Marist players Michael Boso and Timothy Bakale in action last season's Oceania Chapions League
BY ROMULUS HUTA
MARIST coach Jerry Allan is calling for strong home support as they are about to begin their campaign in the Oceania Champions League Group D competition this weekend in Honiara.
Marist will open their group campaign in their quest for a place in the quarterfinals going up against 2017 grandfinalist Team Wellington at 4pm on Saturday at Lawson Tama Stadium.
The 2010 O-League winning coach with Hekari of Papua New Guinea said they are playing at home which is already an advantage but their also need strong support.
Marist will head into camp today. The venue is yet to finalized, according to Allan.
Safety fears high in Western province after arrested group of men flee police custody
By Gary Hatigeva & Alfred Pagepitu
THE 29 Bougainvilleans arrested near Gizo on Tuesday for allegedly entering Solomon Islands waters illegally, have reportedly escaped from police custody and are currently at large.
Reports suggest that the escape took place sometime between 7am and 8am. They had been held awaiting formal questioning at the Gizo police station.
While Island Sun is yet to verify claims that the Bougainvilleans had been aided in their escape, it is understood that police in Gizo were only made aware after receiving reports of a harassment incident after 8am.
Minor incidents around Gizo yesterday morning were connected to the escapees, which caused panic among residents and got the police in Western province to advice businesses in and around the region to close while they work to settle the matter.
Western premier Mr Wayne Maepioh in response has declared closed all schools, liquor outlets, bars and night clubs in Gizo, Munda, Noro and surrounding islands. A curfew has also been imposed from 10pm and 6am.
Meanwhile, reports of incidents linked to the escapees have been ruled out by the authorities and focus remains high on the men’s escape.
Police in Gizo have refused to give out further details into the escape incident but reports reaching this paper reveal that the escapees took advantage of the fact that the gates were left opened ‘intentionally’, something police are yet to confirm.
Reports said the group’s arrest was based on illegal entry to Solomon Islands waters but officials said if reports of the group trying to interfere with domestic matters is true, that would also lead to a national matter.
“That would mean these men are trying to take matters of any laws, whether it be here in Solomon Islands or in Bougainville, into their own hands.
“And that, we do not tolerate. If they are genuinely concerned about the incident in Noro, they should let the laws of this country take its course so justice can be served.”
Meanwhile, officials from the Western Provincial Government have made a public announcement for the closure of schools in Gizo and are also calling on their residents to stay calm as they are working together with Honiara police to ensure the situation is contained and peace is upheld.
They have also reminded and warned residents not to spread rumours that would create panic and chaos.
It is understood that members of the Honiara Police and its Response Unit (PRT) are currently in the provincial capital to help ground officers deal with the incident.
RITE TRADE Logging Company’s move to log Suruniai tribal land in East Are Are is being questioned.
A Mr Aloysio Arukeni from Sihu village in East Are Are questions the eligibility of the land since it is not under the company’s concession agreement.
He said currently the logging company and members of his subsidiary licensee, Tai’are are manipulating individual landowners of Suruni’ai to sign the tribal land for harvesting.
Arukeni complains that the move taken is completely outside of the required legal proceeding under the forestry act.
“It is obvious that there is a standard legal requirement under the forestry act in placed to attain to customary land for harvesting. There must be land consultation to inform the land owners on the proposal, and public timber right-hearing must also conduct so landowners can share their views on the proposal. Nothing of such happened for landowners of Suruni’ai tribal land or people in the area to aware of it and Suruni’ai never under the company’s concession area.”
Arukeni said what everyone knows is the company’s concession area ends in Rani tribal land. He said the company had also recently put up a three-month notice that they would leave.
“Thus, the landowners want to know whether such approach is legal under the forestry act. And if its, why not all landowners consulted on the matter? The approach taken is like a broad daylight roping on the resource owners while they are there and undermine their rights to have any say on their resources.”
Arukeni calls upon the commissioner of forest to investigate this, and appeals to Rite Trade logging company, Tai’are licensee and individual landowners involved to follow legal procedures.
Former Malaita provincial MPA, Mr Jimmy Bill William Namoriu speaking during the recent conservation awareness at Haukona village.
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
in Auki
Former Malaita provincial MPA, Mr Jimmy Bill William Namoriu speaking during the recent conservation awareness at Haukona village.
A former MPA for Malaita has called on tribes near Raripaina tribal land to consider conserving their lands.
Mr Jimmy Bill William Namoriu made the call during a conservation awareness held at Haukona village last week.
He said the environment, biological and historical significance of the lands must be kept at heart by the landowners.
Namoriu said there were cultural legends and remnants like for Raripaina land and due to their interconnection with its surrounding tribal lands, they can share the same in their lands.
“If you care for your resource, your children and their children will continue to enjoy and benefit from them. No pristine forest you can find anywhere in Are Are due to logging, only the remaining portion is in the Central Highlands of Are Are.”
Namoriu said having that last virgin forest, landowners must protect them and say no to logging.
GUADALCANAL Province is planning to hold a huge land summit in Honiara next month.
The Guadalcanal land summit is supported by the provincial government, with support commitment coming from the National government and a UN agency.
Guadalcanal Provincial Assembly Member, John Nano, confirmed it will happen next month and all Guadalcanal leaders are expected to attend.
Asked about the agenda, Nano said it will cover almost everything concern Guadalcanal land.
“This summit will look at issues like the current land tenure system, future of Guadalcanal land, Honiara city land, everything about Guadalcanal land,” Nano confirmed.
He said they are still finalizing the actual day and venue of the event and soon they will send out invitation all across Guadalcanal.
Nano said it is hoped the outcome of the summit will be condensed into a report that will be the basis of their province’s land ordinances.
He said they wanted land ordinances or laws to suit the culture of Guadalcanal with regards to how lands are sold, transfer and so on.
“We expect leaders from all over the island representing the four region and 21 wards of Guadalcanal and 21 houses of chiefs to attend,” Nano said.
THE Ministry of Forest and Research has been asked to explain why one of its officers is in Waisisi, west Areare.
A Mr Aloysio Arukeni said recently an officer from the Ministry’s Operation Division in Honiara went over to Waisisi to assess a logging operation in there. From Waisisi the officer crossed to Auki.
Arukeni said people later found out that the officer was not in Waisisi to conduct an assessment.
He said it was alleged that the officer’s visit to Waisisi was to work with the logging company, licensee and individual landowners on behalf of government on a deal to extend the operation of the company.
“I was at Waisisi when the officer was there, and I happened to get glimpse of the secretly dealing. It known to me that the officer was there to facilitate an underground individual signing of some tribal lands in East Are Are to be logged by Rite Trade logging company. A move that is hidden from the resource owners who own the tribal lands except for only the individual landowners involved.
“Thus, what I want from the MFR is to publicly inform the people of Waisisi on the truth behind their officer’s visit to Waisisi. Secondly, I also want to know on whose interest the officer went over to Waisisi? Is it in the interest of MFR or the logging company? Thirdly, is it ethical for an officer from the MFR to facilitate or associate with such alleged corrupt dealing with logging company in the country? And lastly, why not send officer from the Forestry office in Auki to do the work since they responsible for Malaita province, but send officer from Honiara?”
Arukeni calls upon the PS and the commissioner of Forest to respond to these questions.
MALAITA fisheries is calling for support in its development plans for this year.
Principal fisheries officer for Malaita province Mr Martin Jasper said the fisheries department in Malaita province calls on the provincial government and the national ministry of fisheries to support Malaita’s fisheries plans.
“The Malaita provincial fisheries department wants to revive all the fisheries sub centres around Malaita province especially to improve the industry in our rural areas.”
He adds, the provincial head office in Auki is currently rundown due to the bad state of the building.
“The responsible authority should consider setting up a new building for the industry in the province for its development plans and purpose.”
Fisheries centres have been set up in parts of Malaita but have been rundown due to breakdown of machines there.
LAST week, Solomon Post was accompanied by Mr Martin Hine, President of Global Partnership, Bibimoney on a trip to Auki, Malaita province.
He shared his experience with the Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela on Monday during their short visit, describing it as frightening to see teachers, police officers and health workers travelling just to collect their salaries at a cost equivalent to about 25% of their salaries.
“These guys are close to Auki, what happens to the people much further away?”, said Mr Hine.
He explained that the system will allow them to receive money without having to actually travel far to the main centers where they usually withdraw cash.
Henceforth, Mr Hine noted that if workers were getting a pay increase and receiving the money where they are while increasing economic activities and growth in their area then this is what financial inclusion is all about.
Bibimoney is a UK based Fin-Tech Company who introduced the mobile wallet service to Solomon Post last year. At the moment, they are working closely with the local corporation towards introducing the Ezi Pei mobile wallet system.
ACCORDING to Solomon Islands Postal Corporation’s CEO, Mr Allan Arafoa, they are working closely with a number of stakeholders for their new mobile wallet service that will be called “Ezi Pei”.
He made the statement during a discussion with the Prime Minister on Monday when his team paid his office a brief visit.
Moreover, Mr Arafoa said that they have been in contact with the Ministry of Finance, CBSI and PFIP office in Honiara regarding how the system would be introduced in the country.
He added that they also had a number of meetings with Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Police and the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children Affairs.
When asked by the Prime Minister about which stakeholders they are working with and the progress made so, Mr Arafoa highlighted Our Telekom and Bemobile as their main stakeholders.
“We have already spoken to Telekom and Bemobile. They would be our main stakeholders because we would rely on their mobile network throughout the country. We asked them how far they have gone into that”
“Telekom is very excited and would like to be part of this because it would also be business for them as well. We have also spoken to Bemobile and they also want to come onboard on this”, he said.
Other stakeholders like CBSI, PFIP (Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme), Ministry of Finance and Treasury and West Are’ Are group Rokotanikeni were also mentioned as key stakeholders for the Ezi Pei system.
“The Ministry of Finance if we are to take on some of the salary payments and all that, we are going to work closely with them as well”, he said.
Participants received their certificates after their training last week.
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
Participants received their certificates after their training last week.
KEEPING bee hive can be a rewarding hobby for anybody who has the passion to do it.
Bees produce honey which is a very healthy substitute for sugar to those who are healthy conscious.
According to Ben Nginabule from Solomon Islands Small Business Enterprise Centre (SISBEC), honey is considered to be a highly healthy product also offering an attractive source of income selling at around $60 to $100 per kilo at present.
“Bee farmers in NZ earn similar level of income for a kilogramme of raw honey,” said Nginabule.
“A hive can produce an average of 45 kilogramme per harvest that is if all the 10 frames are full.”
“In areas where the weather is dry and sunny most time with no presence of Asian bees (another bee species) with decent flowery presence, harvest can take place more than twice a year.”
“With that information, a quick math gives you a rough figure of how much you can earn from one hive. One time harvest per year can earn you up to $4,500 and two times harvest per year gives you $9,000.”
“Imagine you have ten hives and harvest two times a year, that’s almost $90,000 income per year being quite good compared to the amount of labor and effort put into it.”
SISBEC Bee Trainees doing practical session. Photos by SISBEC
In SISBEC’s release, some other positivity’s in keeping bee hives include being off major investment in equipment, minimal recurring cost unlike chicken or piggery where recurring cost is huge, women and youth can do it, huge local demand for honey, other products of the bees such as wax, pollen and so can generate income.
“While the income from honey is very good, there are challenges to overcome in doing bee keeping.”
“First is to do a bee keeping training. You need to know what to do, what is involved and how to go about it.”
“You need to learn about hive management, flower and plants, weather and Asian bees.”
“Once you resolve the issue of training, then the next hurdle is having the right attitude to bee-keeping which include hard work and commitment. You could do well in keeping bees if you have the right training, right attitude, hard work and commitment.”
SISBEC works closely with the Livestock Division and farmers in the provinces to strengthen the bee keeping industry.
Their services include bee keeping training, supply of equipment, knowledge transfer, queen rearing, buy and sell honey to name a few.
