BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

THE Vonsa House of Chiefs held its first-ever forum at Vonunu Village in South Vella la Vella Island, Western Province.

The meeting convened chiefs and members from Uzamba to Muria, and leaders from the ward 7.

The forum is purposely to revive, discuss and re-enforce Vella la Vella cultural custom and activities and to draft a booklet for Vella la Vella Custom.

The opening ceremony was witnessed by Western province Premier Wayne Maepioh, MPA for ward 7 Christian Mesepitu, and other officials of the provincial government.

Mr Mesepitu welcomed Premier Maepioh and his delegates and thanked the various chiefs in attendance.

Mr Maepioh in his keynote address said that “culture is the lifeblood of a vibrant society, expressed in the many ways we tell our stories, celebrate, remember the past, entertain ourselves and imagine the future.

“Our creative expressions helps define who we are and help us see the World through the eyes of others.

“I believe people of Vella la Vella especially VOSA House of Chiefs participate in Culture in many was as audiences, professionals, amatures, volunteers and donors recognize the importance of culture believes.

“Culture provides important social and economic benefits and improves leaning and health, increased tolerance and opportunities to come together with others and culture enhances our quality of life and increases overall we-being for both individual and communities.

“Participating in culture can benefit individuals in many different ways, some of which are deeply personal and they are a source of delight and wonder and can provide emotionally, intellectually moving, experiences, whether pleasurable or unsettling that encourage celebration or contemplation of culture as mean of expressing.”

Maepioh said the outcomes of the forum will benefit the people of Vella la Vella Island, Western province and country as a whole.

Chairman of Vonsa House of Chiefs Frank Ozapitu thanked Premier Maepioh for gracing the gathering with his presence and extended his welcome to the various leaders who attended the programme.

By Tanny.E.Vahi

SOLOMON Islands national university (SINU) will today hold its third SINU 2018 Talk at the Kukum campus lecture theatre.

Administrative Officer Mrs Lisa said the presentation will be on ‘Tulagi – the Pacific Outpost of the British Empire’ which is conducted by Emeritus Professor Clive Moore, beginning at 5pm to 6pm.

Mr Moore is based at the University of Queensland where he previously held the McCaughey Chair of History, is leading the Pacific Historian and whose major publications have been on New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, the Pacific labour reserve, Australia’s Pacific Island immigrants, and federation and is the author or editor of several leading studies of Solomon Island.

Tulagi was the capital of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate from the early 1897 to 1942.

It was an enclave of three islands, Tulagi, Gavutu and Makambo, with the addition of the Anglican headquarters at Taraoniara across the harbour from the late 1930s.

Then the Second World War erased 45 years of history, and in 1945 the decision was made to move the capital to Honiara.

Tulagi was once the only town that Solomon Islands knew, and the source of all government actions. This illustrated lecture will provide a history of small Tulagi and of its European, Chinese and Solomon Islander residents.

SINU welcomes all participants to the talk.

By Tanny.E.Vahi.

THE Live & Learn and the water authority will be celebrating the World Water Day today at the ITA Hardware area.

The World Water Day is about focusing attention on the importance of water with the theme, ‘Nature for Water’, explores nature-based solutions (NBS) to the water challenges we face in this century.

The campaign is called ‘The answer is in nature’ and raises awareness of NBS.

The central message is that NBS, such as planting trees to replenish forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, and restoring wetlands, is a sustainable and cost-effective way to help rebalance the water cycle, mitigate the effects of climate change and improve human health and livelihoods.

By using NBS to help meet the water needs of a growing population, we will contribute to the creation of a circular economy, at the same time as helping to protect the natural environment and reduce pollution – both key targets in Sustainable Development, which commits the world to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

The global demand for water has been increasing at a high rate per year over the past decades as a function of population growth, economic development and changing consumption patterns, among other factors, and it will continue to grow significantly over the foreseeable future.

Industrial and domestic demand for water will increase much faster than agricultural demand, although agriculture will remain the largest user overall.

The vast majority of the growth in demand for water will occur in countries with developing or emerging economies.

At the same time, the global water cycle is intensifying due to climate change, with wetter regions generally becoming wetter and drier regions becoming even drier.

The United Nations World Water Development Report, Nature-based Solutions for Water, launched March 19, 2018 during the 8th World Water Forum, and in conjunction to the World Water Day, demonstrates how nature‐based solutions (NBS) offer a vital means of moving beyond business as usual to address many of the world’s water challenges while simultaneously delivering additional benefits vital to all aspects of sustainable development.

NBS use natural processes to enhance water availability, groundwater recharge, improve water quality, riparian buffer strips, and reduce risks associated with water‐related disasters and climate change.

Currently, water management remains heavily dominated by traditional, human‐built infrastructure and the enormous potential for NBS remains under‐utilised.

NBS include green infrastructure that can substitute, augment or work in parallel with grey infrastructure in a cost‐effective manner.

The goal is to find the most appropriate blend of green and grey investments to maximise benefits and system efficiency while minimising costs and trade‐offs.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

GHOMBUA Community High School in East Guadalcanal are pleased receive a $508,022.32 from the Embassy of Japan to Solomon Islands in aid of the project to build its classrooms.

The Grassroots and Human Security Project grant contract signing was done between the Japanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands Mr Kinichi Kimiya and Head teacher of Tenakoga Primary school Mr Noel Saghapoa at the Embassy of Japan office 4th floor, Tongs building Point Cruz in Honiara.

Speaking during the signing yesterday, Mr Kimiya said supporting basic education through has been a priority of the grassroots and human security scheme in Solomon Islands though the construction of school facilities such as classrooms for students.

“I would like to congratulate you [Ghombua Community High School] on this official approval and wish to see the successful completion of your project together in the near future resulting in composing cordial relationship between Japan and Solomon Islands,” he said.

Representative of the school thanked the people and government of Japan for the assistance, which is described as historic for the community – the first of its kind.

“We are prepared to carry out the full task of building the classroom and to complete within the time frame given not merely because the project requirements but it is our urgent need to ensure our high school starts next year 2019.

“Therefore we would like to give a very big thank you to your [Embassy of Japan to Solomon Islands] office and the government of Japan for making our dreams come through,” he said.

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

A two-week training for catechists within Malaita’s central region has ended successfully yesterday at Dala north community in west Kwara’ae.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, central region mission secretary (RMS) Mr Matthias Basale said more than 100 catechists serving in the central region under the Anglican diocese of Malaita attended the training known as block-two courses.

“Catechists from Buma parish in west Kwara’ae to Sisifiu parish in West Fataleka were attending the two weeks of training at Dala.

“The catechists were also completed block 1 courses last September at Sisifiu and they are preparing to undergo block three by September this year.”

The courses include, leader and his prayer life, leader and his caring and healing ministry, leader and teaching ministry, making disciples through the cell groups level 2, biblical preaching Lagham approach level 2, biblical stewardship level 2, mindset transformation and leadership level 2 and good governance leadership level 2.

Basale thanked the diocesan staffs and the diocesan Bishop, Sam Sahu, for facilitating the training.

Secretary of the Anglican diocese of Malaita, Anthony Maelasi highlighted that the central region is the first to undergo both blocks 1 and 2 training.

He said the courses train the catechists on their roles and responsibilities in their communities.

Maelasi said, “You will carry out what you have learnt here and do the same work that the apostles have done in the early church ministry.

“You will be responsible to work and preach the word of God to all people you are serving and bring them God.

“You will face challenges but seek God first in all your missions and your pastoral care as a catechist in your communities, parishes, region and the diocese as a whole.”