POPULATION served by Solomon Water in Honiara and surrounding villages is projected to increase to approximately 295,000 people by 2047.
Solomon Water currently provides water services to 58,000 people in Honiara and surrounding areas in Guadalcanal according to their 30 Year Strategic Plan.
The increase is reported to be driven primarily by migration from the rural communities to urban areas and the provision of backlog services to existing communities.
Projected population increase over the next 30 years will have a significant impact on current water supply and wastewater systems including increased health, environmental and water quality impacts of wastewater discharge, the need for additional water sources due to increased water supply demand and the need to extend reticulation systems and improve the capacity of transfer systems.
Mr Lemuel Steve Rauona holding up his designed logo that made legal for
HYC- a youth-led organization in Honiara City.
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
Mr Lemuel Steve Rauona holding up his designed logo that made legal for HYC- a youth-led organization in Honiara City.
DESIGNING an official logo for the Honiara Youth Council would be Mr Lemuel Steve Rauona’s legacy for young people in Honiara as his contribution for youth development in Solomon Islands.
Mr Lemuel Steve Rauona is from the Central Youth of the South Sea Evangelical Church (CY-SSEC), and the HYC’s executive member are proud of his work in creating a logo for the HYC which will remain a legacy for generations to come.
Last week, HYC and relevant stakeholders in Honiara convened at the OG conference room to officially launch the logo, and the event begins a history for HYC and Mr Rauona – logo designer.
When asked what would be the one thing he will support young people in the community with, Rauona said, it is the logo because embedded is a thousand words which signifies inclusiveness of youths in Honiara.
Rauona is an artist with a background in abstract painting.
Over the years HYC has been in operation as an ad hoc entity which has raised confusion between Honiara City Council and Honiara Youth Council, which are two different bodies.
To clear out the confusion among organisations and youths within Honiara, HYC tasked Rauona to create a logo with instructions from the HYC executive and community youth group.
Due to time limitations, financial reasons and resources, HYC did away with the idea of a competition and had the executive select within its cycle instead.
The logo embodies a light green complexion to represent young people’s energy and amazing potentials for development both in the community and national level.
Inside the logo, reflected is the local and national government colour which symbolises HYC and community youth groups strong partnership towards youth development in the country.
In the centre, there is a HYC designed word flattered with a youth friendly style where the letter Y is drawn depicting a person flying, a reflection of young people.
HYC and young people are satisfied with the logo, and now it can be used in any form of their activities as youth-led organisation in the Honiara City to voice and channel their concerns to the local and national government.
Rauona said, he was humble and proud at the same time to take up the responsibility and used his artistry as his contribution to HYC and youths in Solomon Islands.
He said his drawing inside the logo speaks louder of youth’s inclusiveness toward economic and social development in Honiara or Solomon Islands as a whole.
Rauona adds that he was happy and thanked the HYC executive for the trust given to design the logo although challenging, he is happy that his work was noticed, all the more, involved in something like this.
He grew up to the artist that he is today, with interest in the art he does dating back to his primary school days up to his completion of secondary education at King George Sixth.
His specialty, abstract painting, became a passion and one which sprung strongly from influence of Mr Douglas Rae, who was a well-known artist and graphic designer in the country.
“I am not good at imagination but I’m good in observation,” Rauona said.
Recently, he attended a graffiti workshop facilitated by a renowned artist, Mr Justin also known as “Julla” who is a professional graffiti writer and street artist from Australia.
The workshop was organised by Oxfam Solomon Islands.
That was what made Mr Rauona today, and now he is slowly pushing his way up—dreaming of becoming a renowned artist in the country and region as well someday.
(L-R) HYC president Mr Harry James, Mrs Mary Tuhaika and Bobby Siarani during launching of the HYC Face Book page.
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
(L-R) HYC president Mr Harry James, Mrs Mary Tuhaika and Bobby Siarani during launching of the HYC Face Book page.
YOUNG people can now get connected and interact with Honiara Youth Council anywhere in Solomon Islands through its social media which was launched last week.
On Friday last week, HYC launched its Facebook page named Honiara Youth Council with a photo profile of its newly launched official logo.
Since the launch last week, the page and the logo is now in use to disseminate information about HYC’s programmes and activities.
Creating a social media platform such as Facebook, HYC see as an important avenue for engaging young people.
HYC will use its social page to disseminate information about their works, service deliveries and exchange of ideas and interaction between young people
HYC President Mr Harry James Olikwailafa said the page is really useful for young people because some of the young people will use that page to get information, get opportunities that will be uploaded to the page.
“We feel that establishing social media page is one key media platform in the context of Solomon Islands to dissemination of information to young people,” Mr Olikwailafa said.
HCC-Youth Development Officer Mrs Mary Tuhaika said the social media platform HYC create is important for young people within Honiara to know about HYC as their legal body to voice their interests.
She said majority of youths accessing the internet live in Honiara and such platform is effective for young people to get information and connected with HYC.
Mrs Tuhaika adds HYC has created a social media arena to inform and will create more awareness among young people.
Also let other organisations and young people aware that there is a youth governing body existing in Honiara, represents youths’ voices to the local and national government and advocate on issues affecting young people, she said.
Content in the HYC’s Facebook page will consist of activities and programmes HYC has done, youth opportunities locally, regionally and internationally from other firm youth organisations.
There will also be news on the country’s current affairs, feature stories about youth achievements, community programme and campaigns of young people on their issues of concern.
HYC are calling individual young people and organizations in Solomon Islands to click LIKE on their Face Book page following the link: http://www.facebook.com/Honiara-Youth-Council
The craft market center taking shape at the Art gallery grounds
The craft market center taking shape at the Art gallery grounds
THE Craft Market Centre at the National Art Gallery grounds is expected to complete in time for the upcoming 6th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival (MACFest) in July.
Construction of the facility began early this year and is expected to complete in the third week of June just before the opening of the festival on July 1.
The center will host the bulk of Traditional and Contemporary Arts exhibitions. This category includes sculptor (carving), weaving/ handicrafts, body ornamentation/ local jewellery, traditional currencies, tattooing, fire-walking, canoeing and navigational art, traditional healing, culinary arts , floral arts and pottery.
Visiting artists from Melanesia will join our local artists to exhibit their products during the 10 days festival.
“We are impressed with the progress of the project and we are confident it will complete in time for the upcoming festival,” said Chairman of the festival Programmes and Events and Director of Culture, Dennis Marita.
Mr Marita said the facility will provide a permanent home for our local arts and crafts practitioners in the near future.
“This is indeed a welcoming development for our arts and crafts industry. It will certainly provide a proper home for our arts and craft practitioners as well as a boost for our tourism industry,” Marita said.
He added that a Crafts Centre Management team will be established to manage and run the center to ensure that there is equal opportunities for those engaged in this sector to use this facility.
“The facility will certainly generate revenue for the government through rental by eligible vendors and relevant associations or charitable organisations and groups,” he added.
The project costs more than SB$10 million with fifty percent of the cost funded by the Solomon Islands Government, thirty percent by the Republic China on Taiwan and thirty percent from the EIF/EU Programme under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.
A third shipment for logs only within recent weeks arriving ashore of Tulaghi Island at Big Ngella yesterday. PHOTO
BY MANEBONA BARNABAS
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
A third shipment for logs only within recent weeks arriving ashore of Tulaghi Island at Big Ngella yesterday. PHOTO BY MANEBONA BARNABAS
LOGS now shipped are said to be of not good size trees but this is the third shipment within recent weeks ashore of Tulaghi Island at Big Ngella raising grave concern for locals.
Whoever behind these shipments amongst local landowners does not go down well with Ngella citizens as negative impacts from the tree resources and environment is growing.
Not only certain specific trees are said to be now logged on Ngella but all sorts of trees as well seeing loggers making use of their chance.
The majority of people at Ngella are now fed up of logging activities in which they threat to form mobs of groups to attack and destroy logging machines and chase out Asian operators if they land on their shores.
Some are blaming the provincial authorities while others call for precaution and there is the majority planning and urging to make a one way move for destroying and chasing the logging operators out of their islands.
This issue is currently heavily debated on the famous Ngella Forum on social media as well.
With this understanding, Central Islands Provincial Government is uniting with its citizens in Ngella to stop logging activities on their islands purposely to protect the environment.
The Provincial Secretary (PS) of CIP, Alan Christian Siale, when contacted recently over the rising issue of logging operations and landings confirmed this.
He elaborated in revealing that he is aware of recent landings by logging groups but there has been a cause of breakdown in the line of communication between them and the Department of Forestry through the Forestry Office in the province for such landings to take place.
“The issue of the province with the Forestry Division is they (Forestry) are issuing permits for logging companies to land but the condition for a permit to land must have proof that they have paid the provincial business license which is the conditions of the Forestry,” said the PS.
“That to this day has never been done by the Forestry Division.”
From radical suggestions now rising from locals, the PS suggests for their people that they can move against these operations but in a more awareness way to educate landowners to not sign documents of such for logging operations which includes mining processes.
CIP’s Premier Hon Patrick Vasuni had also recently announced that the Provincial Government will be banning all logging operations on Ngella.
His Provincial Executive will be imposing the ban at their next Executive meeting if survey confirms over-harvesting and destructions to the environment.
ALCOHOL Consumption at Choiseul Province is raising grave concern.
Recently, Ms Jenny Onoto the Women’s Coordinator at Christ the King Parish Voruvoru Mission Station, Northwest Choiseul, during a Chiefs Leadership summit workshop highlighted the concern showing in her report that alcohol consumption is one of the biggest contributing factors to a lot of anti-social behaviours amongst their communities.
“Consuming alcohol at public places and family residences is causing high disturbances and insecurity to women and children. Continuous practise also contributes to financial problems,” said Ms Onoto.
Ms Onoto is calling on local Chiefs and the police to help decrease the rate of alcohol consumption in their area and the province as a whole.
According to women and children of the province going forward in raising their concern, Ms Onoto said they expressed the high practise experienced as a huge threat to their society.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo Supporters and Voters upon their
arrival onboard MV Fair Lady and MV Fair Chief at the Gizo wharf on Monday.
BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO
Former Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo Supporters and Voters upon their arrival onboard MV Fair Lady and MV Fair Chief at the Gizo wharf on Monday.
HUNDREDS of voters have arrived in Gizo for the Gizo/Kolombangara by-election.
On Wednesday 23rd May, polling stations will open at 7am and close at 5pm.
In an interview with Mr Christian Siale, the Western Province Registration Manager yesterday, he said voters are being urged to get to the polling station within this time.
He said the 12 polling stations are Saeragi, Bibolo, Titiana, Gizo A and Gizo B, Logha Island, Vanga, Poetete, Jack Harbor, Ringi, Hunda and Kukudu.
“Once the polling stations are closed the sealed ballot boxes will be sent to the Gizo election commission office.
“Since there were no to count the ballot boxes, the ballot boxes should be count early on Thursday morning.
“The results are expected to be announced after counting on Thursday.”
Siale calls on the Gizo/ Kolombangara constituents to be calm and vote peacefully to elect the leader who will represent them in parliament.
PM Hou is intoduced to the Micro-Hydro Electric Power Generating System. This program will be rolled out under JICA
end of this month in the country.
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has expressed the need for the Government to begin the process in seriously purchasing a CT scan for the country.
The Prime Minister highlighted this when he visited Sony’s Medical Container Facility in Iwaki City, Fukushima, Japan recently.
The Sony’s medical container is the latest state of the art innovation by Sony whereby medical equipment’s are set up in a mobile container.
PM and Foreign Minister Tozaka toured inside the facility
The container can either be an operating theatre or specific medical equipment or facility depending on the request needs.
These medical facilities are mobile and can be transported and set up by Sony.
The unavailability of a CT scan in the country is an issue that has been discussed over the years but to no avail to date.
The Prime Minister said it is time the Government needs to seriously consider options to purchase one.
He said it is an issue he will take up in Cabinet when he returns and the responsible ministry can start the process in looking at alternatives on the best options.
PM Hou is intoduced to the Micro-Hydro Electric Power Generating System. This program will be rolled out under JICA end of this month in the country.
“I am overwhelmed that Sony a powerhouse company in the world has offered to assist in any way possible. Therefore, I hope responsible authorities can start looking at these different options. The ball is in our court,” he said.
The Prime Minister was also introduced to a movable Micro-Hydro Electric Power Generating System which can easily be installed easily in at least 55cm wide water channels.
It has an independent power supply system by connecting its own battery system. This means this that this generating system contributes to local production for consumption of electricity and works as a safety net for electrical power at time of disasters.
PM is introduced to the CT Scan which was also one of the facility in the container.
“This is an interesting innovation that can be very useful for rural areas in Solomon Islands,” he said.
In fact, the interest has paved the way for the manufacturing company of the generating system to come and start introducing the system in the country next month under the JICA program.
Meanwhile, the PALM 8 meeting which the Prime Minister attended concluded on Saturday.
–OPMC PRESS.
One of the mobile facilitiesA Sony execurive displaying tne Canon Medical System sign.The mobile medical facility
THE first of the meetings to discuss events to mark ‘World Environment Day’ (WED) will take place today.
A small organising committee comprising of various stakeholders has been established to oversee the plan and programme activities for this year’s World Environment Day. Celebrated every year on June 5, this year’s celebration is on the theme ‘Take action to Beat Plastic Pollution’.
For Solomon Islands SPREP PEBACC project as part of its campaign and awareness activities will lead the celebration of the world environment day through an environment expedition to “Barana Community Nature Park”.
This site located at Barana village (Mt Austin) overlooking Honiara city.
SPREP PEBACC project is promoting climate resilience through nature based solution and this site focuses on community natural resources and watershed management.
The objective of this expedition is to commemorate WED, focussing on plastics, promote community ecosystem values of the community nature park and to make general awareness and educating participating scouts, students and community.
The expedition is done in partnership with SI Scouts and other government partners.
A NON-Profitable Organisation (NGO) called Friends of the City (FTC) is taking initiatives to discuss the development and social challenges facing Honiara City and to fashion the best way forward to a clean, safe and beautiful Honiara City. Last Saturday volunteers and members of FTC came out into the streets of Honiara to do a massive cleanup along the city’s Central Business District (CBD) and roads.
With the vision to build a clean, green and prosperous Honiara City, FTC’s mission is to enhance people participation through volunteerism to build a clean, healthy, pleasant and sustainable Honiara city. FTC believes that to collaborate is better than to compete.
During the recent ‘Business after Five’ (BA5) event of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) FTC was also given the chance to highlight their work and to make known their entity.
Soon to be launched, FTC hopes to bring together volunteers from all works of life that have the heart for the city.
The initiative by FTC come in light of recent government talks on the ban of plastics and the depressingly formidable challenge the country is faced with in terms of waste management.
