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Gizo-Kolombangara by-election set for May

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Polling Assistants at Gizo Polling 'A' assisting voters during the voting.
Polling Assistants at Gizo Polling ‘A’ assisting voters during the voting in 2014.

THE Gizo-Kolombangara by-election is set to go ahead next month, with seven months remaining before the current parliament dissolves.

The by-election is to fill a parliamentary seat that was left vacant since December 2017.

With Parliament dissolving around the second week of December to make way for fresh national general elections around April next year, the incoming Member of Parliament to fill this seat will serve the shortest term.

This by-election is required by law to happen as it is a constitutional right of a voter to have a voice in parliament through an elected MP and it is the responsibility of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) to fulfil this.

The SIEC has confirmed that the voters’ list for the Gizo-Kolombangara by-election is ready.

The Governor General, Sir Frank Kabui, yesterday proclaimed May 23 as the polling day.

In a statement, SIEC Chief Electoral Officer, Mose Saitala, confirmed that nominations opens today and will run for 14 days.

SIEC will finalise the candidate list when the nomination period closes on April 25 at 4pm.

From April 25 to May 23, candidates are expected to go in full swing with their campaigns.

According to the statement, Mr Saitala said nomination forms can be collected from the SIEC office in Honiara or from the Returning Officer, Christian Siale, in Gizo in the Western province.

He confirmed a candidate must be nominated by three registered voters within the constituency and the nomination form must be properly completed and returned to the Returning Officer with a non-refundable nomination fee of $2,000 before 4pm on April 25.

SIEC encourages constituents and intending contestants to ensure nomination rules and legal requirements are upheld.

It is also a legal requirement that a candidate must be at least 21 years old and a citizen of Solomon Islands.

Saitala confirmed that the SIEC has made its decision few weeks ago that the by-election for Gizo-Kolombangara be held immediately.

“The Commission decision paved the way for the Governor General’s decision today proclaiming Wednesday, 23rd May, as the polling day for the Gizo-Kolombangara by-election.”

The SIEC advises people from Gizo-Kolombangara constituency to prepare to choose their representative.

The SIEC has advised people in the constituency to listen to the national broadcaster (SIBC) and Radio Happy Lagoon as well as look up other media outlets for updates regarding important activities in the lead up to the by-election.

The news of the election date being set has been received with mix reaction from members of the public. Some are concerned that the by-election is a waste of tax-payer money given the current financial situation of the country, while others are firm the by-election is a legal right of Gizo-Kolombangara constituents to have a representative even with the short time remaining.

The Gizo-Kolombangara seat was left vacant when the High Court disqualified Jimson Tanangada.

Mr Tanagada was the Minister for Home Affairs (MHA) when the Court made the ruling that he was guilty of bribing people to vote for him during the 2014 national general elections.

Losing candidate and former Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo successfully lodged the petition against Tanangada. It took three years before the Court made its ruling on the matter.

Lilo is reportedly re-contesting the seat. Tanaagada is unlikely to contest the seat.

Twin otter incident suspect arrested

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Officers at Henderson Police Station have arrested a 30-year-old man who allegedly flattened Twin Otter’s tyre at Munda on April 7, 2018.

Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Guadalcanal Province, Superintendent Ishmael Vunagi says, “We received an official complaint, about the incident that has resulted to cancellation of four flights schedule for Munda on April 7, 2018.”

“My officers were alerted that the accused was travelling on-board Solomon Airline plane on April 8, 2018 for Honiara. He was arrested after his arrival at Henderson airport.”

The man has been formally charged for the offence of malicious damage and was released on bail to appear before Honiara Magistrate Court on April 30, 2018.

The matter is being jointly investigated by Munda police and officers at Henderson Police Station.

–POLICE MEDIA

SINU refutes claims of class boycott

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SOLOMON Islands National University (SINU) has clarified that lectures are continuing as normal despite SINUSA carrying out a strike to boycott classes recently.

SINU office says this following media reports which claim that students have boycotted classes in line with the ongoing strike.

“In spite of erroneous media reports published recently stating that there is a strike to boycott SINU classes, the real situation is students still access classes.

“Almost all the students have been attending lectures and other academic activities as usual.

“There was near full attendance in all the five schools in whole of last week and this week.

“The situation in all 3 campuses is now calm and all academic and non-academic staff is carrying out their usual duties.”

SINU 2018 Graduation 2018 is set for tomorrow at the Maranatha hall.

Preparation is well underway, the SINU statement said.

3 years before taking back full control of our airspace

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Permanent secretary to Ministry of Communications and Aviation, Moses Virivolomo, faces PAC over the issue of Solomon Islands airspace

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

Permanent secretary to Ministry of Communications and Aviation, Moses Virivolomo, faces PAC over the issue of Solomon Islands airspace

THE Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) has three years to prepare to take full control of the country’s airspace, it is reported.

Currently, Australia has a 40 percent share over Solomon Islands airspace. This is because Solomon Islands does not have the trained people to look after the space machine.

There was a $17 million project that was expected to complete by 2014, involving the machine to manage the airspace and other equipment that were installed in the provinces. To this day none of them are working.

However, interestingly the MCA certified the project as complete despite the discrepancies.

Permanent Secretary (PS) for the Ministry of Communication and Aviation Moses Virivolomo during their ministry’s recent meeting with the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) assured that auditors will find out over what happened behind the set-up then by the people tasked for the project.

He said they will be looking into analysing of what affected the project before they invest more money into it because they had already invested enough money but did not get any result out from it.

“We are giving Australia another three years to maintain their control while we try to either buy a new equipment or try and re-do the one at the airport,” said Mr Virivolomo.

He said they are getting experienced people to assist them (PNG specialists) with the equipment because they might be installing obsolete machines too.

“We will be learning from PNG in how they use their airspace machine and if we understand how to use it ourselves then we will get a hundred percent collection of the airspace.

“So we are giving Australia another three years to look after the airspace while we get ourselves ready to look after it,” said Virivolomo.

MP for North East Guadalcanal Derek Sikua during the PAC meeting said it has been a long time since they have been talking about taking over the management of airspace so that Australia does not hold to the 40 percent.

He challenged the Ministry of Communication and Aviation over why it is too hard to control the airspace.

“We should take over its management and why is it too difficult for CAASI (Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands) to take over,” questioned Mr Sikua.

MP for Shortlands Hon Christopher Laore during PAC’s enquiry also raised a similar question said to be once questioned by the ministry’s Minister over how much is really earned annually by the airspace funding (ASF) and that how much is really currently in the account and where does the money go towards development.

According to PS Virivolomo in responding, he clarified that the Airspace Fund (ASF) is a special fund just like the National Transport Fund (NTF) being through process.

“The Minister approves for the budget to be used every year so that is the process in which it is tabled in Parliament,” said Virivolomo.

In elaborating, referring to annually depending on the over flights, he said they have an arrangement with Air Services Australia who are managing the upper airspace for the country in charging aircrafts according to their weights, time spend within the air as they (ministry) collect money every month.

“After Australia deducts their potion of the fee which is 40 percent, they deposit the rest to us during the end of months in which they are always up-to-date with the payments,” said the PS.

“It is around $8 Million Solomon Dollars that is annually received depending on flights seasonally. Its funds currently are used for the operation cause of CAASI as well as for compliances such as on the aircrafts, airports security and safety for passengers.”

He added that when raising funds under the normal government system, it takes time in which the airport cannot wait for such long process giving them the alternative to usually use the funds to address compliances needed in time.

Auditing will take place soon over Solomon Islands strive to control its airspace being a concern for many citizens too for quite some time now.

No oil for government

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Chairman for GP Plains Out Growers Association Mr Stanley Holmes Vutiange

Guadalcanal plains palm oil outgrowers lash out at 2018 Budget

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Chairman for GP Plains Out Growers Association Mr Stanley Holmes Vutiange

OUTGROWERS of Guadalcanal oil palm plantation are disappointed with the national government’s budget for 2018, it is reported.

Guadalcanal plain farmers say they have been neglected for two years, during which government has not allocated anything for the palm-oil farmers.

Chairman for GP plains outgrowers association Mr Stanley Holmes Vutiange said they too contribute much to the industry, and the country’s economy as a whole, and it is sad and discouraging that government should choose to ignore them.

He says palm oil is a huge factor of the country’s economy, and the role outgrowers play towards palm oil is significantly huge – but government seems to not know this, or just choose to leave them (outgrowers) out of the picture.

“From our findings and follow-up on parliament hearings on this year’s budget, government did not allocate any funds for oil palm out growers and priority is set on other sectors,” Vutiange said.

He adds that the three associations covering the plains; West zone, Balasuna and central Guadalcanal, will hold an urgent meeting after which they will approach government with resolutions which government must address.

Vutiange says they might even seek the possibility that government re-looks its budget.

He adds that last year, despite assurance from the minister of agriculture, government did not allocate anything for them.

Vutiange says this ignorance must stop.

Health workers celebrate World Health Day with physical activities

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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MHMS staffs during their activity to mark World Health Day on Monday

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

MINISTRY of Health and Medical Service (MHMS) celebrated World Health Day yesterday with physical activities.

This year’s celebration is marked from April 5-7 but MHMS and World Health Organisation (WHO) in Honiara celebrated the day yesterday.

The MHMS in partnership with the WHO office in Solomon Islands joined rest of the world to mark WHO’s 70th Anniversity.

This year, World Health Day is dedicated to one of WHO’s founding principles: “The enjoyment of highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition”.

Here, MHMS and WHO held a small celebration that engaged its staff in volleyball, tug-of-war, table tennis, karate and zumba.

Director for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Department Dr Geoff Kenilorea thanked the Healthy Lifestyle committee for organising the event which engaged participation of their staffs.

Kenilorea said it should kick-start their physical activities and plans MHMS have in place for them as health workers.

“Health for everyone everywhere is very important which a concern for Ministry of Health as health workers both in clinical and public in terms of health, we must concern to people’s health everywhere and for everyone,” he adds.

Kenilorea encourages health workers to stay healthy as well, and organising such sporting activities is important for them in their physical upbringing.

He adds NCD is caused by lifestyle and its cure is lifestyle changes – and that is exercises.

“Now conventional medicine is not enough for crisis of NCD in Solomon Islands but if we come up with lifestyle as medicine for combating NCD, we’ll be good,” Kenilorea said.

World Health Day is celebrated globally under a theme “Universal coverage: Everyone, Everywhere”.

Small Malaita establishes small business association to end poverty

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
ASIMAE Chairman Mr Samuel Houmai

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

ASIMAE Chairman Mr Samuel Houmai

A small business association looking at eliminating poverty has been established in Small Malaita.

The association is named ASIMAE—Are’are Small Malaita Indigenous Movement Active Entrepreneurs, a Small Business Development Association which officially incorporated and legally registered on May 8, 2017.

ASIMAE Small Business development Association is a newly born rural based initiative setup, with its head office at Afio substation in Small Malaita.

The idea of forming ASIMAE originated in 2008 with lengthy research and consultation with rural people and existing business owners, throughout whole of southern regions of Malaita province.

It was voluntarily led by two visionary leaders and founders, Mr Vincent Akohiria, prominent rural business man based at Afio Substation Small Malaita, and Mr Samuel Houmai – former Habitat for Humanity International programme Developer (PD) based with the grassroot people.

The association built its vision to salvage unsustainable and unproductive rural based business activities in accessing and facilitating series of business opportunities through public awareness, trainings, financial subsidies, marketing, rural infrastructure and providing business advice.

Above that, ASIMAE and its partners aim to reduce poverty through empowering rural entrepreneurs and accessing more opportunities for self-job creation.

The mission is to work in partnership with people from all works of life within South Malaita by giving opportunity to help people help themselves through job creation.

ASBDA’s ultimate goal is to eliminate poverty situation from face of its constituencies through actively promoting self-reliance.

Plan is to engage rural dweller through business training, self-employment opportunities, increase income goods and services, creation and facilitation of market linkage to improve lively hood of rural people.

Houmai said the association believes rural people can effect changes when given the opportunity to do so.

He said with total concern, commitment, dedication, and honesty, project development planning, implementations, monitoring and evaluation, with transparency and accountability would effect changes in the lives of the rural people.

And this could felt within them a true and tangible development changes occurred and transform their life, he adds.

Houmai said land is not a problem with land owners in South Malaita, when rural people.

He said only problem faced daily is key approach and actual implementation strategy and action taken to address obstacle, and to unlocked socio economic development for south Malaita.

“Out of many approaches one could think of, one of key approaches is to design a set up programme with its vision, mission and goals/objective and form as a rural organisation,” Houmai said.

Meanwhile the setup ASIMAE particularly focus on promoting small and medium enterprises, public awareness, trainings, workshops, seminars, financial subsidies, marketing, business advises, rural infrastructure.

The association is designed to engage land owners, individual entrepreneurs, families, village organisations in Small Malaita.

Health promoting school teachers training in Auki

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

TEACHERS in the central region of Malaita province are the first to benefit from a “Health Promoting School Teachers Training” in the province.

The training on health promotional setting for school began in Auki yesterday and will continue until Friday this week.

Facilitator of the training, Mrs Nestor Rara Houmola who is a Health Promotional Officer at Kilu’ufi Hospital said the training was the first of its kind to be introduced for teachers in the province.

She said the training is an output of a partnership between Malaita provincial health and the provincial education office, in which a committee was established to pursue Health Promoting School (HPS) concept for schools in the province.

Houmola said under the HPS concept, the programme looks mainly at factors affecting health in schools.

“Like recently we piloted the concept at Town End Primary School in Auki which go along with the food healthy policy of the school.

“The schools had or will introduce similar kind of health policy for schools that look upon as action plan for implementations under the concept.

“Our general target is to ensure we work together with schools to achieve their action plans so it becomes a fully health promoting school.

“The process itself takes time for schools to achieve all the priority areas under the concept, but we’ll take one at a time and go on,” she said.

Houmola explained that the reason for training the teachers was they will be the vocal points out in the schools, as lot of the health programme will be implemented in schools under their dispose.

She said the HPS concept has planned for all schools in the province as it started rolled in the central region of the province.

CHEC celebrates achievement

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Invited Guests and CHEC Staff.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

Premier Veke, Supervising PS MID Virivolomo & a CHEC staff.

CHINA Harbour Engineering (SI) Company Ltd (CHEC) recently celebrated two occasions.

One for its third year in the Solomon Islands and the other is for the completion of the Transport Sector Flood Recovery Project.

Speaking on the occasion, Project Manager, Mr. Chen Xiongzheng says they have three projects in the Solomon Islands since 2015 and he thanked the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), Asian Development Bank (ADB), SMEC, LBS and all those that have assisted CHEC to carry out its work in the Solomon Islands.

“We have tried our best and we tried our best to finish the project in time. Finally we have made it and we thank you all for the tremendous support,” Chen says.

Chen says with their operation here, they have been very pleased to pass on their skills to locals especially in the operations department.

“We hope that in the future they can use the skills they learnt to work in other projects in other companies for the prosperity and development of Solomon Islands.”

Chen says at the same time they have tried their best to full fill their social obligation in the local communities as well. Now that they have achieved their goal, they are quite happy to work further with the government.

Meanwhile Guadalcanal Premier, Anthony Veke says all the projects awarded to China Harbour are on Guadalcanal.

“As a government, Guadalcanal see road development as the most important infrastructure”.

Veke says his government believes it is infrastructure that can boost the economy that will ensure growth in the villages and local communities.

“We can use those infrastructures to transport copra, to transport timbers, cocoa into town. And I believe those are very important for my local people,” Veke said.

Invited Guests and CHEC Staff.

He further recommended CHEC to the national government for future infrastructural work in the country.

At the same time, Mr Moses Virivolomo, Permanent Secretary (PS) of Ministry of Civil Aviation and supervising PS of Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) said, Solomon Islands will benefit from bringing more competition in infrastructure construction.

He says the ministry should bring more companies to compete in this sector.

“There are different way of doing things. Only when we allow others to come in more ideas, more innovations, competition brings down prices and a country like Solomon Islands still needs to grow.”

Virivolomo thanked CHEC for the work done and also thanked stakeholders in the TSFRP.

The Transport Sector Flood Recovery Project (TSFRP) was to restore socio-economic activities impacted by extreme rainfall and flash flood to pre-flood conditions and to provide disaster resilient roads and bridges through ‘building back better’ by rehabilitating and improving prioritised assets along the North East and North West roads of Guadalcanal province.

TSFRP is implemented by the Central Project Implementation Unit on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) as the executing agency.

Shipping industry decision on carbon emissions looms

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, quoting Radio New Zealand International – April 9, 2018, “Members of the International Maritime Organisation are divided on proposed targets to cut the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“The IMO will meet later this week in London where Pacific and European countries are seeking commitment to cut the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions 70-100 percent from 2008 levels by 2050.

“However a draft text circulating ahead of the meeting proposes only to half the industry’s carbon footprint by 2050.

“According to Climate Change News, countries such as Brazil, India and Saudi Arabia, are concerned about the impact of an absolute target on trade.

“But countries like Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Solomon Islands warn the 50 percent level undermines the UN Paris Climate Agreement goal to hold global warming “well below 2C” and aim for 1.5C.

“With this week’s emissions target deadline looming, the Marshalls’ environment minister David Paul said the IMO was at a crossroads.

“According to him, whatever decision is reached at the IMO is going to be crucial for survival of small island states which are vulnerable to sea level rise.” Copyright: RNZI 2018 (All Rights Reserved)

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

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