THIS year Young Women Christian Association Solomon Islands (YWCA SI) is planning to work closely with People with Disability Solomon Islands (PWDSI) in terms of empowering them with their yearly established programmes.
This was confirmed by the General Secretary of YWCA SI Mrs Joycelyn Lai in an exclusive interview yesterday.
She said PWDSI has been a target group her organisation has eyed to work closely with by investing in them.
However the programme must be of gender quality hence it’s inclusive for all people with special needs.
“We desired to empower them in relation to leadership, skills activities and other ways they can venture into to enable them to generate income.
Lai said YWCA SI has seen PWSDI needs that needed to be addressed hence they step in as a supportive arm.
She adds that there will be challenges ahead in terms of finance but they will find possible ways to keep the partnership and the programs soon to be carried will go well.
A long serving non-governmental women organisation, Young Women Christian Association in Solomon Islands (YWCA SI) this year has called on interested and committed women and girls to become members and promote YWCA.
This call was made yesterday by the YWCASI General Secretary Mrs Jocelyn Lai.
She said the organisation is looking forward to welcome interested women and girls who wish to become a member as of this year and onwards.
“All are welcomed including school drop outs, house wives, working wives and all interested females are asked to come and enquire for process to become a member.
“We accept members from different backgrounds, with varying skills and experience also those that eager to obtain new knowledge regarding different spheres of life and other related areas like life skills,” Lai said.
Moreover she furthers by urging the old members to come forward and renew their membership fees which is still remains as the $20 per head.
NORTHWEST Choiseul citizens at Ward 12 welcome their MPA’s reply over the accusation he bribed voters with alcohol during a recent Timber Rights Hearing at Taro Station.
According to Mr Nerio Ulemiki the media coordinator for Christ the King Parish at Voruvoru reporting, Ward citizens have noted his response saying that what he was accused of is only a caution for such practise to not be applied in their Ward and province.
Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Varisi Lavata at Ward 12 Northwest Choiseul Hon Gideon Panisaga when earlier contacted over the accusation had rebuffed using alcohol to bribe voters.
He said what he did was not bribery at all.
“During such meetings is the only time I have meeting up with most of my Ward people especially the young youths who normally want to enjoy alcohol,” said Hon Panisaga.
“I know my boundaries as a leader and to do such bad practise to my own people will be wrong. Whatever done during that time I am accused off was only for that time with no motive behind it.”
A concerned citizen expresses that with potential in the country’s tourism sector, particularly in accommodation the National Provident Fund (NPF) should build a 5 star resort at Munda, Western Province.
A Mr George Notoibae said that NPF should make a franchise agreement with a company that carries a brand name to take care of their marketing, promotions, know-how etc.
In this regard, he explains that such companies are not only well known around the world but are also very popular to tourists all due to their status of providing the best services.
“Companies with brand names are well known and these are companies that are most favored by tourists because they are the best when it comes to what they represent in terms of their services, hospitality and image”, Mr Notoibae said.
He furthers that hotels are potentially capable of contributing to the country’s tourism sector.
“So if the Ministry of Tourism and the government can seriously look into prioritizing this then we should be well off as compared to other countries in the Pacific because we are culturally diverse and this is something that attracts tourists here”, Mr Notoibae said.
TRIAL into the case against the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and his wife has commenced in the Honiara Magistrate Court yesterday.
First prosecution witness has been called and will continue giving evidence today.
This is the case in relation to the suspended permanent secretary Mr Henry Murray and his wife.
Murray is facing counts of official corruption contrary to section 91 (a) of the Penal Code and Rose Murray is facing 19 counts of false pretence contrary tosection 308 (a) of the Penal Code.
They were charged in relation to an allegation relate to a series of offences alleged between 2014 to 2017 in relation to multiple payments of motor vehicle hire charges to a company that police alleged was registered to the PS 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.
The couple appeared at the Honiara Magistrate Court and apart from the cash bail other strict conditions also applied on both the accused.
That they must surrender all passports (official and personal), Surrender any or all keys, access cards, identification cards to the offices of Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) including telecommunication devices, cellular phones laptop computers, motor vehicles, passwords and pass codes and uniform items provided to him by virtue of his contract of employment as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development;
Not to approach or enter Office buildings belonging to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development or Ministry of Finance & Treasury;
To reside at their current residential address situated at East Kola Ridge, Honiara;
Not to interfere with Police witnesses;
Not to contact any person directly or indirectly employed by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development or the Ministry of Finance & Treasury;
Not to leave or travel out of Honiara or Guadalcanal Province without the consent of the court and to report to Naha Police Station every Mondays and Fridays between 8:00am – 4:00pm.
Leslie Kwaiga from L & L law firm represents the couple while Florence Joel from the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown.
FORMER councillor of the Honiara Town Council HTC, now Honiara City Council (HCC), Charles Lesimaoma, believes the Anti-Corruption Bill (ACB) and Whistle Blower Bill (WBB) can fight corruption in this country.
The ACB and WBB are two of the eight bills now before parliament.
The government, under the leadership of Rick Hou, will deliberate on these bills when parliament resumes next week.
Mr Lesimaoma, who worked for the HTC (now HCC) for 12 years, said corruption is high here and the introduction of these laws will help curb it.
He said the ACB and WBB are bills the last government has strongly talked about.
The former ward-1 councillor said these bills have raised public expectation but was dropped in parliament in the end.
“There was a general expectation that these bills to be passed but there was a change in government,” Lesimaoma said.
He said the current government should use its short time in office to have the two bills passed.
“Having these bills (ACB & WBB) passed should be a wonderful gift the government present to the people of this country before its leave,” Lesimaoma said.
He took the opportunity to acknowledge Prime Minister Hou for displaying concern over government spending by way of enforcing cost-cutting measures shortly after assuming office.
Lesimaoma said added this country need leaders who are not self-serving and are role model for the public.
The City Councillor for Vura ward in Honiara Mr Reginald Ngati
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
SINUSA President Mr Reginald Ngati
THE Ministry of education (MEHRD) has reached out to students of Solomon Islands national university (SINU) by way of dialogue yesterday.
It is understood issues concerning student welfare topped the agenda list.
President of SINU’s student association Mr Reginald Ngati, after the meeting with permanent secretary of MEHRD, Dr Franco Rodie, spoke highly of the meetings outcome.
Saying that Mr Rodie has promised to consider recommendations put before him by the student association.
“I want to praise PS Rodie for the way he open up discussion and accepted the mind of students presented to his yesterday in our exclusive dialogue.
“Now I am waiting on PS’s discretion and administration to see what they can do in their capacity regarding our concerns.
“I want to call on students who affected by this issue to stay calm and bear with Ministry and me as a president as we try to sort things out here.”
Ngati acknowledges Rodie’s patience and amicable approach in dealing with the SINU students issue, which is one major challenge for the ministry.
GIZO Community High school has closed due to the safety fears caused by the escape of 29 Bougainvillean men from police custody yesterday.
School Principal Mr Wiggen laments that the closure will adversely affect students’ education, but insists that it is for the safety of everyone.
He shares to Island Sun that following yesterday’s news of the detainees’ escape parents flooded the school early to pick up their children.
Police also advised the school to close while the situation remains hot.
Businesses in Gizo yesterday also closed their doors following the escape, awaiting advice from the police on the status of the situation.
Meanwhile, Wiggen says, “Both CHS and Primary Division has close for normal classes but our school will depend entirely of the current situation in Gizo. Safety is our school number one priority and we calls on the students to stay safe. We will inform parents and students when the school will start if the situation calm this week.”
All bottle shops and night clubs within Gizo remain close until further notice.
BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO
SERVICES including banks, shops, liquor outlets and pubs & night clubs in Gizo are closed following yesterday’s escape incident.
Police have informed owners of businesses in Gizo, Munda and Noro and nearby islands to close temporarily while they sort out the issue of the 29 Bougainvillean men who had escaped police custody yesterday morning.
Gizo police officers together with reinforcements from Honiara are on the lookout for the escapees.
All bottle shops and night clubs within Gizo remain close until further notice.
The Bougainvilleans had been arrested on Tuesday after they illegally crossed border and were making their way to Noro town.
It is reported that they were following news that one of their kinsmen had died in Noro under suspicious circumstances.
RSIPF are now carrying out high visible security services and investigation is going on right now but they kindly ask the relatives of Shortlands Island and Bougainville to calm.
Meanwhile, Western Province Premier Mr Wayne Maepio declared yesterday that all liquor outlets within Gizo, Noro and Munda are to remain closed together with public bars, restaurants, resorts and night clubs.
Maepio said “both parties will settle this issue in a proper way rather than taking law into our own hands”.
Maepio understands that RSIPF together with the PRT have now set up a security service around Gizo, Noro and Munda for public safety.
People living around Gizo frustrate over the closure of Shops within Gizo town over the current situation happen on Wednesday
PM Houenipwela with his Ministers in group photo with the Taiwan Ambassador Roger Luo during handing over ceremony of 11,000 solar Lamp at the
Ministry of Rural Development complex, KGVI.
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
THE Republic of China (Taiwan) handed over 11,000 units of solar lamps to the Solomon Islands Government’s Ministry of Rural Development yesterday, which will be distributed among the country’s 50 constituencies.
The donation comes under Taiwan’s 2018 Clean Energy Project: One Student One Solar Lamp Programme. The units cost Taiwan around SDB$3 million.
The solar lamps will be distributed to students and villagers in all 50 constituencies through the MPs’ CDO office in the Ministry of Rural Development. Each constituency will receive 220 units.
Taiwan’s Ambassador to Solomon Islands His Excellency Roger Luo said the Clean Energy Project demonstrates Taiwan’s continued commitment to Solomon Islands.
He also adds it demonstrate Taiwan’s dedication to promote reliable and affordable solar energy to students and villagers in the rural areas of Solomon Islands.
PM Houenipwela with his Ministers in group photo with the Taiwan Ambassador Roger Luo during handing over ceremony of 11,000 solar Lamp at the Ministry of Rural Development complex, KGVI.
Mr Luo explained the solar lamp project originated from the One Student One Solar Lamp Programme since 2011, and is intended to help Solomon Islands students with better lighting systems for their daily study.
“Solomon Islands have abundant sunlight all year round, therefore it has great potential to benefit from clean solar energy,” Luo said.
In the presence of senior government officials yesterday, Luo assures Taiwan is ready to help Solomon Islands improve living conditions in rural areas by offering advanced solar energy technology.
He adds, an example is the support towards Solomon Islands national university (SINU) solar energy project this year which will be completed before the year’s end.
Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela acknowledged the government and people of Taiwan for their continuous generosity and support.
“The generous gift and support by the ROC (Taiwan) will continue to go a long way towards supporting Solomon Islands in striving to meet its educational goals and commitments in the SDGs and Solomon Islands National Strategy 2016-2023,” Mr Hou said.
He adds being encouraged by seeing that the solar lamps are suitable and appropriate for students in rural areas.
Meanwhile, the solar lamp units feature brighter LED lights, lighter weight, lithium battery, build-in AM/FM radio with antenna, and USB output.
