BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE Solomon Islands Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology Capacity Development Project (SIMCAP) is eyeing implementing the second phase of the project.

This was disclosed last week during the wrapped-up event of its first phase in Honiara.

Speaking during the end event Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) Dr Melchior Mataki said the ministry is planning to implement the second phase of the project.

He said however it was planned differently and there is still a need to work on its details and commitment towards its implementation to make it done.

Ms Asuza Kubota country manager of United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) said the second phase requires collaborative partnership.

“This partnership would likely focusing on horizontal partnership across every line ministries, provincial level and as well as community levels.

“And hopefully one way other we’ll take it forward, consolidate it and take to another stage in terms of its operation,” she said.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) Dr Melchior Mataki has highlighted the strategies divisions under the ministry will work on over the next three years (2018-2020).

He said there are a number of strategies each of the divisions under this ministry will work to achieve within the three years.

The divisions are environment, climate change, meteorology, disaster management and corporate.

Mataki said the division of environment is responsible for promoting biodiversity conservation management and restoration of the Solomon Islands environment; protect ecosystems, biodiversity and endemic and threatened plant and animal species; oversea, manage and control prescribed development, manage effectively waste and pollution, and to administer and implement terrestrial and marine international , regional and sector environmental agreements and conventions.

“Climate Change division with a duty of developing and monitor and implement climate change policies and legislations, promote and implement Climate change adaptation and mitigation activities, enhance participation, coordination and implementation of activities under international obligations and commitments.

“Also meteorology has been given responsibilities in regards to strengthening public and marine weather services improve and expand aviation weather services, develop and implement national frame work on climate change services, develop and operationalise a multi-hazard early warning system, improved weather and ocean observation system and research and capacity development.”

He said the disaster management division besides having four of its tasks to carry out to strengthen institutional, administrative and financial capacity of the National Disaster Management Office including establishment of robust infrastructure to carry out its mandate, foster governance framework for effective and inclusive management of disaster across all sectors, set standard in terms of preparedness across all sectors and to have timely response to community concerning mechanisms.

Mataki said Corporate with the schemes of monitoring of legislative frame work tagged to MECDM, managing integrated planning process, strengthening the ministry’s financial arm, enhance human resources and to strengthened the organisational capability.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

KOKEGOLO CHS and Primary Division ‘Religious Day’ has successfully ended with prize presentation at Kokegolo United Church building, Munda in Western province.

The theme for this year’s day is ‘Children are a gift from the lord’.

Kokegolo CHS Principal Mr Danarae Hitu acknowledged the Soltuna Company Limited and NFD for donating five cartons of Taiyo and four bags of fish to support the student’s meal during their school programme.

He said Kokegolo CHS is the core major sponsors for prizes and other expenses for both secondary and primary division students.

“We are the leading school and we will continue to support the school activities but we need other schools to take part next year.

“I would like thank all my hardworking staffs, School Committees, School Bursar and students for the hard work and commitment shown during the Religious Day until now.

“Students have really enjoying and learn spiritual activities in school and I would like to call on parents and guidance to support our children to build their relationship with Christ.”

Hitu encourages other Wesley United Church mission schools to take part and participate in next year’s event.

He said the school is now growing in its number of students, and he expects that next year the number of programmes will likewise increase.

He also thanked parents for their support and encourages them to continue with their good leadership at the home.

Hitu said the school will resume on April 16, 2018. Therefore he advised all the students to return to school before next week.

Kokegolo School Chaplain Rev Morris Tanapa acknowledged student behaviour and performances during the Day’s programme.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

WESTERN Province Premier Wayne Maepioh says the Western provincial government will continue to support development in the social sector in the province.

Mr Maepioh said his government will rehabilitate dilapidated classrooms, clinics, staff houses and schools in the province.

Maepioh, speaking during the second meeting of the Western Provincial Assembly recently at the Gizo Women Resource Center in Western province, said “My government will also continue to provide trainings for our officers in this sector to ensure we deliver high quality services to the people in Western Province.

“I would like to acknowledge teachers, nurses and doctors who have continued to provide services in schools, clinics and hospitals in Western province.

“Despite of the limited resources and deteriorating facilities we have and your commitments ensured that our people and our children continue to be provided these services.”

Maepioh added that all the contributions that women of Western province have given towards the advancement of the province have been noted by his government.

He adds that his government will continue to support the women of the province in any way they can.

BY SAMIE WAKORI

Auki

MALAITA Province must consider putting in place an effective mechanism to stimulate broader revenue collection across the province.

Senior Revenue Officer of Revenue Division under the Provincial Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Mr Johnson Houma said this is a crucial area to pin-down work on, if province really wants to improve on its revenue collection.

In a recent interview he suggested that a strategy was once used by the province way back in the 1990s that need to be reconsidered.

“Way back 1990s, the province had its revenue collection offices in the sub-stations across the province.

“They include in Afio (southern region), Atori (eastern region), Malu’u (northern region) and the provincial town Auki.

“The establishment of these offices, made it easy to carry-out revenue collection across the province during those days.

“There were challenges experienced as I was one of the revenue officer manning sub-station offices in the province,” Houma said.

He said difficulty faced covered lot of areas, but even then revenue was collected in rural areas.

“Unlike now, the focus of revenue collection is on businesses operating in Auki and major business operations across the province.

“The province never go as far as collecting revenue or to ensure small businesses like canteens or others in the rural areas to pay their business licenses which used to before,” Houma said

He said this was an area of concern for the province and it must work towards addressing it.

Houma said the province won’t just expect businesses across the province to come forward and registered their business or pay-up revenues.

He said nobody or businesses especially small businesses will do that unless a mechanism in-place to regulate it.

Houma stressed that it’s an area of great need for the province and proper devise must exist to encourage broader revenue collection across then province.