BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

SOLOMON Airlines Limited (SAL) say their pilots were confident all the time that the under carriage was positioned for safe landing during the Dash 8 H4-SOL incident at Lata last week.

In their side of clarification over the incident, Colin Sigimanu the Manager Commercial for Solomon Airlines Ltd said from gathered information from their engineering and operations departments, the decision taken by the pilots not to land at Lata was precautionary as it was best to return to Honiara where the maintenance facility and tooling is.

“This is so that our Engineers could take a thorough look into the indicator reading,” said Sigimanu.

“Our Pilots were confident all the time that the under carriage was positioned for safe landing. The aircraft did land normally in Honiara on its return and the indicator mis-reading has been rectified.”

When querying through to the Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands (CAASI) last week, CAASI Acting Director Brian Halisanau also revealed to Island Sun that Dash 8 H4-SOL’s recent incident said to have its tyres faulted for landing is an isolated electrical indicator malfunction issue caused by an intermittent micro switch on the loose landing gear door.

This is obvious because the Pilot’s report stated that the green light was intermittent said the CAASI Acting Director.

He said the flight crew however have correctly acted in accordance with their approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and this is what is expected of them.

“There are no safety concerns from what we are seeing from the regulatory side but we will be waiting for the airline to send us their report and corrective or preventive action plan so we can close our incident report,” said the CAASI Acting Director when asked if there is any assurance for the general public as the recent incident has raised fear towards the plane’s operating for the airlines.

More than 20 passengers on board the Solomon Airlines Dash-8 aircraft flight destined for Lata were relieved after landing safely back to Honiara last week Tuesday after the aircraft was said to fail three attempts to land because its tyres were facing a technical situation of not functioning.

The pilots then according to passengers decided to fly the aircraft back to Honiara after the third attempt in which luckily, the tyres worked when approaching Henderson Airport enabling the aircraft to land.

“It could have been a different story if the tyres did not work on our return,” said relieved passengers after landing back at Henderson Airport around 2.30pm.

THE Chairman of the Honiara City Council’s Education Authority Alfrence Fatai has issued a strong warning towards the White River Primary School board, not to interfere with the Authority’s final teachers posting.

This is in regards to the posting of the Headmaster of the Primary school which was endorsed by the Education’s standing committee, but never been recognised by the School Board.

Mr Fatai said that at the beginning of this year, all teachers’ postings have been submitted and fully endorsed for all schools under the HCC authority.

“I would like to state here that all these postings are final and should be respected by the school boards and leaders.”

The issue came up when the HCC Authority endorsed a posting for a new headmaster, replacing the former who is under suspension pending investigation.

This has caused a lot of confusion as the school board still recognised the former headmaster and currently the issue has not been solved.

However, Fatai maintained that the HCC Education Authority recognises the new headmaster and not the former.

“Based on our understanding and the final posting, we maintain that the decision is final and I would like to caution the White River Primary School Board, not to mislead everyone in regards to this issue.

“Let me remind the School Board that the powers of the Authority supersede the School Board and also have the authority to endorse postings and that is final,” he added.

Cr Fatai further warned the White River Primary school board to consider it and respect the HCC Education Authority’s decision.

–HCC PRESS

COUNCILLOR for Naha Ward Charles Aiwosuga has raised concerns about the increase of coconut Rhinoceros beetles causing damage to coconut trees within the City.

He said this is now becoming a common sight which is damaging the beautiful environment in Honiara, and is a sad scenario.

As the country and especially Honiara is preparing to host big events such as the South Pacific Games in 2023, immediate actions have to be taken.

“I would like to call on the Quarantine Department, Customs and the Ministry concern to work together with Honiara City Council to address this issue.

“Honiara is the gateway in the Solomon and to promote a beautiful image for tourism and other major events to be hosted here, we have to ensure our City has a beautiful environment,” he added.

Aiwosuga said it is time to get rid of these affected coconut trees and replace them with new ones.

–HCC PRESS

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

THE Solomon Islands Annual Malaria Programme Report recorded an unprecedented success in Malaria control cases in 2017 with a reduction of 10 percent from the 2016 trend.

The report was revealed by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, and such information is supplemented from newly data system called Malaria Case Management Register (MCMR) introduced in 2015.

Last year’s report shows that after an unprecedented period of success in 2014 and 2015 malaria control in Solomon Islands has had further progress in fighting the vector borne disease.

Vector Borne Division report stated 79.6 percent was recorded in 2017 which overthrew the 88.8 percent cases of malaria in 2016, an increase of 40.5 percent cases over 2015 compared to steady downward trend in malaria as previously reported in 2004 and 2013.

According to Vector Borne Division, they said this is an impressive success for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services through National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme to fight against Malaria and vector borne disease in Solomon Islands.

Currently, the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme is working on controlling malaria cases with an aim to reach one-third of the country’s population using the Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLIN) also known as bed nets.

They said vector control intervention relies much on distributing LLIN, and with the massive distribution of bed nets last year, same will be continued this year.

The National Malaria Strategy 2015—2020 remains valid which will be the guiding tool for determining programme priorities and government and other stakeholders’ investment in malaria control and elimination in Solomon Islands.

According to World Health Organisation, Vector-borne diseases account for more than 17 percent of all infectious diseases, causing more than 700,000 deaths annually.

More than 3.9 billion people in over 128 countries which include Solomon Islands are at risk of contracting dengue, with 96 million cases estimated per year.

In terms of Malaria cases globally, WHO stated Malaria causes more than 400,000 deaths every year globally, most of them children under five years of age.

Meanwhile, many of these diseases are preventable, and Solomon Islands installed progress in battling vector borne disease with strategy to distribute LLIN across the provinces.

The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme strongly emphasize prevention measures are using of bed nets, cleaning backyards, drainage cleaning and frequent cleaning of residential environment.

By doing this it will help to eliminate or control malaria and dengue in the country, they said.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

A farmer from Northwest Choiseul is calling on the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to explain why the agriculture office in Taro is unable to provide him any assistance.

Mr Binet Pitakera stressed that he had sought assistance from the office several times but was only told that there is no money.

He said that this is surprising given that the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) has expressed in the media that they provide assistance for farmers in the rural areas through their provincial agriculture offices.

Pitakera also mentioned that he has come to the thought the ministry is only supporting projects and not farmers’ individual requests for assistance.

He calls on the ministry to explain why their office in Taro has not been able to assist him.

MAL’s Under Secretary and Supervising Permanent Secretary, Mr Oswald Ramo when contacted by the paper earlier this week explained that government’s budget cut this year has really affected their funding and assistance for projects and farmers in the provinces.

He added that those who apply for assistance include groups of people and individuals whose applications have to be assessed before being dealt with.

Ramo furthered that even last year’s approved projects are yet to receive funding.

THE Honiara Central Magistrates Court has remanded two men in custody for alleged rape and grievous harm charges on Tuesday this week.

The incidents of the alleged rape are believed to have been committed during March 2018.

Both defendants are expected to reappear before the same court on May 8, 2018.

Officer In-Charge (OIC) of the Police Sexual Assault Squad based at the Rove Police Headquarters, Detective Sergeant Rose Nala says, “The two men are alleged to have raped separate 13-year-old victims on Sikaiana Island in the Malaita Outer islands on separate occasions.

“Arrangements are underway for both victims of rape to undergo counselling and medical examination at Seif Ples and Family Support Centre in Honiara.

“One of the men, a 31-year-old man is also charged for grievous harm after he allegedly attacked a 46-year-old man on April 6, 2018 on Sikaiana Island. The victim is believed to have lost 10 teeth.

“I appeal to any member of the public and communities in the country who is alleged to be a victim of rape or sexual assault to come forward to police and report any such alleged crime.

“You can report any crime to your nearest police station or post, or contact the Police Communication Centre on phone 23666 or free toll 999.

“You can also contact Seif Ples on phone 132 or 24677 for advice and counselling for alleged victims of rape or sexual assault.”

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) team of investigators from Rove Police Headquarters with some from Police in Malaita province were deployed on board Police Patrol boat Auki on April 18, 2018 to Sikaiana Island following reports of the alleged rape of a girl.

The team carried out investigations and established three separate allegations against the two alleged offenders and three victims identified.

–POLICE MEDIA

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THE reported plunge in student discipline in the Central province’s premier school, McMahon Community High, has forced the provincial government to hold an open forum on Monday this week, it is reported.

Classes were suspended after 9am to allow students and staff to join the day-long conference with members of the Central Islands provincial (CIP) government and concerned parents to discuss the issue and find resolutions.

CIP’s Minister of Education and Deputy Premier Selwyn Luga had to chair the forum in response to recent report of Police in Tulagi arresting an 18-year-old male secondary student on April 13 after being found in possession of Marijuana drug.

The recent issue over the arrest has now drawn the line in no tolerance over lack of discipline by students of the school being experienced since the beginning of this year, said the provincial Minister of Education.

“This issue of arrest has become a National report because it was released on social media and on radio after the Provincial Police Commander (PPC) of the province released its news item.

“There are only two things, students discipline and at the same time, school leaders should show good examples too. This mainly goes for school teachers.

“Since January and now in April from observation, nothing has been done or changed in certain student’s attitudes usually involving themselves in bad and illegal activities.”

Mr Luga said the blame cannot be on teachers alone too as parents are also responsible for their children’s behaviour.

Regarding the open forum held, the Minister of Education said it was successful on the understanding that they will be addressing the issue.

“A lot of the teachers, parents and guardians did not have much time to talk because of the limited time we had but discussions will be continued in a Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meeting to be held this coming Sunday as there are around ten resolutions that were gathered after collecting decisions from teachers, students and parents,” said Luga.

During the Open Forum, parents, teachers and students had openly stressed and discussed their concerns through many areas they were not happy with and also that are beneficial for the improvement of the school.

School teachers speaking to Island Sun expressed their appreciation for having the chance to openly discuss with the education authority, provincial government, stakeholders, students and parents of the school in which they said they are looking forward for the continuance of their meeting.

Luga also added yesterday that the decisions on student’s discipline after their compilations in meeting must also be carried in all the other schools of CIP.

Resolutions will be completed during the upcoming PTA meeting this coming Sunday at Tulaghi.

Meanwhile, it is alleged that smoking of marijuana by youths within Tulaghi is raising great concern for parents and leaders of the former Capital Town.

CIP’s PPC, Superintendent Patricia Leta said the arrest of the student was possible through information from the public, alleging the student was using the dangerous drug.

Community members of CIP are now asked by the PPC to pass any information about the transactions of the illicit drug, where it is grown and who uses it, so that the police may bring those involving in such activity to face the law.

Leta added that Marijuana is illegal in all aspect in the country and everyone must work together to ensure this drug is ridded from communities.

Tulagi Police and Yandina Police Stations can be contacted on phone numbers 32117, 32999 and 7652044.