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Rubbish disposal in Honiara

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, as a concern citizen of the Solomon Islands, I kindly urge the responsible authority to carry out their responsibility regarding how people dispose their rubbish in and around Honiara.

Rubbish in and around streets of Honiara are now in large piles. These degrades the beauty of our capital, as the rubbish gives out bad odour and unhygienic living environment.

Please good citizens of the Happy Isle, avoid such irresponsible, “no care attitudes” and be responsible for your own mess.

Rubbish should be disposed in its proper dumpsites.

With this, the responsible authority such as bins and proper dumpsites.

With this, the responsible authority such as city should patrol in and around the streets of Honiara regularly in order to monitor that people in and around Honiara dispose their rubbish properly.

To make sure that our capital is beautiful with comfortable and hygienic environment.

I kindly ask the public to put a stop on such improper and careless rubbish disposal attitudes but to be responsible for their own garbage.

The responsible authority should implement policies regarding rubbish disposal matters to keep Honiara clean and beautiful. Therefore, this issue should be dealt with as soon as possible.

All in all as citizen of the Solomon Islands, each and every individual should be responsible to control rubbish disposal issue in Honiara.

Dalcie Teirara

USP Emalus Campus

Rapid growth of urbanisation in Honiara

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, this airs my concern about the rapid growth of urbanisation in Honiara.

As a concerned citizen and a student studying abroad, I urge the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey to look closely on how to plan urban areas properly to lessen the impacts of rapid urbanisation.

Currently, there has been concerns about rapid urbanisation in Honiara.

A total lack of Urban Planning is putting pressure on land, housing, services and transport but many people have to face the risk because they have no other choice but to move to Honiara mostly for employment and education purposes.

Reports have showed that population growth in Honiara will triple from its current figure in the near future.

Proper Urban Planning would allow national development if well managed and would also minimise the challenges it has brought today.

People could have enough space to settle in and find new jobs to improve their standard of living and students could get access to proper education.

Transportation and other communication services could be a win-win situation for urban and rural areas suppose there is strength to have them improved through planning.

I urge the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey together with the public and the Government to engage in supportive partnership by expanding access to services, investing markets in Honiara and supporting proper urban planning processes for communities experiencing rapid urban growth.

Sincerely,

Maria Fa’arodo

USP Emalus Campus

SoIomon Islands Met service equipped for online forums

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Director of SPREP’s Climate Change Resilience Programme, Ms Tagaloa Cooper and Mr Alick Haruhiru of the Solomon Islands Met Service. Photo SPREP.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Director of SPREP’s Climate Change Resilience Programme, Ms Tagaloa Cooper and Mr Alick Haruhiru of the Solomon Islands Met Service. Photo SPREP.

SOLOMON Islands Met Services (SIMS) is now better equipped to participate in the Online Climate Outlook Forums (OCOF), with the handover of a conference telephone set in Samoa.

On behalf of SPREP (Pacific Regional Environment Programme), Director of the Climate Change Resilience Programme Ms Tagaloa Cooper handed over the telephone set to Mr Alick Haruhiru, representative from Met Services last month.

The handover took place during the research strategy workshop hosted at Taumeasina Island Resort in Apia, Samoa.

The initiative was funded by the Government of Australia, through the Climate and Oceans Support Programme for Pacific (COSPPac).

Supporting National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) varies in scale and it all counts.

SPREP Meteorological and Climate Officer, Mr Salesa Nihmei said, “Small assistance such as the provision of this phone go a long way for assisting NMHSs effectively to participate in regional monthly climate forums.

“As some might be aware, the Secretariat of the SPREP and the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) through the COSPPac project conducts online climate outlook forums (OCOF) with many of the Pacific NMHS on a monthly basis to discuss seasonal climate forecast.

“Climate Outlooks enables the NMHSs to inform end-users to make decisions on the predicted climate in the coming months.”

Access to reliable and clear phone connection is very difficult when hosting teleconferences, especially in smaller NMHS, he explained.

He said there are many challenges with internet, line connections and others but having a multiple teleconference phone will enable SIMS to not only be part of the OCOFs every month but further expand their NMHS services to engage with their stakeholders.

Papua New Guinea Met Services also requested SPREP through COSPPac project to provide a teleconference phone as well.

SPREP COSPPac Climatology Officer, Mr Philip Malsale confirmed procurement of teleconference phones for all Met services participating in OCOF will be handed to NMSs in Tonga during the COSPPac Steering Committee meeting on May 8-11, 2018.

Japan’s new ambassador meets PM Hou

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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THE new Ambassador of Japan to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Mr Shigeru Toyama has made a courtesy call to Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela yesterday morning at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

In his statement to the Prime Minister, Toyama took the opportunity to express his ‘deepest gratitude’ for the strong support that the Solomon Islands has towards Japan.

Toyama also stated that it is a pleasure to see work on the Kukum Highway Project being underway and also stating his anticipation to see its completion by the end of the year.

The Japanese Ambassador further expressed the commitment of Japan to support further promotion in the field of fisheries and other fields such as culture, sports and tourism.

In response, Hou conveyed his thank you to the Ambassador for the visit.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged Japan as one of the most important partners to the Solomon Islands.

“Japanese assistance has come a long way and I’m thankful to the Government and people of Japan for their long standing partnership that is shared between Japan and Solomon Islands,” Hou said.

The Prime Minister further acknowledged that the relationship between Japan and Solomon Islands is important especially in the economy and trade sector and further mentioned that people-to-people interaction is also important that both countries should share.

Hou also talked about tourism as an important area that can provide for the people to people interaction and mentioned his support for investors to invest in tourism.

“We want to give as much as we can to show our appreciation to our partners,” he said.

The Prime Minister was also given a brief outline about the upcoming 8th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM8) which will be held next month in Japan.

–OPMC PRESS

NPF shows green light to develop Auki Plaza

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The current status of Auki Plaza after the tenants occupying it vacated the facility early this last month

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

The current status of Auki Plaza after the tenants occupying it vacated the facility early this last month

SOLOMON Islands National Provident Fund (NPF) has reaffirmed its interest to develop Auki plaza.

This follows fruitful roundtable discussions recently held between Malaita provincial government (MPG) and the NPF.

Provincial Secretary, Mr Jackson Gege said after the tenants vacated the building, a MPG delegation met with NPF.

He said the delegation was led by Deputy Premier Alick Maeaba, Malaita’s finance minister Joe Hero’au and himself (Gege).

Gege said they met with the NPF General Manager and Investment Manager and “asked if they are still interested on the development of Auki Plaza”.

He said the NPF bosses conveyed that their interest still stands.

“So last week NPF should have their Investment Board Meeting that looks at transfer of money to purchase the building.

“I called Mike Wate and he said they should meet last to decide the payment.

“I also checked with the chairman of NPF Board and said they already approved the purchase of the building long ago.

“So it’s already approved, however it just a matter for NPF to deal with the payment that still to come,” Gege said.

He said the province is waiting for the final resolution from the NPF Investment Board, which would advise the province over the agreement payment.

“We’ll continue to follow-up on the issue with NPF and let the people of Malaita aware of it.

“But the current status of Auki Plaza payment is in green-light as NPF is now working on the payment,” Gege said.

Island Sun had previously reported that the Malaita province has been facing problems with the tenants for three years.

However, that has recently been solved after the tenants came to a common understanding with the province and left.

The departure of the Tenants came after a court order was issued and expired on March 29, 2018, and was carried out by the provincial secretary Gege and the Malaita provincial security officers.

The tenants left the Auki Plaza building after the recent Easter celebration where all gates were locked preventing any member of public from entering the area giving time for any development plans to be carried out towards the site and the building, Island Sun previous reported.

ITTSI supports girls and women in ICT

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Mr Marlon Houkarawa said ITSSI is committed to supporting initiatives of the women who want to grow IT.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Mr Marlon Houkarawa said ITSSI is committed to supporting initiatives of the women who want to grow IT.

THE IT Society of Solomon Islands (ITSSI) is committed to supporting initiatives of women passionate in information technology (IT) with interest in advocating ICT literacy to girls and women in Solomon Islands.

As the national IT association in the country strives to group all ICT professionals, ITSSI’s President Mr Marlon Houkarawa said ITSSI is committed to supporting initiatives of women who want to grow IT.

He said the IT Society has specifically included women in ICT advocacy activities within its corporate strategic plan and will ensure support is provided in their future plans.

As part of their strategy, ITSSI held a Girls in ICT conference on Wednesday, April 26, to try and convince primary and secondary school girls to pursue ICT as a career including existing women ICT professionals, Houkarawa said.

He said their aim is not to settle for less but to go higher within ranks of organisations, go further in studies in ICT or to go into entrepreneurship and own ICT businesses or companies.

Houkarawa said Solomon Islands’ ICT is a growing industry with demands and opportunities.

“The demand for such benefits has therefore created need for competition in telecommunication and ICT literacy that we have now experienced increase in ICT accessibility and affordability in the past years,” he said.

Houkarawa said there are opportunities for utilising ICT solutions for e-services that can reach all groups of society in Solomon Islands, including disadvantaged groups and users in remote areas.

Using ICT solution for e-service would transform the landscape for development, he adds.

Meanwhile, Mr Houkarawa said ICT development in Solomon Islands requires collective effort from government, diplomatic partners, private sector, other important stakeholders, and those within ICT community.

“Engaging males alone is not enough – we need more females in the ICT community to provide a massive base for inclusive ICT growth and development,” Houkarawa said.

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Aviation and Communication, Mr Moses Virivolomo agrees that ICT is an essential tool for social and economic development for women and girls.

He said investing in women will accelerate broadband and ICT provision to women and girls and will contribute in promoting gender equality, empowerment and social and economic development for men and women.

“Information and communication technologies can provide women and girls an education and job training, promote literacy and improve access to health, enable exercise of legal rights and participation in government,” Virivolomo said.

SINPF to ‘outright purchase’ Auki Plaza

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Provincial Secretary of Malaita Province, Mr Jackson Gege.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

Provincial Secretary of Malaita Province, Mr Jackson Gege.

THE National Provident Fund will ‘outright purchase’ the Auki plaza.

Malaita Provincial Secretary Mr Jackson Gege clarified this amidst confusion by public in Malaita over the type of agreement between the Fund and the provincial government over the plaza’s procurement.

Rumours have been circulating that the plaza will remain a property of the provincial government but will be developed by NPF and reimbursed by Malaita over time.

However, Gege plays down the rumours saying the Fund will buy out the Auki plaza and develop it as its own asset.

He explains that despite being a property of the NPF, the plaza stands to benefit the people of Malaita since it is situated in the capital – Auki.

“And in our view we see the property still belongs to Malaitans because huge numbers of Malaitans make contribution and invest in the fund.

“Another thing considered here is since Malaita Province doesn’t have strong back-up to do investment, it’s better for NPF to do the investment,” he said.

Mr Gege added that another area people need to understand was Malaita province will still charge business fees and property rates on businesses operating in the building after its integration.

“So although the property will own by NPF, Malaita Province will still collect revenue out of it,” he said.

6th SINU talk on foreign policy white paper

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE sixth Solomon Islands National University (SINU) talk will be on the foreign policy white paper, it is reported.

This statement was announced by the SINU research office yesterday.

The report states that the white paper seeks to chart a course for Australia’s engagement with the world over the next decade and to set out how best to deploy Australian resources in pursuing its interests and promoting its values.

It furthers that the illustrated lecture on this topic will discuss Australia’s future engagement in the Indo-Pacific region including two key priorities of the white paper, which are – to promote an open inclusive and prosperous Indo Pacific region and to set up support for a more resilient Pacific.

The Australian Government Foreign Policy White Paper was released on November 23, 2017.

It will be held on Thursday, May 3, starting from 5-7pm at the Kukum campus lecture theatre.

New Japanese Ambassador to SI presents credentials

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
The new Ambassador of Japan to Solomon Islands, His Excellency, Mr Shigeru Toyama and Governor General, Sir Frank Kabui at the Government House last Friday.
The new Ambassador of Japan to Solomon Islands, His Excellency, Mr Shigeru Toyama and Governor General, Sir
Frank Kabui at the Government House last Friday.

THE new Ambassador of Japan to Solomon Islands, His Excellency, Mr Shigeru Toyama has presented his credentials to the Governor General, Sir Frank Kabui at the Government House last Friday.

Ambassador Toyama replaces former Ambassador Kenichi Kimiya whose term ended recently.

The new Ambassador has pledged to maintain and promote the existing friendship and goodwill between Japan and Solomon Islands during his term in Office.

“It is my great pleasure that I have been appointed to serve in your country, located in the Pacific Ocean and with opportunities to improve and to expand excellent relations with Japan in many fields,” he said.

Sir Frank formally welcomed Ambassador Toyama, saying the friendship between Japan and Solomon Islands has been excellent over the years.

He noted that the bilateral assistance from Japan has been of great benefit to Solomon Islands, highlighting, projects such as the current Honiara Road Improvement Project as an example.

“We are sure that the friendship between Japan and Solomon Islands will continue into the future for the benefit of our two countries,” Sir Frank said.

Sir Frank also highlighted that Japan and Solomon Islands have historical connections dating back to the World War II during which Japanese soldiers fought and died in Solomon Islands.

“In this respect, we are happy to have been part of the Japanese effort to recover the remains of loved ones to be returned to Japan for their final rest,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sir Frank assured Ambassador Toyama of the Government’s ongoing support to the international desires of Japan saying Solomon Islands and her people look forward to working with the new Ambassador during his term in office.

–GCU

German national arrested for illegal border crossing

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

A German national has been arrested for illegally crossing the SI-PNG border.

He escaped but was later arrested and is kept in police custody.

Police officers in Taro, Choiseul province arrested the German national on Sunday, April 29, 2018 for illegally entering Solomon Islands through the Solomon Islands-Papua New Guinea (PNG) border.

“The accused was arrested after Police in Taro was informed of his presence at Supizae Island, near Taro Station on April 26, 2018,” says Operations Manager, Taro Police Station, Senior Sergeant Rolland Lapo.

“Police then invited him to Taro police station for questioning and at the same time notified the Immigration Department.

“The German national was then advised to leave Solomon Islands for PNG voluntarily however he escaped to the mainland Choiseul and disappeared.

“Police conducted a search and finally found him near Kona Village and he was formally arrested and placed in Police custody awaiting formalities from the Solomon Islands Immigration Department.

“I want to thank the members of the public in Choiseul who came forward and reported the matter to police.

“This is really encouraging to the police as this shows the commitment members of our communities have to working together to ensure our laws are adhered to both by our own people and those from other countries.”

–POLICE MEDIA

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