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PM thankful for Australia

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The Prime Minister Hon. Rick Houenipwela also joined The Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Roderick Brazier in cutting of the Australia Day celebratory cake last week at the Australian High Commissioner’s residence.

PRIME Minister Hon Rick Houenipwela was the guest of honour during the Australia Day function held at the residence of the Australian High Commissioner last week.

In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister stated how grateful he is on behalf of the Government and people of Solomon Islands, to the government of Australia and her people for the long standing association and friendly relationship enjoyed between the two countries and their citizens.

Houenipwela further expressed his appreciation for the ongoing discussions and the continuous support as well as direct assistance to Solomon Islands in critical areas of health, education, infrastructure, energy, governance, electoral reform, and telecommunications.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged the strong and close bilateral relationship enjoyed by the two countries.

“Australia is also a major, active player through its development assistance and aid programs in the Oceania region which Solomon Islands also benefits from both,” he said.

“To this end, Your Excellency, Solomon Islands wishes to thank the Australian Government for the ongoing bilateral support and also looks forward to developing the regional framework to ensure that our part of the world is safe, secure and a place where people can enjoy their future.

“The former British Prime Minister Lord Hamilton once said that in international relations there are no permanent friends but permanent interests.

“However, in the case of the special relationship between Australia and Solomon Islands, I would rather describe it as exemplified by the saying, ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’.”

“Solomon Islands will not forget,” he said.

The Prime Minister further acknowledged Australia’s many triumphs and achievements over the years in socio-economic, political and sporting spheres, extending best wishes, success and further prosperity in the years ahead.

“We will continue to stand by you as we continue our journey together for the betterment of all our peoples,” he said.

–OPMC PRESS

Boost for young statistician

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Josephat Tako receiving his certificate from the UN SIAP Director, Ashish Kumar.

“IT’S a boost for me,” says young and enthusiastic Statistician Josephat Tako.

Young Tako works as an assistant statistician within the Social Demography Unit in the National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Finance & Treasury (MoFT).

Recently he attended and successfully completed a second group training programme on Improving Capability in Producing Official Statistics for Monitoring the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) held in Chiba, Japan.

The programme runs from August 21 to December 15, 2017.

It was conducted by the United Nation Statistical Institute for Asia and Pacific (UN SIAP), in alliance with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) of the government of Japan.

The training involved theory and hands-on (practical) task with a total of 27 statisticians from 15 countries attended.

The participants are from; Asia & Pacific- Bangladesh, Ghana, Cameron, Congo, Indonesia, Kyrgyz-stan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tajikistan and Timor-Leste.

The training aims at strengthening the capacity of national statistical systems to produce data, apply statistical methods to produce official statistics and indicators and interpret and use these for monitoring progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Young Tako said the programme is really a bonus for him as it help enhanced his statistical knowledge and skills.

“The training has offered me a great learning opportunity and experience.

“The lessons taught really boost my statistical knowledge to be more effective and efficient in serving the National Statistics Office (NSO) and the country as a whole,” he said.

Tako vowed to utilise the knowledge and skills acquired and help his colleagues in producing official statistics and indicators, interpret and use these for monitoring progress in SDGs and also to produce official statistics that would help policy-makers for future planning.

He said what interest him is the fieldwork/field study based on the Japan household survey.

“I acquired much from the fieldwork.

“It enriched my skills and sure I got new experiences on Japan household survey and methods they used to collect official data.

“In fact, household survey is one of the main duty of the statistics office, as performed by statisticians.

“I believe if we could learn from Japan’s strategies, it would create a way forward for Solomon Islands with regards to improving and defining new strategy for the country’s data collection approaches.

“For me, the training is worthwhile and I am happy to say that I took all values as much as I could, not only about technical skill but also moral lessons.”

The programme also includes a field trip to Hokkaido Prefecture/Miyagi Prefecture from November 13 to 15, 2017 for all the participants.

The purpose of the outing is;

  • To increase participants’ knowledge on the statistical activities of the prefectural government offices and in particular, the field operations of the Family Income and Expenditure Survey, and
  • To enhance participants’ understanding of the role of statistics on the economic and social situation of the prefectures through the activities of manufacturing corporations/academic in Japan.

The field visit involves observation and making courtesy visits to the Japan Statistics Bureau and the Office of Policy Planning (Statistical Standards) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the National Statistics Centre, industrial establishment, academic institutions, other Japan’s statistics divisions and have talks on Japanese Statistical System.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tako thanked UN SIAP in cooperation with JICA and the Japanese Government for the opportunity and for all the support rendered to him during the course of the training.

“As there is a global commitment to working towards achieving the SDGs under the slogan ‘No one left behind’, so I am hopeful that development partners including Japan will continue to support and cooperate with developing country like Solomon Islands to attain these goals and targets.”

Tako also expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government Statistician Douglas Kimi for the trust he has placed on him and the support the NSO rendered that makes his study programme a success.

–SINSO PRESS

SINU halts SIG students from registration

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SOLOMON Islands National University has halted Government funded students from registering, it is reported.

As SINU begins its registration for this year, students under SIG scholarship are not allowed to register, both continuing and new ones.

From last week and this week, many government sponsored students were sent home because of government’s outstanding tuition fee with SINU last year.

SINU has made such move because the government has a massive outstanding tuition fee with the institution.

Speaking with the Students Association President Mr Reginald Ngati, he said many of the affected students are those under MP scholarship.

Ngati said SINU is putting their registration on hold until government fixes its outstanding tuition fees.

He said as a body established to man student’s welfare they are calling on the current government to address their issue.

“All government sponsored student, SINU now did not allow them to register, and they demand government must paid half or full tuition fee from last year including this new semester,” Ngati said.

He said it is important that student must continue with their academic, and SINU needs that money for its financial year as well.

“They need that money before student can come for registration, so every ongoing students will have to wait upon the government, and lot of SIG sponsored student were send because of this,” he adds.

Ngati said this kind of issue are unfair to students where government should consider.

“To me it’s two thing, either government continue sponsoring student or close your scholarship so that student are not affected in their education,” he adds.

Ngati said the SINUSA will continue to monitor the situation purposely to ensure government and SINU come into resolution for students to continue with their academic.

 

Push for introduction of RTC

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

PUSHING to introduce a Rural Training Centre (RTC) at the Russell Islands is one of the provincial education tasks according to Central Islands Premier Hon Patrick Vasuni.

The CIP Premier said this during outlining the provincial education activities and programs for 2018.

He said plans for the education development of the province cannot be materialised if there is lack of co-operation between all stakeholders.

“Quality education can only be achieved through mutual co-operation by the National Government and Provincial Government including support from teachers, parents, guardians and education Officers,” said Hon Vasuni.

Education authorities and school leaders on LEAP mentors workshop

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Male school leaders from provinces on yesterday’s officially opening of mentors induction workshop

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

LEADERS Education Authorities Project (LEAP) and Provincial Education Authorities (PEA) are currently holding a weeklong workshop in Honiara.

Spearheaded by the Leaders Education Authorities Project (LEAP), it is an initiative under the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) and was funded for by the New Zealand Government.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development Dr Francis Rodie, says the workshop is to improve schools opportunity to learn literacy and also a space whereby mentors will be able to familiarise themselves with LEAP policies, reference materials, trainings and coaching schedules.

“The idea behind workshop is to help improve students’ opportunities to learn literacy and to strengthen the work of the PEA and school leadership.

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

“And also it is a fundamental skill for learning and ability to live a fulfilling and meaningful life and student’s levels of primary education need help to attain the literacy competencies and standards set,” Rodie said.

Professor Kabini Sanga adds it is good to have new school leaders and PEA’s undergo this workshop because it will enable them to help tackle Solomon Islands literacy and leadership challenges in education from authorities to pupils.

He strongly urged participants to deliberately mentor other Solomon Islanders and students after this weeklong workshop when needed to.

The workshop commenced yesterday.

Increased school capacity requires more investment

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Some of the Provincial Education Authorities and School Leaders on yesterday's mentors induction workshop

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

Proffessor Kabini Sanga speaking during the offcially opening of the workshop

AS the country’s population grows so too does the task of providing quality education for our children.

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) Dr Frances Rodie highlighted that schools are become increasingly diverse and their capacity to provide empowering education requires more investment.

This requires the country to invest more on time, resources, and guidance needed for the society.

“By the time we commit ourselves to invest on these key areas it will help schools to move towards teaching that will meet individuals at their point of readiness, interest and meaningful profile.”

Rodie adds that it is time provincial education authorities and school leaders are supported to help them prepare young people to face the ever changing and challenging real world.

Some of the Provincial Education Authorities and School Leaders on yesterday’s mentors induction workshop

“Students today needs to be trained to be the change and be the leaders for an entirely different world of tomorrow.”

Road users urged to think safety

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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ROAD users in Honiara and all throughout the provinces are urged to think safety during the current wet season when travelling on the roads.

Director of the Traffic Department of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Inspector, Brian Surimalefo makes the call in the midst of the current bad weather being experienced throughout the country.

“Safety on the road begins with all of us, whether you are a vehicle driver or pedestrian it is always our duty to think about others’ safety.

“As drivers, we must concentrate taking into consideration the state of the roads as a result of the bad weather. Furthermore, we must not create extra lanes just because the traffic is slow but exercise some patience.

“Pedestrians are also encouraged to take care when walking along the foot paths. Do not play along the roadsides and always remember due to the wet weather the roads are slippery.

“Drivers in the provinces are reminded to take extra care as sometimes you have to drive across streams and rivers with no bridges. Check how deep the water is before attempting to cross any waterway.”

–POLICE MEDIA

Gov’t eyes 11 bills for parliament this year

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Hon Rick Hou

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

THE Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government has assured commitment to deliver 11 bills before parliament this year.

Prime Minister Hon Rick Hou made the statement during his first ever press conference with local media yesterday.

“At the moment let me assure Solomon Islands that we have committed to delivering on a number of important legislation this year.”

Hou explained they include, Anti-Corruption Bill 2017, Constitution (Amendment) (Electoral Reform) Bill 2018, Legal Profession Bill 2017 and Whistle Blower Bill 2017.

Adding, the Prescription of Ministers (Amendment) Bill 2017, Strata Titles Bill 2017, Constitution (Amendment) (Dual Citizenship) Bill 2017, Citizenship Bill 2017, Political Parties Integrity Amendment Bill 2018, Mineral Bill 2018 and Forestry Bill 2018.

He said that in fact five or six of these Bills are already in Parliament and they have scheduled them for the upcoming meeting in March.

Hou said they hope to do those bills with the budget in March.

He made it clear that if any bill that is unfinished, like the Political Parties Integrity Amendment Bill 2018, Mineral Bill 2018 and Forestry Bill 2018 that are still to work on them, they will ready before the budget session at the end of the year.

However, when local media asked on the status of the Anti-Corruption Bill he said his government made no changes on the bill.

Hou said they are looking at taking the revised one which was once brought before parliament last year.

He said the ACB will be among the first set of bills to go before parliament together with the budget in March this year.

Japanese faces trial for alleged commercial sexual offending

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE hearing of evidence into the case of a Japanese national alleged for procuration of children for sexual commercial purposes has resumed at the High Court yesterday.

The accused is faced with 15 counts in relation to incidents that occurred in 2016 in Honiara.

The Public Prosecutor Sirepu Ramosaea in her opening remarks before calling the prosecution witnesses said the accused is a Japanese and is been charged with 15 counts of offending under the Penal Code on amended Sexual offending Act 2016.

She said police made an investigation following information they received that the accused engaged in sexual activities taking photographs of children believed to be of Solomon Island girls or children.

Police then searched his hotel room and seized several items including a sonny-laptop belonging to the accused.

The prosecution said in the laptop police found photographs of naked children procuring for commercial and sexual purposes for him.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and a trial date was set.

The first prosecution witness Angela Nandu told the court yesterday that when she saw the defendant taking photographs of children at Karaina sea front on a Saturday in 2016 she never suspects that anything bad would happen.

Prosecution witness said that on a Saturday in 2016 she was at the seaside doing her laundry when she saw the accused taking photos of children swimming in the sea.

The witness said she asked the accused on what he was doing and he said that he worked at the Ministry of Health at the Environment division and what he is doing is just part of his job.

“I also asked him where is he from and he told me that he is from Korea”, the witness said.

The witness also said that after he took photos he shared Lollies to the children.

Yesterday the prosecution only called two witnesses and the trial will continue today.

A private lawyer Michael Pitakaka represents the accused.

PTC adjourns for suspended officer

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE Pre-trial conference (PTC) into the case against a suspended police officer alleged for a traffic related offence occurred last year has not been conducted yesterday.

This is due to the prosecution and the defence lawyer not preparing the required PTC documents.

This is the allegation against a police officer Moffat Manelusi for crashing a police vehicle in November last year.

The Prosecution said the accused was a police officer at that time of incident when he crashed the police vehicle into a tree at a road side at the King George school area.

He however denied the allegation in his last appearance in court which was then adjourned for PTC yesterday.

Mr Manelusi is currently facing charges of reckless & dangerous driving and careless driving in relation to the incident on November 10.

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