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3 locals lost for 20 days found alive

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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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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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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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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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.

Crucial match day

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Marist's Koriak Upaiga and Henry Faarodo tries to stop a Magenta player during their Group D clash on Tuesday

Allen hopes for Marist step up

BY ROMULUS HUTA

MARIST coach Jerry Allen is hoping that first timers Mathias Iani and Davidson Tome will step up in the absence of Abraham Iniga during their final Group D Oceania Champions League match this afternoon.

Marist’s final pool encounter is against Samoan representative Lupe Ole Soaga and set for a 4pm kick off at Lawson Tama.

Veteran striker Iniga will sit out this afternoon’s match on suspension following his dismissal during the game against AS Magenta on Tuesday.

The sending off of Iniga enabled Marist to play with 10 men for the remaining 30 minutes of the match and held a much-determined Magenta side to a one-all draw.

Iniga is one of the matured key players in the team and his absence will be greatly missed, according to Allen.

However, Allen will leave the rest of all hopes and the responsibility onto first timers Iani and Tome to step up for them in the attack.

“We’ll give them a good game and make sure we can get three points from it.

“We must try to score.

“We have a lots of first timers in the team, the likes of Mathias Iani and Tome who are the two upfront.

“Hopefully they will step up for us in our final match,” Allen said in the pre-match interview.

Marist currently sits third on the Group D table with two points behind Team Wellington and AS Magenta who are on four points each respectively.

While Lupe Ole Soaga had already lost the contention for the quarterfinals following two losses, the race for Group D’s two quarterfinal spots still hangs on the balance on a three horse race between Marist, Team Wellington and AS Magenta.

The match this afternoon is a crucial one for the homeside where they need a bigger winning margin inorder for them to qualify for one of the eight spots in the quarterfinals.

Marist will be hoping for nothing less than a win in the result of the 1pm encounter between Team Wellington and AS Magenta.

A draw between Team Wellington and Magenta means that Marist will have to work extra harder in the 4pm match up against Lupe Ole Soaga for a bigger margin win.

A draw for Marist against Lupe Ole Soaga would completely rule out the hosts of a place in the quarterfinals.

Marist have shown that they are capable of defending and more than capable of terrorising the final third of their opponent’s half. However with a young striker force still developing their killer instincts, Marist’s fate is still very much in their own hands.

Meanwhile, Allen calls on members of the public to come out in numbers again to cheer for them as they continue their quest in the Oceania Champions League to join fellow Telekom S-League outfit Solomon Warriors in the quarterfinals.

 

Blame the rain

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
National Parliament of Solomon Islands

No quorum, parliament adjourned, bad weather accused for low turnout

By Gary Hatigeva

PARLIAMENT was unable to resume with its official duties yesterday due to a low turnout in the number of members.

Thus it could not form a quorum for its session to establish the second reading of the Constitution (Amendment) (Dual Citizenship) Bill 2017 and other businesses of the House.

Only 23 members of Parliament (MP) managed to make it, though not all on time.

But, 23 MPs according to Aoke/Langalanga MP Matthew Wale, who had called for a point of order, was not enough to fulfil the constitutional requirements for a quorum.

Parliament was however given 15 minutes to wait for the remaining MPs to attend, but officials say could not happen due to the bad weather that hit Honiara yesterday morning causing floods and blocking road accesses.

As set out in the Order Paper for yesterday’s businesses, Members were expected to take part in an asking and answering of question session, and deliberate on the second reading of the ‘Constitution (Amendment) (Dual Citizenship) Bill 2017’.

Initially, as stated in the Order Paper, Parliament was expected to cover all its highlighted matters for the day (Thursday, March 1, 2018) and have the meeting adjourned to Monday, March 5, 2018, but the situations had again forced the House to make another adjournment to today.

Parliament could not make up the number after the 5 minuted requirement was given to form quorum for the meeting to proceed, the Speaker, under Section 67 of the Constitution and Section 12 (2) and (3) of the Parliamentary Standing Orders, adjourned the House to this morning.

Auki Market a place to do your shopping

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Part of varieties of vegetable sales in Auki Market.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

AUKI market is a place to do your shopping whenever in Auki.

The market located just within the heart of Auki town provides varieties of both local and foreign products with affordable sales.

The market building just as tidy as your home, surely won’t makes you hesitate to visit with its beautiful environment.

Vendors, mostly women from nearby Kwaio, Kwara’ae, within Langa Langa lagoon and even from the northern part of the island are those usually meet in the market.

All local products any can imagine were sold in the market and as well there are lock-shops one can buy foreign goods.

Order of market arrangement on tables in the market building starts with root crops, vegetables, cook food, handy craft including second hand clothes, fish markets just within a building.

Part of varieties of vegetable sales in Auki Market.

The fish market just on the edge of the building usually provides with all types of tuna and varieties of reef fish at very cheaper prices.

Thus, the right time of the day if you want to buy fish is during the afternoons when all fishermen mostly men within the lagoon arrive with their catches.

Towards the main entrance of the market building, located the betel nut market just within the same vicinity.

Betel-nut often sells at very affordable prices ranges from $1-2 dollars for betel-nut and leaf, even now a heap of four or five betel nuts sold only for $2 dollars.

Thus, if you familiar with the Honiara Central Market, there’s no difference to the setting of the building and varieties of goods sold except for very tidy and clean market environment Auki Market has.

Gizo prepares to host Crystal Serenity

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

WESTERN province is preparing to host the cruise liner Crystal Serenity in Gizo town, Premier Wayne Maepioh says.

Although Western province is facing challenges regarding border security, Mr Maepioh reassures that all preparations are bent on ensuring a safe and enjoyable time for the visiting tourists.

Maepioh said, “People of Western province are now ready to accommodate the full capacity the Crystal Serenity holds, and nothing will happen, they will enjoy their short stay in western province peacefully.”

He said they are aware that this is Crystal Serenity’s first visit to the province, and they will make sure that the tourists have the time of their lives by experiencing and enjoying what the province has to offer safely.

According to SIVB, this is Crystal Serenity’s first visit to the country and Honiara and Gizo are the pilot sites to host the liner and her passengers.

Crsytal Serenity departs Honiara today at 8pm for Gizo.

Sustaining peace and stability

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Group photo of the Prime Minister, Officials and various representatives.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

IN any society the need to sustain peace is important for its betterment and advancement.

This is according to Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela who was present at the launching of UNPBF (United Nations Peacebuilding Fund) Joint Programme Initiative at Heritage Park Hotel yesterday.

Moreover, he shared a message under the programme’s theme “Sustaining Peace and Stability” and highlighted that without peace, development will cease to occur.

In addition, the Prime Minister said that when peace is absent children will not be able to go to school and the aspect of realising our full potentials and aspirations will only remain as mere dreams.

“The nexus of peace and development, therefore, cannot be exaggerated. We need peace in order to have optimal and sustainable development. The inverse is equally true in that we have to have development in order to have peace in our communities throughout the country,” he said.

Prime Minister Houenipwela digressed to state that it is not only about employment opportunities or strong per capita incomes but also about engineering a development avenue that will spur growth and empower people in the rural areas.

“It is about creating the enabling environment, a development pathway that empowers women and youth, harness comparative advantages in their localities. It is about remaining engaged and having the feeling of worth and a sense of making a contribution to the welfare and betterment of the country as whole,” he said.

The initiative is a UNBPF funded project that aims to support sustaining peace in Solomon Islands in the Post RAMSI and election period through inclusive implementation of solutions supported by UN agencies, UNDP (United Nations Development Project) and UN Women in collaboration with PMO (Prime Minister’s Office), MNURP (Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace) MWYCFA (Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs) and other relevant stakeholders.

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