Home Blog Page 1486

Renbel assembly meeting date set

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

RENBEL’S full assembly meeting has been set to convene on Bellona next Wednesday.

It is expected that the first item of this meeting will be the tabling of a motion of no confidence against Premier Collin Singamoana and his executive.

Provincial assembly member for Ward 9, Nick Taika, is the mover of the motion.

The provincial opposition camp expects premier Singamoana to clear about 15 points.

Among other things, the opposition group question how funds intended the upcoming Solomon Games have been used.

Premier Singamoana has earlier come out and welcomed the motion, challenging the mover to bring his documents to the meeting.

Provincial speaker Brian Sa’oba confirmed all (10) provincial members have been issued notices of the meeting.

The government looks to easily defeat the motion given its number. The opposition camp informed this paper that moving a motion on the current government is an opportunity to check on the government.

This is the first full assembly meeting to be held outside Tigoa, Renbel’s provincial headquarter on west Rennell.

Laloato school eyes better education system

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

LALOATO Community High School (CHS) in Guadalcanal Province is now focusing for a better standardised system in their schools education.

School Principal Mr Ishmael Tabeti during celebrating the Official opening of their new boy’s dormitory last week said they need to further strategically systemise their methods of daily administration from top to bottom lines for improvement.

“These strategies cannot be achieved if there are no infrastructural developments. We need improvements in our working and living conditions. Thus, I want to declare that we need change. Change for a better and standardized system in our schools and education system,” said Mr Tabeti.

He reminded the school that the dormitory they have built is just a small step in achieving infrastructures for Laloato CHS.

“This success taken is just the beginning. But you must stand for more than that. You must find your place in promoting the change in our school as the change we now speak off is the change our nation demands.

“The change we need to see in our schools and the change we need to see in our communities and along the coasts of Weather Coast.”

The dormitory project is under Japan’s Grassroots and Human Security Project Scheme contributing SBD$494,341.50 in total last year.

Embassy of Japan representative attending the handing over ceremony expressed their appreciation of the strong leadership by the School Principal and all Board members in handling the project properly from its beginning reaching completion.

“Education is the essential of development. Under the Japan Grassroots and Human Security Projects Scheme, School Projects is one of the priority areas to focus on basic human needs of the people of Solomon Islands,” said the Embassy of Japan representative.

 

No more water problems for Aligegeo school

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

WATER issue faced by Aligegeo School for the last six decades has now been solved.

This follows a partnership work on a water project for the school currently carried by Malaita provincial government and Caritas Australia.

Malaita Provincial Chief Health Inspector, who is also responsible for the project, Ms Gloria Siwainao says the project is progressing, expected to be completed by May this year.

She said currently the project reaches its piping phase, where piping is now in the school compound.

Ms Siwainao said towards the end of last year they completed piping outside of the school from where the water will be sourced.

“The project is a pore-hole and province has the first attempt on it before Caritas Australia assisted.

“The province with the support of the PCDF funding they founded the initial phase of the project.

“After that Caritas Australia upon request made by my office, came and support the rest of the project which costs them around $2 million,” she said.

Siwainao said the Caritas Australia came with a new design for the project and conducted assessment and recommendation on the work required under the project.

She said they came in with their engineers and other expertisee who carried out work on specific technical areas under the project.

Siwainao said now the project is near completion as the 68,000 gallon storage tank for the pore-hole already erected.

She explained that piping is currently going on and they also waiting for pump (machine) for the pore-hole as expects to arrive soon from Australia.

Siwainao said as long as the pump arrives, they will install it and source the water to the school before May as stated.

However, she thanked Caritas Australia for their support, the province and each individual for their support toward the project as near completion.

Continuation on voir dire trial June 11

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE continuation of the Voir Dire trial into the case against men alleged of robbing homes and attacking individuals in May and June of 2015 is for June 11.

Yesterday defence lawyers Jenny Namo and Clifton Ruele confirmed in court their availability for the trial.

This is for the defence lawyers to continue with their case.

Presiding Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika after setting the trial adjourns the case to March 27 for an interim mention.

This is the case against Frank Firimolea and his other co-acused.

Frank Firimolea, Fred Taebo Dara, and Lawrence Liliva and a 15-year-old juvenile, are facing various charges in relation to the armed robbery on different dates in May and June 2015.

Prosecution alleged that during those months, there were a number of armed robbery and break-ins cases reported to police from the Nggosi area, west Honiara; to Ranadi, east Honiara.

The incidents involved a group of armed masked men between the ages of 15 to 30.

It was alleged this group invaded homes of expatriates, businesses people, as well as those of Solomon Islanders and removed valuable properties and money.

A number of home owners sustained injuries during the robbery incidents and some have to be flown overseas for medical treatment.

Virgin coconut oil hits global market

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
APCC Director General Dr Uron Salum pictured on centre with PS Jimmi Saelea and PS Riley Mesepitu during their Pacific Coconut Community workshop at Mendana Hotel recently

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

APCC Director General Dr Uron Salum pictured on centre with PS Jimmi Saelea and PS Riley Mesepitu during their Pacific Coconut Community workshop at Mendana Hotel recently

STRONG niche markets are emerging for Virgin Coconut Oil which is described as the fastest growing product with high value on the global market, it is reported.

The Asia and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) in a Pacific Coconut Community workshop here recently said Virgin Coconut Oil is now the fastest growing product in Asia-Pacific and globally.

The prices range from USD$4,000 to USD$6,000 and MT FOB Manila, with consumers also becoming increasingly aware of its health benefits which causes the hike in demand, APCC said.

APCC also adds, demand for coconut continues to grow high and Pacific island country members under the APCC need to prepare and think of re-planting coconut trees.

APCC Director General Dr Uron Salum said the market on coconut globally is growing, meaning someone out there is paying the product of coconut in terms of oil, drinking and eating.

“It’s the most precedes drink to have, what happening now is market is going up, there’s no sign of market going down. Situation going now globally is coconut production is decline,” Salum said.

In the meantime, Salum said Philippines is the highest producer of virgin coconut oil with export rate growing from 103 metric tonnes in 2003 to 36,332 MT in 2015.

Export earning explored from USD$8.34 Million in 2011 to USD$129 Million in 2015 reaching over 42 export destination, he adds.

Salum said for US markets of Virgin Coconut Oil it accounts to 59.7 percent, Netherlands 10.1 percent, Canada 8.5 percent and balance to Europe, China, Japan, Singapore, Australia and South East Asia.

With this figure, Salum encourages the coconut sector in Solomon Islands that coconut production plays pivotal role for the country and future of coconut processing industry which is one of the highest thing to watch for.

“My request to Solomon Islands is turn around and use coconut because it is the oldest crop in this country and people know it, use it as proper catalyst for development to socio-economic, social and cash economic development,” Salum said.

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration Mr Riley Mesepitu said they will collaborate with Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to look at ways to revive coconut industry here.

He said country already has sectors in place but the challenge is production which is crucial to work closely with local farmers and re-planting coconut trees.

Meseputi also adds challenge country including farmers currently face is the invasive rhino beetle but it is area to consider seriously.

 

Solomon Islands urged to utilise APCC membership

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
MAL PS Jimi Saelea opening the DAPLU conference

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

DIRECTOR General of the Asia and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), Dr Uron Salum calls on Solomon Islands to make use of its yearly membership with the organisation.

APCC has its Head Office in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Solomon Islands is a member.

Every year, the country pays a certain amount of US dollars for its membership fee.

Solomon Islands joins another nine Pacific Island countries.

Over the years, Solomon Islands has not fully utilised the opportunities available with the APCC, thus Salum calls for the country to start making use of its membership.

“I like to be lot of help to Solomon Islands that’s why I’m here and you do use your membership in APCC to get that help.”

Salum said Solomon Islands’ Ambassador to Jakarta is one of the opportunities to tap on as he knows very well about coconut now.

He said one of the reasons for visiting Solomon Islands especially coconut sectors both government and private is to motivate and influence leaders to actively make use of its membership with the APCC.

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Mr Jimmi Saelea thanked Dr Salum for an impressive presentation which alerts coconut sectors in the country to better for Solomon Islands.

Saelea also said they will work closely with Ministry of Commerce including private sectors to raise the profile of coconut industry here.

Re-planting is one area they will look at and working collaboratively with donors and local farmers to address present issue of invasive rhino beetle which put coconut industry under threat here, PS Saelea said.

 

Locals encouraged to grow rice

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
1
Rice sun dried outside Hula’s home at Gama district in Isabel province.

By Mike Puia

LOCAL rice farmer, Eddie Hula, from Isabel Province is encouraging locals to grow rice.

Mr Hula, from Isabel’s Gama District, is one of the few locals who are successfully growing rice.

He said growing rice is easy and can help sustain the family.

“My family had no problem with rice. We have plenty to eat and we spare money to buy other needs,” Hula said.

Hula, father of four children, started growing rice in 2006. Currently, he has a huge rice farm where about 200 people work in.

“I grow and eat my own rice. I am tired of eating free rice,” Hula said.

Hula is the owner of Folo farm. He grows mainly Taiwan’s R71 rice in his farm.

The R71 rice is one of the types of rice that is grown in the region. The most popular one is the Australian rice that is packed in Solrice bag.

Hula said he got the R71 rice from Taiwan’s technical farm in Honiara.

He said the R71 rice has high production and is resistant to pests.

“R71 is the best rice to grow. It does not need chemical and it suits rural and commercial farming,” Hula said.

He has a demonstration farm where farmers in the district usually come to and learn how to plant rice and other crops.

Hula said when he harvests the demonstration farm; he would share seedlings to 38 stakeholders.

“I usually distributed 60 kilograms of rice to a farmer. This caters for a farm of one hectare,” Hula said.

In 2017, he said he attended training where he learned how to make home-made rice grinder.

Hula can now harvest the rice, grind and pack the rice for food, planting or sell.

Local rice farmer from Isabel Province, Eddie Hula, with a home made rice grinder (Kisa).
Rice supply at Hula’s home
Rice sun dried outside Hula’s home at Gama district in Isabel province.

A situation that must be addressed – a response in looking at unemployment in the Solomon Islands OR Unemployment in SI

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

DEAR EDITOR, in an Editorial piece in the Solomon Star yesterday, March 11, 2018, the writer referred to the country’s alarming rate of unemployment and had this to say (quote)

“The country’s rate of unemployment appeared to have gone through the roof.

“Just take a walk along the main Honiara streets during a day and you’ll realise this.

“Lots of people – both adults and youth – are roaming the streets doing nothing.

“You see them sitting along the pavements, around betel nut stalls, and in front of shops and offices telling endless stories.

“Some are university graduates, while most are school drop-outs.

“In the last two months, we’ve seen a lot of new faces in the city.

“These are young men and women who have just dropped out of schools.

“Over the past years, they’ve lived in their villages and attended their community schools.

“They became unplaced when their exam results came out early this year.

“Because there’s nothing to keep them engaged in the village, they quickly made their way to Honiara in search for jobs and other opportunities.

“But we know the jobs are few. So as the other opportunities!

“So people ended up on the streets; doing virtually nothing.

“Honiara is getting overcrowded.

“There are more people in the city now than last year.

“The situation gave rise to higher demand for accommodation, water, and electricity – the basic necessities city residents need to live a normal life.

“Already homes have been overcrowded as new members of the extended family moved into Honiara to take residence with relatives.

“Solomon Power and Solomon Water will need to keep up with the demand.

“Otherwise, the city may run low on both water and electricity.

“Leaders need to wake up to this reality and take the necessary steps to address it.

“Unemployment is a threat to law and order, as well as peace and stability.

“This is because unemployment is a recipe for criminal activities.

“Our leaders love to talk about rural development.

“They always promise our people that they’ll bring development to rural areas.

“And so they allocated themselves a huge chunk of the development budget in the name of Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

“This is money they promise to use to develop the rural areas.

“But how much of the funds are used to develop our rural areas?

“Very little!

“This is why people are coming in their droves to the city in search for economic opportunities.

“The situation is precarious so the government must take urgent steps to reverse it.

“Failure would result in serious consequences for this country.”

On 8 February 2014 writing to the Solomon Times I expressed very similar concerns and titled my article ‘No Time to Lose in Tackling Youth Unemployment.”

This is what I wrote (quote)

“The seemingly intractable problems associated with youth unemployment in Honiara and the resulting evidence of increased substance abuse, including the growing and use of marijuana, the consumption of kwaso (home brew), incidences of anti-social behaviour and criminal acts have featured significantly in Editorial columns of the local press and in other articles this past week.

“Honiara isn’t alone in facing the problems highlighted and, indeed, it can be said many of the Pacific states face the same, if not more serious, issues arising from the respective nation’s ability to manage development and provide for the rapidly growing population. The Solomon Islands is no exception.

“The various schemes implemented by the government, such as the rapid employment scheme and the offshore, seasonal work offered to young people engaged in fruit harvesting simply isn’t enough to meet the needs and expectations of the growing numbers of school drop outs and idle youth flooding into the national capital from the provinces.

“I am not alone in describing the current situation as a security challenge akin to a ticking time bomb, although I likened the situation of the unemployed youth in 2009 to a tinder box. (See my letter to the Pacific Islands Report entitled, ‘Idle Solomons Youth a Tinder Box’, published on 10 December 2009)

“I am detached from the local scene but I have repeatedly suggested ways in which help might be forthcoming for the youth in articles that I have contributed to the local Solomon Times online publication. In one article I forecast that help could possibly be sought from the Government of South Korea (‘South Korean Help in Training Solomon’s Youth,’ dated 4 December 2008) and in another (‘A possible solution for the rural poor, dated January 10, 2011)

“In the last article, I had mentioned how the Japanese Government’s External Trade Organization (JETRO) was helping to promote Thailand’s growing and successful “OTOP” products in Japan.

“I don’t know whether any of my suggestions were considered by the Solomon Islands Government.

“The challenges the nation faces in respect of its unemployed young people must be tackled before the situation does become the ‘time bomb’ others have referred to.

“A starting point, in this election year, I would suggest is that the government re-examine the findings and projected solutions to youth unemployment in the excellent report styled, ‘The State of Pacific Youth – 2005’ written under the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF Pacific) and funded by the New Zealand’s International Aid and Development Agency (NZAID.

“Yes, 2005. I haven’t written the wrong date. The information in that report is just as relevant, if not more so, than when it was first compiled and issued.

“I understand copies of the report can be downloaded or obtained from the UN Children’s Fund Headquarters in Suva.

“I would even go so far to suggest to the Solomon Islands Government that the author of that report, if still available, Dr Chris McMurrary be consulted and to advise the government on measures that might be taken now.

“The report is very comprehensive and clearly argued that not enough had been done to address the underlying causes of the youth unemployment problem and indicates how youths have become disempowered in the process of often being ignored and not listened to.”

The Star Editorial piece once again draws readers attention to the Constitutional Development Funds (CDF) paid annually by the Government of Taiwan and distributed to local Members of Parliament for constituency development in the MP’s rural areas.

There is a comment, now all too familiar, about such funds when one reads (quote)

“Our leaders love to talk about rural development. They always promise our people that they’ll bring development to rural areas.

“And so they allocated themselves a huge chunk of the development budget in the name of Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

“This is money they promise to use to develop the rural areas. But how much of the funds are used to develop our rural areas? Very little!”

It is surely in the interests of the Solomon Islands Government to ensure CDF money translates soon to positive economic, rural development and jobs for the unemployed with better planning allocation, management and strict auditing.

As the Star’s Editorial piece has predicted failure to act on the spate of unemployment will likely have serious consequences and repeating my words expressed way back in 2008, 2009 and in 2014.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

Could it be a tip of the iceberg?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

He came in yesterday morning just to thank me.

“Thank you for raising the concerns which we have been trying to disclose but we never got through even with our government officials,” he said.

“The logging activities on Parcel Nos. 191-060-01, 191-060-02 and 191-060-03 by One Pacific Company Ltd are illegal. Why? It is government land, not customary land anymore,” the man said.

“We told the director of the company, Mr Wong Hook Ping, that we cannot log the area because the land is on lease to the government. It is government land,” we told him.

But he turned around and said the influential people in appropriate ministries “are my boys”.

To date, more than 66, 000 cubic metres have been logged, earning some $64 million in export revenue for landowning community group between 24 November 2015 and 04October last year.

Under a five-year Felling Licence granted by Commissioner of Forest, Reeves Moveni, One Pacific Company Ltd still has about 400, 000 cubic metres to log. But the future may not be as rosy as they once thought.

Since Island Sun newspaper had broken the story on the illegal logging activities, Prime Minister Ricky Houenipwela has ordered an investigation to determine the Commissioner’s involvement.

Some in the government were already calling for Mr Moveni’s head, arguing that as a senior government official that he is, he should have been well-versed with all government land.

In this case it would appear both the Ministry of Forest and Research and indeed the Office of the Commissioner did nothing to help the Commissioner determine the issuance or otherwise of the felling licence.

There was not even any consultation between the Office of the Commissioner of Forest and that of the Commissioner of Lands, who is the custodian of all government land, including the parcel numbers in question.

As it is the Commissioner of Forest proceeded with issuing Felling Licence A1011521 on 23 April 2015. It expires on 23 April 2020.

Under the licence, some 50, 000 cubic metres are to be extracted annually – 40, 000 cubic metres for export and the balance (10, 000 cubic metres) to be sold as sawn timber locally.

There is no doubt the Commissioner of Forest and his officers have their own explanation for their actions. And that is what Prime Minister Houenipwela too was interested in.

Why for example did you, Commissioner, for example, allow other people to make tons of money from government land? True, Mbetilonga Landholding Group Community Company Ltd paid import duties totalling $14, 849, 142.62 up to 4th October last year.

But that is a statutory charge obligatory on anyone engaged in logging activities in Solomon Islands.

In the instance of the operations, it is estimated that the government was denied around $30 million in lost revenue – money that can become really handy at a time when even the government cannot find enough money to provide essential services.

One would only hope that a fair and respectable outcome would result from the investigation.

Already, a landowner has denied the communities in the area having benefitted from the operations, despite the company having raked in about $64 million from the operations.

Where has the money gone? Who benefitted from the money?

For communities that are not so large, one would expect to see huge improvement in the people’s livelihood. According to my visitor, there is none of that sort.

The disturbing allegation that one government official was receiving $4 per cubic metre from every cubic metre of log exported is and must be investigated.

The investigation ordered by the Prime Minister is an opportunity to clear the air of suspicion over this type of hearsay allegation.

The landowner is even calling on the government to deport the director of One Pacific Company Ltd.

MPs please curb yours first

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

AS talks of the budget is now before the Public Accounts Committee, it is important that we as citizens of this country must take an avid interest to read and listen to what will transpire during this hearing.

Much has been said about budget cuts and more-so the setback this will have on the operations of government ministries including the provincial governments.

It is a worrying thought especially when we see so much that needs to be done in terms of infrastructural development amongst other activities that will boost our economy.

Recently a team from International Monetary Fund (IMF) visited the country and staff teams from IMF that were here issued a press release stating that ‘consideration should be given to maintaining expenditures in priority areas and curbing expenditures in areas which have expanded recently’.

Solomon Islanders do not need to have a degree to know where government’s expenditures have expanded recently.

Tertiary scholarships, CDF and shipping grants are some areas that need curbing.

Take for example, from 2013 to 2015, a total of $70.3M from taxpayers money was allocated for the National Shipping grant programme known as the National Transportation Initiatives Programme.

This is a lot of money and we should as tax payers be wary of how our government will be spending our money.

If any area that needs curbing, the areas where MPs have used programmes of this sort for their own benefits should be the first to be curbed.

1...1,4851,4861,487...1,662Page 1,486 of 1,662