BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SOLOMON Islands students of the Australia scholarship alumni celebrated their achievements on Tuesday this week.

The gathering at the Heritage Park Hotel brought together the Prime Minister and his office staff, Australia High Commissioner and alumni students.

The event also coincided with the launching of Professor Clive Moore’s book.

The event is celebrated under the theme “Leadership”.

Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela in his remarks said Solomon Islands over the years has benefitted much from the Australia Scholarship Awards scheme.

He said the scheme has enhanced long term development needs of Solomon Islands through opportunity to undertake studies, research and professional development in Australia and the Pacific.

PM Hou is also a member of the alumni, having been a scholarship recipient himself 27 years ago to undertake studies in Australia.

Hou encouraged the group that leadership is not only necessary in the government sector, but in all social institutions, spheres and levels of society.

“All of you sitting here tonight are a leader in your own right inclusive of your social standing, career path and place of residence,” Hou said.

“Therefore, granted that this is the case today in Solomon Islands, the question arises as to what kind of leadership then do we need for Solomon Islands today?

“For me the ideal national political leader for Solomon Islands in the twenty-first century is characterised by three essential qualities which are visionary, tactfulness and modesty, and I would summarise these qualities as ‘strategic leadership’.

“To me politics is all about negotiations, and this entails being sharp with your negotiations skills, but most importantly being prepared to compromise.

“So whether at the party Caucuses or in Cabinet or on the floor of Parliament, this principle remains.

“Whether in introducing a policy or a new legislation, it requires negotiation skills.

“In the case of Solomon Islands introducing new policy can be quite difficult to forge the necessary support.

“Upon my appointment as the Prime Minister I was advised that my primary role is to coordinate the line ministries and their functions.

“As young emerging leaders you will agree with me that Solomon Islands is calling for new national political leadership.

“Be the agent for change that is needed now, and be the solution that tomorrow needs. You cannot be the game changer by watching as a spectator. You cannot cause the necessary change by complaining from outside.”

Hou thanked the Government and people of Australia for their continued generosity in providing such an esteemed opportunity.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

SIX visiting individuals from the United States of America (USA) through the Plan International Programme in Solomon Islands are pleased to see the Solomon Islands Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) engaged in the recycling programme.

The visitors, three males and three females, are here for the YWCA recycling programme called the ‘Y’s Eyes’.

Speaking during a one-hour session with YWCA staffs, they expressed being impressed that some organisations in the country are paying attention to the importance of recycling in combatting a struggling environment.

General Secretary of SI YWCA Mrs Jocelyn Lai welcomed the visitors, saying that the country’s YWCA is pleased to receive them.

“I would say as far as I know this is the first cohort of foreigners who have interested and curios to know the ongoing recycling programme YWCA has in place.

“It is good to have this kind of activities practiced in our Ministries, organisations, societies and family because it did contribute to the positive impact of our environment,” said Lai.

POLICE at the Naha Police Station in East Honiara are investigating a stabbing incident at Green Valley on March 18, 2018 involving two females.

“It was alleged the suspect attacked the victim and stabbed her on her stomach and she sustained injuries. She was then transported to the National Referral Hospital for medical treatment,” says Provincial Police Commander, Honiara City, Chief superintendent Alfred Uiga.

“Investigations are currently underway and I call on both parties not to take the law in their own hands but let the Police do their job.

“I call on the suspect to surrender herself to Police and for any witnesses to the incident to come forward and assist police.”

Naha Police can be contacted on phone 39608 or 39647.

–POLICE MEDIA

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

ONE of the main activities of the Malaita Provincial Council of Women is home-care for victims of all forms of abuse in the province.

Vice President Ms Martha Rurai shares this with Island Sun yesterday as they are gearing to elect the council’s new executive today.

She said since the establishment of MPCW in 2014, providing “safe home” for victims has been one of the organisation’s priorities.

“As far as I know we provided care for victims of rape, child abuse, negligent of child and other forms of abuse.

“But most of the victims we dealt with are women and children who have been wounded of domestic violence.

“We liaise with the Family Support Centre in Honiara and together we provide areas like counseling and almost all care for the victim until recovery,” Rurai said.

She said the work is really challenging and women to deal with those sensitive issues.

“With the challenge we faced in the work our call is for all people in the province to have great care to their families and other people,” Rurai said.

She pointed out that people must try to understand their responsibility and work together to address issues relating to abuse and domestic violence in the community.

Rurai thanks the inter-denomination groups, donors, communities, families and individuals for their support towards the organisation.

She also acknowledged the police for recognising the role they play in executing their work, and the provincial government for support.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

ELDERLY people of Guadalcanal Plains do not have to worry about having to travel to a clinic anymore thanks to Sape Private Medical Clinic which is bringing the services to their doorsteps.

Director and owner, Dr Paulson Bosawai Popora of Sape village in North Guadalcanal stated that they provide high quality medical services and free community services for the much older group of people and those with special needs.

He stressed that they have taken up a specialty called “Geriatric Medicine” which focusses on the health care of elderly people.

On that note, Mr Popora explained that the medical centre aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older adults.

“This includes visiting older and special needs to their homes to provide health care. The team understands that geriatric medicine is complex in its approach, but we would want to start making a difference for the lives of our older people who cannot physically be present to our clinic,” he said

Popora explained that the objectives of providing this service is to enrich their older people with high quality health and well-being, bring their quality health care practice to the doorsteps of the older adults and special needs, to create a medical practice that will exceed older patients expectations, to provide high quality health care to elderly adults around Guadalcanal Plains and Solomon Islands and lastly to create a wider health care for the older people as part of the clinic community service.

He furthers that the approach they taken in this service includes collecting names and locations of older adults, visiting communities once a month and hosting health talks followed by visits on Sundays.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

THE Makira Ulawa Provincial Government is working towards the interest of establishing growing the province’s production sector.

Premier Stanley Siapu said his government has set up a taskforce to work closely with landowners and land trustees to carry out scoping and prefeasibility on areas to be pursued under the interest.

He said the targeted areas include agriculture (which looks at livestock and coconut rehabilitation), forestry, fisheries and tourism and culture.

“The focus is on former coconut plantations which are registered and entrusted to some landowners, communities and the Commissioner of Lands.

“MPUG sees the opportunity and potential in reviving and rehabilitating these old coconut plantations for replanting.

“The rationale is coconut industry is decreasing in productivity due to aging and decline in coconut trees.

“And there has never been any major new planting or replanting of coconuts in old, new and current coconut plantations,” Mr Siapu said.

He added that under the initiative his government is also working on reviving the cattle industry.

“We will also explore the possibility of tethering to ensure families participate as well in the cattle industry with one or two heads of cattle tethered,” Siapu said.

He said his government will also explore the idea of offering land for a research station or demonstration farm, as there is no national research station or demonstration farm in place in the country.

Adding that his government will work with landowners to revive the onion farm at Hauratarata, Marou Bay in West Makira.

He said another area they will pursue is the idea of establishing tourist resorts in some of the potential areas within the province.

“The potential to promote tourism in our province lies in traditional, culture and custom and wild life as well as potential avenues yet to be tapped,” he said.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

MALATA provincial police has proposed a two-day awareness talk to communities in ward 24 in West Are’are, Malaita province.

Malaita Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Mr Timothy Apaesi told this paper yesterday that the talk is set for mid next month.

He said the awareness talk will be on the Crime Prevention Strategy (CRS) and Community Policing (CP) to communities of Pipisu and surroundings.

Mr Apaesi said the talk will cover important areas under the CRS and CP that help people to understand their responsibilities in keeping law and order in their communities.

He said the talk will also enlighten the communities on how they should work together with police to tackle anti-social behaviours in the communities.

Apaesi said his office proposed the talk upon a request made by communities for police to carry out awareness talks in their areas.

He said his office has drawn up a similar programme for the province this year, and will soon implement it.

In response to a number of calls for effective policing in the province, Apaesi said resource is the main problem police in Malaita is facing.

He said in the province there are four police stations; Malu’u, Atori and Maka including Auki and Atoifi police post in East Kwaio.

“We have staff looking after them where they’ve been responsible for various parts in the province.

“Thus, by looking at infrastructure, accessibility of road only at certain parts of the province.

“So the appropriate mean of transport we can reach almost everywhere is by sea transport.”

He explained fuel is also often a problem which pops up regularly since they depend on funds for it.