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America & Europe get a glimpse of SI

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Five Brazilian tourists arrive in Honiara yesterday on board the Crystal Serenity.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

AMERICANS, Germans and other European nationals, and Caribbean tourists set foot in Honiara for the first time when cruise liner Crystal Serenity docked at Pt Cruz yesterday morning.

Yesterday’s heavy downpour did not dampen the visitors’ spirits as they explored the sites around Honiara and scouted out the various souvenirs on sale.

Five Brazilian tourists arrive in Honiara yesterday on board the Crystal Serenity.

Many also share that the arts and craft found here are unique and very different from ones they have across other countries during their voyage.

The artefacts on display yesterday ranged from wooden carvings, necklaces, bracelets and cloths designed in traditional ways to woven baskets.

Tourists accompanying the Destination Solomons were also impressed to see the WWII sites, country’s cultural artefacts and histories including the city tours. Few hit the jackpot in their snorkeling tour.

The American tourists impressed to see country’s traditional designs

According to Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau, most visitors on the Crystal Serenity are in their fifties.

SIVB Senior Marketing Officer, Mr Ellison Kyere said Crystal Serenity comes from the United States, UK, Caribbean and Germany, and this was their first time here.

He said many were eager to learn of the Solomon Islands’ history and culture.

The tourists share that before they came, they had brief knowledge of the Solomon Islands as being the islands ‘adrift in time’, being a tropical paradise with tropical rainforests and rugged mountains and hills, and host to some of the bloodiest sites of the World War II.

Locals storytelling to tourist about traditional designs.
Some of the tourists visiting local vendors tent display with art and crafts and other products.

Peace building in the Solomon Islands

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, I welcome the news that the Solomon Islands Government under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Hon Rick Houenipwela, is committed to furthering and sustaining peace and stability as a national priority.

I particularly welcome the support being offered to the Solomon Islands from the United Nations in the manner of a Joint Programme Initiative to consolidate peace, stability and social cohesion post the RAMSI period.

The Prime Minister has been right to have said that peace building requires inclusive solutions to be implemented and supported by UN agencies, such as the UNDP and UN Women.

Moving forward the government must identify and adopt the key governance systems and tools to drive its post-conflict reconstruction aims linked specifically to the many challenges that the Solomon Islands still faces in leadership,

solid government structures, gender equality, education, health care, economic development, employment, corruption,

community participation, civic dialogue, mediation, land reform and more generally good governance.

Adopting a mix of sound policies based on democratic and universally shared values and the proper and visible use of management systems will be crucial to the success of the government’s four key pillars, already outlined.

A major factor in promoting a sustaining peace building will be evidence of committed leadership, solid government and openness in order to build people’s trust and legitimacy in the elected government members.

The continued claims and counter claims about the state of the government this last week can have done little, I fear, to give the feeling of a solid, unified, government leadership.

It is generally acknowledged that the critical determinant of sustainable recovery, peace and development is a committed leadership aimed at: protecting human rights; ensuring rule of law and security;

re-establishing and strengthening credible, transparent and accountable public administration institutions;

reconstructing an efficient, representative public service that achieves equitable service delivery and re-generates an equitable post-conflict economy.

With the ever-present spectre of corruption allegations a focus of ongoing attention and even some prosecutions for alleged corruption allegations, together with the constant references to the alleged misuse of the Constitutional Development Funds (CDF)

and, more recently, allegation, regarding the so-called Discretionary Fund, there is much work that needs to be done to change public perceptions and put the work of the government and certain aspects of the public service in better light.

One step in the right direction has been the change to the Ombudsman’s Act with better provisions to counter illegal practices and to bring offenders to book.

The proposals by the government in creating a better development pathway to empower woman and youth are encouraging and should be relentlessly pursued.

I wholeheartedly wish the PM and the government well in cooperation with the UN agencies in moving things forward that will ensure a lasting peace, a united Solomon Islands and a brighter economic future.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

We can’t even handle rain

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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HONIARA was at a standstill yesterday after a few hours of down pour. One hates to imagine what a week of rain would cause.

Parliament was not able to progress in yesterday’s sitting, schools were closed, Kukum highway was flooded, public transport system was not able to operate as normal, workers were not able to go to work because of one problem or another with their house with even some of the international organisations allowing their staff to work from home because of the bad weather and a whole lot of other issues.

If one takes a ride down memory lane, such predicaments were unheard of. Five to six hours of rain did not bring the capital of the nation to its knees. Only during cyclones such as Namu in 1986.

Now on the streets you will hear people talking about Solomon Islands going backward instead of going forward, after almost 40 years since it gained independence from Great Britain.

Where have we gone wrong?

Honiara city is now often described as the ‘city of potholes’, the city of unplanned development and so on.

Reflecting on the events that happened in the past, one couldn’t help but wonder, how much worse will it be for our children and grandchildren?

When will we ever get out of this dark tunnel? How prepared are we in times of disaster?

The events that unfolded yesterday shouldn’t be taken lightly.

This should serve as a wakeup call for everyone.

Last year about the same time, parliament was adjourned because of the same reason of bad weather.

Now it is time that each and every one of us must have some sort of disaster preparedness plans in place, not only in the workplace but also in our own homes.

A simple illustration; our leaders must legislate with foresight and vision for our country’s continuity and progress. And, the ordinary member of public must be mindful of how he/she disposes his/her rubbish.

Every action is interconnected. Hence, an irresponsible action by a leader, trickles down to poor and unplanned drainage systems for the capital. And a careless littering by someone ends up clogging the culvert. Then Honiara is flooded within minutes of heavy rain.

The nature phenomenon has developed into something different and we need to be ahead in how we do things.

We cannot continue to stay as we are if we want our country to truly develop.

LEAP programme begins in Malaita

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Malaita provincial education authority mentor Fred Philip Ramoli

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

Malaita provincial education authority mentor Fred Philip Ramoli

LEADERS education authorities programme (LEAP) under the ministry of education human resources development (MEHRD) is set to kick off in 16 primary schools in Malaita.

The programme deals with literacy in certain schools identified.

Speaking to Island Sun Auki, provincial education authority mentor Fred Philip Ramoli said the programme helps and improves students’ opportunities to learn literacy and to strengthen the work of the provincial education authorities (PEA) and school leadership.

“It is also to increase the standards or competencies of our primary schools so that pupils can achieve the standard we set.

“It is also a fundamental skill for learning and ability to live a fulfilling and meaningful life and student’s level of primary education need to attain the literacy competencies and standard.”

Ramoli said LEAP focusses on reading, writing, speaking, listening, view and presenting.

Ramoli added in February LEAP has set foot in Malaita to concentrate on 16 indentified primary schools to bring change in the education sector.

“We are not here to control the Malaita education Authority but to help in its education system.”

Both teachers and students are the targeted ones to undergo these programmes, Ramoli said.

This programme is also conducted in 90 primary schools in six provinces throughout the country.

They are Malaita, Guadalcanal, Central, Isabel, Renbel and Temotu provinces.

The programme will continue for two years.

PM meets Australia’s intel chief

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Prime Minister Rick Hou recieves a gift from the Director General Australian Secret Intelligence Servce, Paul Symon.

PRIME Minister Rick Hou has been briefed on the South Pacific Intelligence Dialogue which will be held in Honiara in June this year.

Prime Minister Hou was briefed during a meeting with the Director General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service Mr Paul Symon at the Office of the Prime Minister & Cabinet yesterday.

Symon, a retired Major General in the Australian military, is one of the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s intelligence advisers.

He was appointed a Head of ASIS in December 2017.

Symon briefed the Prime Minister on the 1st South Pacific Intelligence Dialogue (SPID) which was held in Fiji last year which was launched by Fiji Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama.

The Director General also informed the Prime Minister that the 2nd SPID will be held in Honiara in June this year which Prime Minister Hou has been given the honour to officially open.

Hou in response, welcomed the initiative for Solomon Islands to host the 2nd SPID, citing that such meeting is crucial given the similarities in security concerns faced in the region.

During the meeting, Hou also informed Symon of the challenges faced with national security in the country which included the PNG/SI border, confidentiality of information, cyber security and financial intelligence to name a few.

“I believe we do have a national intelligence committee in the country but it has been operating on an ad hoc basis. Therefore, there is a need to establish a proper institution to address these issues,” he said.

Hou however, has acknowledged the Police Commissioner and the RSIPF for their ongoing work in providing intelligence to the Government.

Symon acknowledged the challenges shared by Hou and assured the Prime Minister that these issues would also form the basis of discussions in June this year.

Symon said some of the real challenges is the question of how best government agencies can cooperate and coordinate in providing the best intelligence advice and information to Government leaders to enable our leaders to make informed decisions.

–OPMC PRESS

3 locals lost for 20 days found alive

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THREE Solomon Islanders who had been lost at sea for 20 days have been found alive by Vanuatu’s search and rescue region (SRR).

Their boat was sighted on February 27.

Island Sun understands that they are now under intensive care in Vanuatu and will return home when they have made a full recovery.

Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Association (SIMSA) Director Captain Tim Harris explained the issue was due to strong winds which had pushed them out while fishing.

He said their boat had run out of fuel but they were lucky to make it to an island in Vanuatu.

“Now the three local fishing men are stable on board a vessel called Zhong Shui 702 and the captain had arranged food and necessary assistance for them to prevent any health problem after long drifting days,” Mr Harris said.

Harris said, “Zhong Shui 702 advised to asked the Ministry Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) to contact with the Solomon navy ship or ship rescue to pick the three local Fishing men or to meet in the middle position to pick them up to reduce the cost for both side.”

However further conversation with the vessel Zhong Shui 702 have been made.

Zhong Shui 702 is expected to bring the survivors on Sunday, March 4.

Concern for safety of locals in B’ville

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Mike Puia

THE safety of locals living in and traveling to Bougainville is becoming the main agenda in social media forums.

This is after the issue of the 29 Bougainvillean men who were arrested by police in the Western province.

On local and Bougainville social media forums, this issue generated tense discussions that included threats.

The 29 Bougainvillean men crossed the border separating Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands by boat on a mission to demand compensation from locals in Noro over the death of their relative. The deceased was part Western province.

Police intercepted and arrested the group and had them locked up at the Gizo correctional centre.

The next day they escaped. One of the escapees reported to New Dawn FM in Buin, Bougainville that local police were tough on them and even removed some of their personal items – a report later dismissed by the local police.

Administrator of the Yumi Toktok Forum, Benjamin Afuga, has issued an advice to locals to think twice before travelling to Bougainville.

“I have read some disturbing comments in the Bougainville Forum. …The issue has sparked anger at our police and citizens,” Mr Afuga posted.

He said for the safety of our citizens, it is important to take precautions by refraining from crossing the border to Bougainville whilst the issue is still not resolved.

“I call on the Ministry of Peace, Western Province and Bougainville authorities to quickly get together and resolve the issue once and for all,” Afuga posted.

He said while the issue is not resolved it is advisable that locals refrained from crossing into Bougainville territory.

Solomon Islands has locals living in Buin, Arawa and Buka. Some usually travel across the border to these places to sell their products.

Some forum commentators said this issue needs to be dealt with at a more diplomatic level.

There is still no fresh update about any effort taken by the authorities to resolve this issue.

3 men in custody over grievous harm charge

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

THREE suspects are remanded at the Correctional Services facility in Gizo since February 27, 2018 for alleged grievous harm during an alleged incident at Munda on February 23.

The three men will re-appear in the Gizo Magistrates Court after 14 days.

On February 26, Police in Munda arrested and charged the three men for abduction and assaulting and causing grievous harm to a 31-year-old man on the evening of February 23 at Pagupau Island in the Saekile Passage, Roviana Lagoon.

“I want to appeal to the relatives of the victim in this case, to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and listen to the police who advised them to allow the matter to be investigated and dealt with by the courts,” says Provincial Police Commander, Western Province, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu.

“I want to thank members of the community for helping police with information so far and I want to appeal to anyone who might still have more information about the incident which might assist the police in its investigation, to speak with the police in Munda or contact them on telephone 62189.”

–POLICE MEDIA

 

Police condemns attack on businessman

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

SUPERVISING Police Commissioner Juanita Matanga has condemned the attack made on a prominent businessman on Wednesday morning.

Ms Matanga said police are currently investigating the case and already have strong leads in relation to the suspect.

She said that such attack is not good at all and police are condemning such attitude and behaviour of individuals and is not accepted in our society.

“We are discouraging such behaviour where some of our people do to our business people,” Matanga said.

She said the victim is a businessman who employs a lot of Solomon Islanders and the behaviour where some individual did to him is totally not acceptable.

Matanga said the businessman sustained injuries to his mouth and hands and is currently in hospital.

She also said that investigation is still on going and for police to say the incident is pre-planned is too early.

Therefore she said that police will continue to do their work in responding to issues happening in this country and urge the public to work together with the police so that people will enjoy doing business and live in this country.

PM supports women participation in decision making

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela and UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Osnat Lubrani launch the UNPBF project.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has voiced his support for women’s participation in decision making.

He expressed the above on Wednesday when addressing key stakeholders at UN’s Joint Programme Initiative launch.

Whilst deliberating on the “Consolidating Peace, Stability and Social Cohesion in Solomon Islands Post RAMSI 2018” Initiative, the Prime Minister stressed that women should be involved in all decision making levels.

He said that while the country is the first in the Pacific to adopt a “Women Peace Security” strategy in its action plan, there is however a need to strengthen their participation at all levels of decision making including that of the National Parliament.

Houenipwela further called on political parties to involve and support women in the upcoming elections.

“Let us encourage political parties to include and promote women candidates in the upcoming national general elections,” he said.

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