drafts and estimates and we are looking at it so that you can reach a figure when you have dialogues with your counterparts. This is the next step we will be moving forward on as well.”
The Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-committee said he is looking forward to ongoing consultations and their efforts to see the project going through.
Stakeholder’s representatives yesterday also expressed their happiness for the MOU in which they said they are looking forward to more continuous interaction in collaboration with the Sub-committee in planning, designing and handling issues that might pose risk to the journey up to 2023.
Honiara City Council’s Mayor Hon Andrew Mua on behalf of the good citizens of Honiara thanked the government for bringing the games to Honiara City.
“People of Honiara are looking forward for the 2023 games and are prepared to work with the National Government and the task force to make sure that the 2023 Pacific Games will be a successful event,” said Hon Mua.
