SOLOMON Islands joined more than 180 countries from five continents in Berlin last week for a three-day showcasing on the country’s tourist destination.
Ms Helen Aumae from Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau represented Solomon Islands in the world leading Travel Trade Show called ITB Berlin.
At the ITB Berlin event, Ms Aumae exhibited Solomon Islands by showcasing information about Solomon Islands through prepared promotional materials.
According to Aumae, 2018 ITB Berlin Trade Fair event has increased awareness and visibility of Solomon Islands to the European market.
She is a SIVB Officer who looks after Europe countries, and participating in the ITB Berlin will contribute towards Solomon Islands’ market to Europe.
The ITB Berlin Travel Trade show convened 1000 qualified top buyers, 10,000 exhibitors, 28,000 convention visitors and 109 trade visitors.
Total visitors attending the 2018 ITB Berlin Trade Fair event is 160, which gives Solomon Islands a good head-start in the European market.
ITB Berlin is the leading Travel Trade show and is the foremost business platform for global touristic offers.
Meanwhile, Aumae has spent three days in Berlin from March 7 – 11. She arrived back in Honiara over the weekend.
More update on her trip will be featured this Friday on the Island Sun tourism page.
Information pack about Solomon IslandsGroup photo of Helen with other tourism officersMs Helen Aumae in Berlin with other participants at the 2018 ITB Berlin Trade Fair eventOne of the visitors impressed with Solomon designSolomon Islands is promoted through basket at the ITB Berlin fair trade and exhibitionTwo visitors hold SIVB magazine and business card which they have clear information about Solomon Islands
Members of the MAC Fest 2018 NOC - Left-Right - Chairman Andrew Nihopara - Vice-Chair Moses Tepai - Secretary Lilly Tinoni - Head Finance Denty Tuke - Customs and Immigration Martha Ausolo - Head of Events and Venues Dennis Marita
By Gary Hatigeva
Members of the MAC Fest 2018 NOC – Left-Right – Chairman Andrew Nihopara – Vice-Chair Moses Tepai – Secretary Lilly Tinoni – Head Finance Denty Tuke – Customs and Immigration Martha Ausolo – Head of Events and Venues Dennis Marita
AS we now mark 108 days away from officially hosting the Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival 2018, we introduce to you the events National Committee or called in short, the MACFNOC.
The MACFNOC comprises of officers from various Solomon Islands Government ministries and several sitting members from other organisations and institutions within the country.
According the Committee’s head of Events and Venues, Dennis Marita during a launch on Monday explained that from the committee, most will be heading sub-committees responsible for various functions of the festival.
The committee consists of a Chairman, Mr Andrew Nihopara who is also the Permanent Secretary and assisted by Mr Moses Tepai, the Under Secretary, both from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Nihopara will strictly supervise in nature and chairs all MAFNOC meetings at the same time heads consultations and negotiations on Festival matters, as well as the accountable officer in terms of finances.
The Chair according to the committee structure and guide, will report back to the Government through the Minister of Culture and Tourism, while also liaises between the Government, relevant stakeholders and MAFNOC.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chairman is expected to chair meetings in the absence of the Chairman and also liaise with all Sub-committee Chairs and briefs the Festival Chair on their respective progresses at the same time runs the administration of the Festival Secretariat.
Tepai will also be responsible for the compilation of the Final Report at the conclusion of the Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival.
Meet Lilly Tinoni, the Executive Personal Secretary at Ministry of Culture and Tourism who is one of the only two females in the Local Organising Committee.
With her responsibility as Secretary to the MAC Fest, she is responsible for organising and preparation of MAFNOC meetings, and also takes records of meetings and disseminates information to members.
The Secretary is also expected to make appointments and logistical arrangements for consultations and meetings including other general administration work.
As for this Committee, it is one group that any organising committees or events cannot go without and that is the Finance section.
Meet Denty Tuke who is the Head of Finance sub-committee, which is expected to play more of an advisory and monitoring role to ensure that Government Finances are utilised appropriately and transparently inclined with Government Financial Instructions (FIs).
Members of the Finance Sub-Committee will include representatives from the Accountant General’s Office, Auditor General’s Office, Attorney General’s Chamber, and Central Tender Board.
The committee is also expected to ensure the smooth and speedy facilitation of procurements to meet festival datelines, while at the same time entrusted to do up the audit report at the end of the festival.
Tuke is also the Assistant Accountant General for the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.
Meet Martha Ausolo from the Customs and Excise division at Ministry of Finance and Treasury, another of the only two female officials within the organising committee who is tasked to head the event’s sub-committee responsible for matters on Customs and Immigration.
This Sub-Committee will be responsible for all arrivals and departures at the airport and to ensure that there is a smooth flow through the immigration services for purposes of time and convenience.
The committee is also expected to liaise with their counter-parts in participating countries on matters of immigration and visas.
The committee is to ensure that all goods arriving through international entry points to go through relevant procedures in compliance with Solomon Islands’ laws.
The committee will formulate a strategy of how to handle all airport arrivals and Departures while at the same time liaise with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) regarding any breech of our Customs and Immigration Laws.
Follow us in our next issues for the remaining members and heads of various sub-committees and sections party to the Local Organising Committee but before this one ends, we want you to meet Dennis Marita, the Director of Culture at Ministry of Culture and Tourism who is also the Head of the programmes & events sub-committee.
While Marita is in charge of Events and venues for the Festival, he and his sub-committee would probably have some of the biggest tasks in hand, one of which is to draw up the entire festival programme according to the various proposed activities for the festival.
His committee is expected to liaise with the Festival Secretariat to know the status of the participating countries in terms of areas of participation, participation numbers and participation requirements.
This committee comprise of people who will be responsible for the Performing Arts, which of course includes dance, music, theatre and others.
They are also responsible for Arts Exhibitions, which will include Visual arts, contemporary arts, Handicrafts, sculptor, and other related areas.
Marita and his committee will also be looking after Literary Arts, Canoeing and Navigation, Fashion, Film, Symposiums, and Ceremonies, which includes the Ecumenical service, opening and closing.
A graduate receives her APTC certificate in leadership and management at APTC’s Graduation Ceremony in Gizo last week. PHOTO APTC
A graduate receives her APTC certificate in leadership and management at APTC’s Graduation Ceremony in Gizo last week. PHOTO APTC.
THE Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) celebrated the achievements of 13 Solomon Islanders at its graduation ceremony in Gizo on March 9, 2018.
It was a special moment for 11 women who were also the first group of APTC students to graduate with Certificate IV in Leadership and Management from the Western Province in Solomon Islands.
APTC is a flagship programme of the Australian Government that provides Australian-standard skills and qualifications across a wide range of vocational careers for skilled workers across the Pacific.
Since 2007, APTC has trained over 12,000 graduates, including more than 1390 Solomon Island nationals. Of these, over 130 have undertaken Leadership and Management training, with 84 of this group being women.
In his keynote address, the Deputy Premier of Western Province, Malloney Lopoto commended the women on taking up the challenge to educate and upskill themselves.
“For sustainable development, we will need good leaders for proper decision-making. I am pleased that these graduates have been equipped with the strong leadership and management skills that can make a difference in our Province,” he added.
Lopoto hopes to see more participation of women in decision-making at the provincial level. He thanked the Australian Government and APTC for supporting women’s empowerment and development in the Western Province.
The Australian Deputy High Commissioner, Michael Hassett, also congratulated the women on their achievement, and encouraged them to seek out leadership roles in their community. He added that creating opportunities for women and girls to reach their full potential was a key priority for the Australian Government.
Two male Certificate III in Carpentry students also received their qualification during the graduation ceremony.
Apart from Gizo, APTC held graduations in Honiara and Auki last week. More than 130 Solomon Islanders graduated from these three ceremonies.
The Deputy Counselor for Embassy of ROC (Taiwan), Mr Oliver Weng
BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE
A welcome reception for Pacific Islands Leadership Programme’s (PILP) 1st Alumni reunion will be hosted this evening by the Taiwan Embassy in Solomon Islands at Mendana Hotel.
This is according to the Taiwan Embassy’s Deputy Counselor, Mr Oliver Weng.
Speaking briefly about the programme, he explained that it is a joint effort between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the East West Centre in Hawaii, USA.
In addition, Mr Weng said that PILP was founded in 2013 with the objective to assist young leaders of Pacific countries to develop their individual leadership capacity as well as to create a connection between the Pacific and Asia through successful experiences from Taiwan.
He also noted that this year will be the programme’s 6th year since being established and that under the programme, training courses are offered in Hawaii and Taipei.
“The participants for the First PILP Alumni Reunion come from Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Kiribati, French Polynesia, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Solomon Islands,” said Weng.
THE office of the Western Provincial Assembly will soon announce its preparation towards its upcoming Western Province full Assembly Meeting in Gizo, Western province.
Western provincial full assembly under Premier Wayne Maepioh will be held in Gizo on March 27, 2018.
Clerk to Assembly Kevin Paia told Island Sun Gizo yesterday that Maepioh is yet to confirm the dates of the assembly.
Mr Paia said preparation towards the first meeting has been completed already alongside with the provincial heads of department (HDOs) having formulated their documents ready.
He highlighted that the outcome of the review will determine the budgetary support of the development programmes which will maintain the province for the next five to six years.
MORE than 800 students graduated with diplomas, bachelor degrees, master degrees and PHD at Divine Word University’s 36th graduation ceremony, Sunday this week in Madang Papua New Guinea.
Three Solomon Islanders are among those that graduated. Rosemary Maoma who graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism and Hospitality, she also received an Award for Academic Excellence, Michael Agi, graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy and Brenda Sevala Wawah graduated with a Master in Research Methodology.
One of the graduates, Brenda Sevala Wawah urged the government to give more opportunities to Solomon Islanders to take up studies in research methodology.
“We have a lot of policies implemented in the country but conducting proper research to see if they are effective is another thing.
“More researchers are needed in Solomon Islands so that help inform us that planning needs to be done before any policy implementation takes place in any organization.”
Mrs Wawah, who is married to a Papua New Guinean also acknowledged her husband and her children for their tireless encouragement and support towards her studies.
She said it is not easy being a mother and student at the same time, it involves a lot of sacrifice to achieve her goal.
Brenda Wawah with Michael AgiRose Mary Maoma
Three other graduates from Solomon Islands, who graduate in absentia, are Elliot Dawea who graduated with a Degree in Communication Arts, John Bakapu and Rodrick Velokavele both graduated with a Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality.
THERE is a reported increase in admitted cases in Gizo following the recent bad weather.
Western Province Medical Health Director Dr Dickson Boara encourages mothers to take extra care of their children as the Gizo hospital sees an increase in admitted patients with fever and body ache.
This surge is being blamed as an aftermath of the recent bad weather.
Boara said, “We must look after all our children from sickness that mainly affects our children under five years old and this age group did not know what they are doing so parents you’re responsible.
“It’s an entire responsibility for parents must take extra care for our children and teach them with proper hygiene practices at homes and schools.”
He said if parents see symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, along with the fever and body aches, then they must immediately bring their children to the hospital.
SAMBORA community is concerned with the hold up in its school’s grant, which is said to be due to non-retirement of its 2015 grant.
The current headmistress, Mrs Louisa Pagepitu, adds to the community’s call on the national education ministry to consider the situation they are in.
They allege that the problem began with the former headmistress [name withheld] who allegedly misused the grant, and did not retire it.
Mrs Pagepitu says the school has not received its grants 2016 and 2017, adding this has impeded much on the school’s progress and development.
She explained that school administration plus teaching and learning resources are lacking at the moment.
This situation has forced her to advice parents and guardians to buy stationaries for their children, because the school cannot provide.
Meanwhile, community members of Sambora Village are calling on the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) to investigate and address the reports of school grant misuse by the former headmistress.
It has been under the plans of Ngella Constituency and its provincial government to build permanent roads in which constituents are looking forward for its development.
Local Ngella citizens in waiting are also re-suggesting for their Provincial and National Government through their MP to step in and utilise logging roads in the Constituency before companies creating them leave.
Their suggestion comes after learning that Central Islands Province (CIP) had missed out on the National Transport Funding (NTF) for this year 2018 again.
“Relevant authorities should now work with the Agriculture and other Divisions including having meetings with communities and land owning groups on how these roads can be utilised,” said concerned Ngella citizens.
“That way there can be access ports to the inland for plantations, farming, small scale timber milling and other areas that would help develop the constituency.”
