DEARE EDITOR, a family of seven luckily escaped being killed when two huge rocks came crashing down the hillside at Kena Hill last Friday instantly smashing their wooden home and destroying it completely.
The family are now homeless and have appealed to the community in the Solomon Islands for help.
The disaster occurred as Beverlyn Keniherea was alone in the house cleaning the bedroom. Her children had gone to school and her husband, Gideon, was away in Aoke.
Mrs Keniherea was very lucky not to have been killed and has been left in deep shock
I appeal to the Solomon Islands Red Cross Association to try and give some early assistance to the distressed and now homeless family and also appeal to the generous nature of the Solomon Islands business community and people to help the family.
DEAR EDITOR, quoting Radio New Zealand International – March 18, 2018 – “Over 270,000 people in Papua New Guinea are estimated to be requiring immediate humanitarian assitance after last month’s magnitude 7.5 earthquake.
“According to the latest situation report from the United Nations, the priority needs are medicine, tarpaulins and tents, blankets, food and water.
“At least 125 people have died and infrastructure has been severely damaged.
“Around 18,200 people have been displaced and are reported to have converged in 26 informal care centres.
“The UN also estimates that over 544-thousand are affected across the five most affected provinces.
“The provinces are Hela, Southern Highlands, Enga, Western and West Sepik.
“Papua New Guinea’s Health Department says more people will die in earthquake-hit districts if health issues are not urgently tackled.
“The head of Emergency Medicine says that following the 7.5 quake 17 days ago there’s a risk that food and water borne diseases could kill thousands of people.” Copyright: RNZI (All Rights Reserved)
DEAR EDITOR, quoting the newsletter of ‘Take My Hands March 19, 2018 – “The latest container to the Solomon Islands will arrive in Honiara any day now. This container is full of furniture and equipment that will be supporting several NGO’s in the Solomon Islands including Hearts of Hope Charity that works with widows and orphans, Solomon Islands Development Trust focused on improving the lives of villagers, Disability organisations and the National Eye Centre. We couldn’t have done this without the help of some amazing organisations and people here in New Zealand. Thanks All Heart NZ, PBT Couriers, Swire Shipping, Ports of Auckland, Container Co, Sea Containers and the Waitemata District Health Board. We were also able to use the opportunity of our loading day to work with two young men from the YESS programme in West Auckland (www.aawcollectiveimpact.org).
“This was quite a rewarding shipment to coordinate because we were working with “new contacts both in New Zealand and in the Solomon Islands which is a sign that Take My Hands’ reach is expanding, and also that there are some really caring groups of people out there and we are super lucky to be getting to know them!” Copyright: ‘Take My Hands’ (All Rights Reserved)
I am extremely grateful to ‘Take My Hands’ and all those in NZ that supported my request for help for the Solomon Islands NGO’s mentioned in the newsletter.
I am also grateful to the SFA for paying the freight costs from NZ and to Mr J Sy the Past President of the SFA who has agreed to cover the landing fees when the container arrives in Honiara.
Ms Helen Aumae picture with other tourism sector across the pacific island countries who also part of the ITB Berlin show
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
Ms Helen Aumae picture with other tourism sector across the pacific island countries who also part of the ITB Berlin show
SOLOMON Islands Visitors Bureau’s (SIVB) second participation in the ITB Berlin travel show is described as a step closer for the country’s tourism in the European market.
From March 7-11, Ms Helen Aumae of SIVB participated in the world’s leading travel trade show in Berlin, Germany.
And according to the SIVB, more interest has been registered for Solomon Islands this time round.
This year, Solomon Islands through SIVB joined over 186 countries on the show.
They team up with regional tourism sectors to exhibit Pacific islands countries to visitors in 26 halls in the Berlin exhibition grounds.
Aumae said the event availed important opportunities for Solomon Islands tourism in its quest to increase visitor arrivals from Europe.
She said they understand Europe is a major source of market in today’s travel industry making it a very important market for Solomon Islands.
Aumae said attending the 2018 ITB Berlin is one of the marketing strategies that SIVB has in place for the European market.
“Our goal is to increase visibility and awareness of Solomon Islands as a suitable tourist destination to Travel agents, wholesalers, tour operators, media partners and the general European public as a whole,” Aumae said.
She also adds Solomon Islands appeals to the curiosity of many Europeans because they did not know of our existence prior to the show.
To them, Solomon Islands is a new discovery with many untold exciting histories, islands, sites, cultures and natural environment.
Joining the show also provides an avenue where they met with new buyers and some who are actually selling Solomon Islands on the ground across Europe, she adds.
“Through research, it is understood that Europeans have changed their travelling habits by opting for safer destinations; hence we present SI not only as a diver’s paradise or a place with rich history but as a safe destination for all visitors,” Aumae said.
SIVB Marketing Manager, Mrs Freda Unusi said Aumae’s participation is part of SIVB’s marketing strategy to European countries apart from Australia as main country’s travel destination.
She adds such approaches not only in European territory but other countries as well, and now through second time participation at ITB Berlin, Solomon Islands begins to be recognising in the Europe market.
PEOPLE of Western and Choiseul are concerned over the delay in the election dates for the Western and Choiseul provinces.
They have calling on the national government and the electoral commission to set dates for the provinces’ elections.
Island Sun understands that rumours are circulating in Gizo speculating various dates, and intending candidates are beginning their campaigning games in their wards.
A Mr Willie from Gizo said “It has been delay and nothing has been heard on at the top level for not quickly set the election date.
“While the calling of Western and Choiseul Provincial election is partly a matter of political judgment and timing.
“We are calling on constitutional and legislative framework who governs the electoral timetable and process to quickly officially set the final election date for people of Western and Choiseul.”
A man has died after falling from a truck at Kware Bridge on the border of West Kware’ae and West Fataleka on Sunday afternoon.
The man was rushed to Fauabu rural health clinic but later died due to his injuries.
Malaita Provincial Police Commander, Mr Timothy Apaesi told this paper in an interview that the man was among 13 people on the truck when the accident happened.
He said the truck belongs to the Lion Heart Company and was transporting fuel from Auki on the north road direction.
“The decease board the truck somewhere round Auki and believed to have been under the influence of liquor during the time.
“When he got onto the truck he sat on one of the drum of fuel behind the truck.
“They went until they reached Kware Bridge when the truck came into a pothole just before entering the bridge.
“When the truck went down into a pothole and got up, the truck bounced and the man flew off the truck,” Mr Apaesi said.
He said the man landed on the bridge and due to serious injuries sustained he was rushed to Fauabu rural health clinic but died later in the evening.
Apaesi confirmed that the other passengers did not receive any injury from the incident.
He said the driver of the Tipa-truck has been identified to be a 25-year-old male.
He said no arrest is yet made into the accident as Auki police is still looking thoroughly into the nature of the accident.
Apaesi said investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
WESTERN provincial government is working on business ordinances for its next supplementary budget 2018 to 2019.
Western Provincial Secretary Jeffrey Wickham told this to Island Sun Gizo yesterday, but said that time is also a factor they are running against with this endeavour.
“We will soon work on with the provincial government executive and stakeholders to re-enforce province business ordinances.
“After this discussion, we will come out with viable ordinances to re-enforce Western Province business ordinances.”
He said the Western provincial government will soon collect levy from wharfs, church jetties, advertisements and billboards
Mr Wickham explained that they will look at business for indigenous business houses, private sectors, NGOs and companies to re-enforce the ordinance.
He said that the approval for the policy is expected this full assembly meeting for WPG this month.
THE Court has adjourned the case against a man charged for violent behaviour to allow the prosecution to respond to the representation made by the defence lawyer.
The court was told that the prosecution has just received the representation and needs time to look through before updating the court on the status of the case.
This is the case against Mathias Ngalir who is faced with counts of threatening violence with intent to intimidate, damage property, trespass at night, uses threatening words in public and going armed in public.
Therefore the accused is further remanded in custody until March 23 for mention and prosecution to update the court the representation made by the defence.
Daniel Kwalai of the Public Solicitor’s Office represents the accused in court.
THE former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Henry Murray testified in court yesterday.
Mr Murray and his wife are accused of fraudulent activities, and defence began their turn yesterday after prosecution finished with theirs.
Murry had been with the MID for more than 20 years; he started working there as an apprentice and made his way up through to the permanent secretary post till his termination in November 2017.
“I was appointed as Director Mechanical Division for four years and in 2014 I resigned and when the PS post was advertised in 2015 I applied and was shortlisted with other candidates,” Murray told the court.
After all interviews were made he then was appointed on August 31, 2015 for the PS post of MID.
He told the court yesterday during examination when his defence lawyer questioned him about the business Krash Transport and Marketing and he said that it is a registered family business like any other family owned businesses and has been involved in hiring its vehicles with Government.
Murray also confirmed that he is one of the Directors of that business, and later in 2016 he transferred that directorship to Soni Aife.
The Murrays were charged in relation to an allegation relating to a series of offences alleged between 2014 and 2017 in relation to multiple payments of motor vehicle hire charges to a company that police alleged was registered to Murray and his wife.
The value of those payments is estimated to the excess of 1.1 million dollars, and as a result of that they both face a range of serious charges.
Prosecution alleged that those payments were allegedly made through cheques and electronic fund transfers, which were deposited into their ANZ account in the name of Krash Transport and Marketing.
Lazarus Kwaiga of L & L lawyers is representing both defendants.
DEFENCE lawyer representing a woman who is charged with one count of larceny and embezzlement has raised concern over the delay of the case.
This is the case against Enith Fairamoa who was alleged of stealing more than SBD20,000 from the Solomon Islands Government in 2015.
The court was told yesterday that the case was already set for trial on April 5 to 13 this year.
Police Prosecutor Lyndon Adifaka said the appearance was for an interim mention, but in regards to the trial date the prosecution is not certain whether the trial date will remain or will be vacated as the prosecutor in carriage of the case will be in Lata for the court circuit on the week of the trial.
Meanwhile the defence lawyer told the court that they have no issues with what the prosecution raised, however voiced the concern that the accused has been appearing in court since 2015.
Last year a trial date also vacated due to prosecution witnesses’ not available and such delay is of concern to their client, the defence lawyer told the court.
Principal Magistrate Ricky Iomea then adjourn the case to March 29 so that the prosecution can arrange for another prosecutor to take on the case if the prosecutor in carriage will not be available on that date for trial.
The accused Enith Fairamoa was charged with one count of larceny and embezzlement.
Prosecution alleged that the woman had stolen SBD28,819.44 from the Solomon Islands Government on May 12, 2015. She committed the offence when she was working with the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.
Police Prosecution Service prosecutes the case in court.
