THE Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey (MLHS) is in the process of converting temporary occupation licence (TOL) to fixed term estates (FTE).
The process is good news for TOL holders. Among other things, this process will give TOL holders the ability to secure loans from any commercial bank using the FTE title as security.
Appearing before the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) last week, MLHS’s Permanent Secretary, Stanley Wale confirmed this.
Mr Wale said so far their Ministry has converted about 300 TOL to FTE.
He said their Ministry is expected to deal with close to 3,000 TOL.
Wale said there are about 37 squatters or illegal settlements inside Honiara city boundary.
He said illegal squatting is a “big problem” the Ministry continues to face.
“Illegal squatter is all over Honiara,” Wale said.
The Land Board is the body within the Ministry that approves application for FTE.
The Commissioner of Lands, Nelson Naoapu, did not attend the PAC hearing because he was attending an important meeting that day.
FOR the first time, leaders of Koa Hill community in Central Honiara have agreed to work closely with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).
RSIPF’s Director of National Prevention Centre, Solomon Sisimia, said the community’s reaching out to them is historic.
Mr Sisimia said Koa Hill is one of the communities inside Honiara city the RSIPF has difficulty working in.
He said the desire expressed by leaders of the community to start a working relation with them is welcoming.
The relationship started after an incident in the community recently involving members of the RSIPF’s Police Response Team (PRT) and community youths.
When PRT officers entered the community and raided a home that was producing illegal spirit (kwaso), they were stoned by community youths. Two PRT members were injured as a result.
The incident leads to community leaders voluntarily coming out and asking the RSIPF to accept compensation for the action of their youths and to accept their wish to work closely with the police.
Their requests were granted. The first part of the request was done when leaders of the community presented traditional shell money to the injured officers and to their division.
For the second part of their request, community leaders have asked the RSIPF to produce a standard community by-law for their community.
A community leader, Charles Fakaia said having a set of law in their community will help them to maintain peace and order in their community.
Mr Fakaia said the incident is a turning point for their community as they don’t want to have any more issue with the police.
He said youths in their community are ones who bring problems to their community, yet elders and children are the ones affected.
In accepting the request to work in partnership with the community, Provincial Police Commander (PPC) for Honiara City, Alfred Uiga, has provided a list carrying names of youths who were implicated during the incident to leaders of the community.
Mr Uiga said he trusts community leaders will hand those whose names are on the list given to them.
He said those implicated in the incident must come before the courts.
Uiga said if they failed police will continue to show up in their community and look for them and that the crimes they committed will get severe.
All SIG-sponsored students’ stipends reduced by 50 percent in 2018
By Alfred Sasako
HUNDREDS of Government-sponsored students studying overseas will be the first victims of savage budget cuts being announced this week.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Manasseh Sogavare is expected to hand down the 2018 National Budget when Parliament resumes later this morning after a week-long adjournment.
“Cuts of as much as fifty percent across the board in student allowances form large cuts being meted out to other government sectors,” sources told Island Sun over the weekend.
Students studying at AMA University in the Philippines will be the first to feel the pinch from the government’s razor gang. A 50 percent cut in their allowances will start next week, sources told Island Sun.
The number of students studying at AMA this year is not known.
Media reports said the Government spent $130 million to cover the scholarships of the 512 students studying at AMA last year.
Government-sponsored students studying in other tertiary institutions such as the Laucala Campus at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Fiji, the Emalus Campus Law School in Vanuatu and similar institutions in the region will suffer the same fate.
Details of their cuts are being worked out, the sources said.
But it does not stop there, according to sources.
Government-sponsored students at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) as well as those studying at USP’s Solomon Islands Campus would also have their allowances slashed by half.
Up to 100 public servants undertaking in-service training locally would also be affected. They have been told that they may have to wait until June before they could collect their allowances.
Some say the Government has withdrawn a number of entitlements including rentals after they had signed their contracts with the government.
Students studying at SINU and USP Honiara Campuses are expected to meet later this week to consider the implications of the budget cuts on their studies.
The cuts are not confined to students’ welfare.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is facing a $33 million cut in its allocation this year. Permanent Secretary Tenneth Dalipada told the Public Accounts Committee last week the decrease in its development budget allocation would “exert considerable pressure on service delivery,” according to a report carried by the Solomon Islands’ Broadcasting Corporation last week.
Provincial governments have also cried foul after being told their provincial grants in the 2018 are being halved.
The cuts have forced the Western Provincial Government to threaten breakaway from the rest of the country.
Premier Wayne Maepioh told Island Sun last week his government and his people have reached “a point of no return” in the process of seeking a solution to manage their own affairs.
“You can’t keep cutting our grants and at the same time expect us to delivery services to the people,” Premier Maepio told Island Sun at the weekend.
Tumurora Primary School reps with Officers from the Japanese Embassy office
By Tanny.E.Vahi
THE Japanese Embassy has added to their growing list of assistance by issuing out two grants which will go towards boosting infrastructure development in two communities in the Solomon Islands.
The recipients are; the project for Loimuni rural health clinic infrastructure, and the project for construction of classroom building for Tumurora Primary School and Kindergarten.
In his opening remarks the Ambassador of Japan his Excellency Mr Kenichi Kimiya expresses his official approval of the projects which were submitted to them in August 2016 and May 2017 respectively.
He reiterated Japan’s commitment to contributing towards the development of Solomon Islands, especially through infrastructure.
“On behalf of the Japanese Government, we are very pleased to contribute to the development for the people of Solomon Islands.
“I would like to emphasise that today is just the beginning for you to start implementing these projects properly, while keeping in your mind that this is a present from the Japanese taxpayers.”
Tumurora Primary School reps with Officers from the Japanese Embassy office
Mr Kimiya said the priority areas of the Grassroots and Human Security Scheme in the Solomon Islands is through supporting health environment through the construction of health facilities for rural areas and construction of school facilities such as classrooms for students.
“As per priority area of our assistance under the Grassroots and Human Security Scheme in the Solomon Islands, we believe that this project will have positive impacts on the development of human resources in Solomon Islands.
“Whilst, the building of the classroom buildings for Tumurora Primary School and provision of the Health Facilities/infrastructure for Loimuni will play a key role in the development of human resources in the Solomon Islands.”
Loimuni Rural Health clinic infrastructure reps with Officers from the Japanese Embassy office
Responding to Kimiya, representatives of the two recipient organisations, Dr Lazarus De Neko, Provincial Health Director of Choiseul Provincial Health Services and Stephen Panga, spokesman for Tumurora Primary School, sincerely acknowledges the Embassy and the Government and People of Japan.
“Those of us present here are the key people who will assist in driving these projects and it is our pleasure to introduce them.
“The chiefs and elders of our communities are very happy to hear of the projects approval and on our return, we will do awareness to tell people of the help Japan has given and to mobilise community support,” they said.
MARY of Assumption sisters will make their first vows on March 26 at the Nazareth Apostolic Centre at Tenaru and Archbishop Christopher Michael Cardone op will celebrate the Holy Eucharist.
This is according to Catholic Church media officer, Mr Joe Vidiki who expressed that Sisters Judith Roko and Agnes Kaora had completed three years of formation after undergoing studies at NAC Tenaru.
Shedding light on their journey, he said that they began their mission at Ruavatu parish and were later transferred to Nazareth Apostolic Centre (NAC) at Tenaru.
Mr Vidiki said that since then, they have assisted in the formation of lay catechists, Sunday school teachers, pre-seminarian students and also reached out to seminarians as well as to women and men’s groups.
“The mission work was great, the experience with people was so deep and the call is so compelling. So they dare to begin the formation of our young local women who also dared to entrust their lives to participate in the mission of the church,”, he said.
Vidiki added that the theme of the Eucharist celebration is “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”.
“Archbishop Michael Cardone op will be at NAC Tenaru for the Eucharistic celebration and preside the first vows of the two first Mary of Assumption local sisters. Sisters Judith Roko (ma) of Tamboko Tanagai parish and Agnes Kaora of Makina parish (Marau sound),”,he said.
HONIARA’S main street was paraded yesterday to mark “World Water Day” based on the theme ‘Clean Environment for Clean Water’.
Speaking at the celebrations, Leonard Olivera Director (Ag) Environmental Health of the Ministry of Health (MHMS) said that the theme is in line with the ministry’s vision, mission, and value.
“The vision is ‘Safe water for a healthy nation’, its mission is to ‘provide safe and reliable water services in our areas of operations in Solomon Islands’, and the value is ‘our people’s health is our passion and every ones business’ in the Solomon Islands.”
He stressed that proper sanitation and improving the use will contribute significantly to the vision, mission and value of the Solomon Water with relations to the Environment.
“We all know that good sanitation is vital for human health, it helps take care of the environment and it generates economic benefits and also contributes to human dignity and social development,” he said.
“Solomon Islands is no exemption to issues relating to poor water supply as protection of good quality supply catchment is essential in guaranteeing the supply of good quality and safe water, as well an unprotected water supply catchment could lead to contamination of water supply.
“This maybe of our ancestors but with the increasing population, the need to address sanitation is becoming a pressing issue.”
He also mentioned that health issues relating to improper human waste disposal is still a challenge and “it is a need to seriously look into rural sanitation and water programmes”.
The day was marked by workers from the Ministry and various primary schools especially the Live & Learn groups and people living in and around Honiara.
MPCW committee members, front row (L-R) Janet Lulu (treasurer), Relmah Geli (vice president), Martha Rurai (President) Back. Lily
Lufi (member) and Alice Teioli (member) missing Cathy Pearson (member).
BY GEORGE MANFORD
AUKI
THE Malaita Provincial Council of Women (MPCW) is looking forward to new heights after its general election of new members yesterday.
According to newly elected president Mrs Martha Rurai, “My committee will positively try our best to work together with all women’s organisation throughout malaita province.
“The former council committee has already established six women association groups in six wards within malaita province.
“Our aim is to set up associations in all the 33 wards in malaita especially to address issues and development plans for women.
MPCW committee members, front row (L-R) Janet Lulu (treasurer), Relmah Geli (vice president), Martha Rurai (President) Back. Lily Lufi (member) and Alice Teioli (member) missing Cathy Pearson (member).
“As a leader to bring women together is not easy but through corporation and commitments our plans and visions will be easily implemented.
“One of our priorities that will be prioritised is to fully establish the connection with our provincial government.
“We will build our relationship (MPCW) through every ward in malaita province and with the Malaita provincial government.”
Mrs Rurai said the new executive has Malaita and its women at heart, and will carry out their duties faithfully.
“We will also to try and train women in Malaita in taking up high responsibilities in all aspects of life concerning women’s issues.
“The MPCW is also looking forward for any future international programmes organised must be channel through the MPCW,” Rurai said.
MPCW is the umbrella body of all women association groups in Malaita; and, any future organised programmes will be made known to the MPCW.
Rurai highlighted that the newly elected committee will be looking at developing their plot of land in Auki where the current centre is located to generate income to support the work of women in the province.
“We believe and hope all association women’s groups will work together with the MPCW to formulate our province for the betterment of all women in Malaita.”
A two-day forum for provincial women leaders on Temporary Special Measures (TSM) has concluded yesterday. Bringing in women from Western, Malaita, Guadalcanal and Honiara, the conclusion of the forum saw the emergence of a communique that will set the platform for the proposed inclusion of TSM in to the Provincial Government Act (PGA) that is in the process of amendments.
Speaking at the closing of the dialogue yesterday, Director Women Desk Division, Pauline Soaki says this achievement came about from the hard work and dedication from different stakeholders namely Women Rights Action Movement (WRAM) and National Council of Women (NCW) with support from the provincial governments, the national government through funding and technical support from the different UN agencies namely UN Women, UNDP through their projects UNPBF and SECSIP.
WDD Director, Pauline Soaki
Mrs Soaki in her closing remarks reiterated the comments made by Permanent Secretary Dr Cedric Alependava on the quote, ‘a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’.
“This is just the beginning for us and we are now starting our journey and the road ahead will be tough, but we must not give up,” Soaki says.
Soaki said women from the provinces must be commended for the dedication to ensure this gets underway. Also she said the Western Provincial Government must be commended for taking the leading role in supporting the TSM in the provincial level.
“We are grateful for the Western provincial government who had brought the issue of TSM back to life when it was turned down. Had they been quiet, we wouldn’t see the light of TSM now in the provincial level,” Soaki said.
“If it is implemented, Western Province will become the first province in Solomon Islands to adopt such a measure,” Premier Maepioh has said in December 2017.
Meanwhile during his talk to the women leaders during the opening ceremony, Mr Alependava revealed that women in leadership and political representation is a priority outcome for the government.
“Articulated in the gender equality and Women’s Development Policy, this is aligned to the National Development Strategy 2016 – 2035,” Alependava has said.
Alependava in his speech also cited a clause from the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) where it said ‘adoption by States Parties of temporary special measures aimed at accelerating de facto equality between men and women shall not be considered discrimination as defined in the present Convention, but shall in no way entail as a consequence the maintenance of unequal or separate standards’.
He says there are two types of TSM which have been used globally to promote women’s representation: reserved seat quotas and political party or candidate quotas.
“Our dialogue and focus is on the reserve seat quotas.”
Women representatives signing the communique
With the focus on reserve seats, the women leaders are now strongly calling for Elected Reserved Seats (ERS) for women.
“This may include clustering of wards and provision for review of current ballot structure,” the communique said.
Meanwhile, the women are committed to work together in support of women’s participation and representation in the political arena.
Contained in the recent communique also, Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs (MWYCA) will act on behalf of the women representation to take this call to the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) including other stakeholders to make sure TSM is included.
The forum concluded on a high note with the UN Women representative thanking all the participants for their time and commitment to ensure women’s voices are being heard.
OFFICERS of the Pay School Fees Digitally using ANZ goMoney project are conducting an awareness on affordable paying of school fees and savings at the Honiara public places this week.
The programme lets public aware that parents can now pay school fees conveniently using ANZ goMoney, the mobile banking platform of ANZ in collaboration with PFIP and Premiere Group of Companies.
The Pay School Fees Digitally using ANZ goMoney project is designed to address challenges parents face with extensive traveling with money, which is too expensive and risky.
Now, things are safe, convenient and affordable with ANZ goMoney mobile banking.
ANZ officer help customer
On Wednesday and Thursday this week public awareness was held at the HCC’s headquarter and the central market which attracted many parents and individuals who created new accounts, collected forms and sought information.
Promotional activities continue today at the Honiara Central Market, and interested parents, students and individuals are welcome to create accounts using goMoney mobile banking.
Manager of goMoney, Mrs Elizabeth Sodu said Pay School Digitally using ANZ goMoney is a pilot project of ANZ’s joint venture with Pacific Financial Inclusive Programme (PFIP) and Premier Group of Companies.
She said they have already piloted it at King George School and St Nicholas School.
Sodu said if the pilot project is successful in these schools they will extend it other schools in the provinces.
goMoney Officer distribute information on broacher to interested customer
“Our idea is by six-month time we should add many Schools inside our target of 29 schools to reach throughout Solomon Islands,” Sodu said.
PFIP-UN CDF Project Coordinator Hilary Vanderwey said the purpose of the initiative is to ease parents’ difficulties in traveling with money.
She said now parents can transfer money through ANZ goMoney mobile banking without having to travel around with huge quantities of money, which is dangerous.
Ms Hilary said such initiative paves a pathway for parents to stay in the provinces and pay money through an agent in mobile banking and then transferring directly to the school.
“They don’t have to travel to Honiara and the money doesn’t have to travel through dangerous means of travel,” Hilary said.
Officers of the Pay School Fees Digitally using ANZ goMoney project pictured in group photo during their outdoor activity held near HCC compound.
Managing Director of Premier Mobile Money and Digital Financial Services, Mrs Julie Haro said the idea to bank digitally is a great initiative that will help everyone.
“If we look at it, children will go to school without interruption and parents can still do their income generating because they planning for it when to pay for School fees,” Haro said.
Currently, ANZ has a total 46,000 goMoney customers and the project aims to reach 29 schools in the Solomon Islands by 2019’s end.
THE Malaita Provincial Council Women (MPCW) has yesterday elected its new president and executive.
She is Martha Rurai, the former vice president of the MPCW from 2015 to 2018.
The presidency election has been contested by three candidates.
She polled 54 votes ahead of Alice Teioli with 44 votes, while Relmah Geli polled 9 votes.
A total of 107 women took part in the voting process.
Mrs Rurai is an experienced woman in the leadership role, having worked with other women’s group in the church and private sectors.
She was first joined and took up leadership with the Mothers Union (MU) worldwide organisation under the Anglican diocese of Malaita as a Mother’s Union worker from 2002 to 2011.
Her work as a MU worker dealt mainly with issues concerning women around Malaita and around the world and even attending the highest conferences in England representing the MU of the Anglican diocese of Malaita.
Rurai then joined the MPCW in 2011 and was elected the first president of Malaita council of women.
In 2015 she was elected as vice president; and in 2018 she is elected once more to take up the presidency post for the second time in three consecutive AGM meetings.
The MPCW elected members are, president, Mrs Martha Rurai, vice president Mrs Relmah Geli, Secretary Mrs Jessie Sogote’e, and Treasurer Janet Lulu, ordinary members Lily Lufi, Cathy Pearson and Alice Teioli.
The election took place at the malaita women’s centre during its 3rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) which ended yesterday.
