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No time to waste

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The Pacific 5000m and 10000m record holder, Sharon Firisua.

Firisua and Kam training overseas

By Taromane Martin

“NOW and onwards leading up to the Commonwealth Games in April 4th there is no time and day to waste in training and exercise to get back on the track,” says Solomon Islands track Queen Ms Sharon Firisua.

The Pacific 5000m and 10000m record holder is currently in Gold Coast attending a one week training camp at the Sport Supper Centre. She is accompanied by male long distance runner Mr Patrick Kam.

The duo left the country Sunday last week for the camp and are expected back in the country on Saturday.

“This program was organized by Griffith University and the Commonwealth Games Federation itself,” she told Sun Sports yesterday.

“Really good (the camp), it wakes us up back in training after the Christmas and New Year holiday.

“So now and onwards leading up to the Commonwealth games in April 4th there’s no wasting of any single day and time in training and exercise to keep us back on track,” the Pacific Games and Mini-Games triple gold medallist said.

The duo will also travel back to Australia this month, according to Firisua, on scholarship to train at the Melbourne-based Glenhuntly Athletics Club.

“It’s a very important training because our fitness level will be checked by the Griffith University sports scientists and doctors.

“We’re here just one week for training camp. But both are on scholarship for training starting anytime next month (February).

“After this training camp we’ll both head back to Solomon and then any time this month we’ll travel over to Melbourne to join the Glenhuntly Club. We’ll train until 2020,”Firisua said.

Meanwhile, National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) President Martin Rara has confirmed 11 athletes from fives sport codes will represent the country at this year’s Commonwealth Games.

Mr Rara said athletes from boxing, table tennis, weightlifting, triathlon and athletics will compete at the games.

The Commonwealth Games will see 18 sports to be completed by the 70 Commonwealth teams taking part.

The games will kick off on April 4 finishing on April 15.

 

PM and DPM hit back

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Prime Minister Ricky Houenipwela and Former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare

No Prime Minister’s secret fund, Hou and Sogavare in good terms

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela and Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare have refuted claims that they are not in talking terms with each other.

And, Prime Minister Hou also asserts having no knowledge of an alleged ‘secret fund’ being run in the Prime Minister’s office.

In a joint statement yesterday, the two leaders say they have a lot of work to do in such a short period of time and they cannot be deterred from this goal.

“We have a lot to of work to do and we cannot allow people with evil agendas to frustrate our resolve.”

The statement says the SI DCCG is determined to pass the 2018 budget as schedule in March and deliver on its goals it has set out to deliver on.

The statement says it appears someone is bent on driving a wedge between the Prime Minister and his deputy.

The statement said that the people should not listen to groups and individuals who maybe advancing issues aimed at destabilising the government.

It said these motives are not in the best interest of this country.

“We both assure our people that the Prime Minister and the DPM will not be deterred by such evil motives. The SIDCCG is determined to do the best for its people.”

Meanwhile, as regards to the Prime Minister’s Discretionary Fund, Prime Minister Hou says he is not aware of a “secret fund” being run in the Prime Minister’s office.

“I have no knowledge of a secret fund under ROC funding,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that ROC grant funding is a matter for that country to decide on under its normal aid programme to Solomon Islands.

–OPMC PRESS

Managing Director, Webpulse Solution Pvt Ltd”

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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(Webpulse Solution Pvt. Ltd. is an award-winning web designing, web marketing and web development company known for offering state of the art services and solutions to companies)

It seems to me an ideal opportunity to be able to further promote Solomon Islands in the manner set out and especially when anyone buying into the package on offer from the B2B website designer will have the added opportunity of having their own individual website as part of the deal and without any additional costs.

And there is the added bargain of a free trial period of 3 months.

If more information is needed please contact me via the link provided on my website and I will be very happy to help and forward any enquiries to the B2B website designer.

I should stress that my involvement in promoting this idea is entirely charitable and I will not be party to any financial arrangements that might be made by anyone with the designer of the B2B website

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

A trade and industry directory in the offing with a b2b website

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, on November 27, 2017, I wrote an article which I entitled ‘Selling the Solomon Islands’ and it was published in the Solomon Star and Island Sun.

I mentioned in my piece that I had never seen a consolidated website identifying, illustrating and promoting Solomon Island’s many businesses, products and services, handicrafts, construction, boat building, palm oil, copra, cocoa, virgin coconut oil, kava, coffee, chocolate, bananas, fish, mangoes, nuts, spices, taro, transportation, timber, transport etc.

I had my own website designed in 2014 to help put the Solomon Islands on the map and have used it to promote and advertise locally made beautiful shell inlaid wood carvings and give information on charitable welfare and rights organizations including the SINCW, SIDT, the CHRISTIAN CARE CENTRE, the FAMILY SUPPORT CENTRE, THE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ASSOCIATION and TAKE MY HANDS CHARITY TRUST (NZ).

As the private sector clearly has the potential to generate exports and contribute to the national economy, I feel I should do more to help the many local business enterprises, exporters and service providers by giving them a window to the world’s external markets and I raised the idea with the designer of my own website – www.solomonislandsinfocus.com – also the designer of many professional, internationally acclaimed B2B websites, including trade and industry directories.

This is the designer’s reply-

“Dear Mr. Short

Thank you for getting in touch with me regarding your suggestion that the Solomon Islands could greatly benefit from online services promoting the very wide range of local products and services.

“I could create a B2B Portal for small or big traders and businessmen in Solomon Islands, so that their businesses could be promoted online to open the door of online business for them.

“Nowadays, all countries have one or more Business Directories to list all their businesses, be it a seller of a product or a service. Interested buyers come online to find sellers and source products quickly.

“If all businesses in the SI could be available online, they could get business enquiries not only from within the country but also from all over the globe. And it will really help their business grow very fast.

“As you mentioned in your email to me there are businesses in the Solomon Islands dealing in a wide range of products and services including handicrafts, boat building, construction, copra, virgin coconut oil, cocoa, coffee, fruits like mangoes, bananas, papaw, pineapples, fish, kava, transportation, tourism, hotels, resorts, and institutes etc.”

“My proposal would be to develop a Business to Business (B2B) Portal or Directory displaying and listing all the businesses in SI with their company logo, company name, address, contact details and with an enquiry form.

“Such a service would promote the B2B Portal on the internet through Google and Face book to drive the traffic of interested customers searching suppliers or service providers from SI and it will generate business enquiries for them.

“Moreover, we will offer a website on sub-directory URL of the Portal where all businesses could showcase their products and services along with photographs, product descriptions, prices etc. Also, giving an introduction to their individual business, a company profile, team photos, and infrastructure photos to make the tailor made website very informative and engaging for online visitors, for after all, a website is the mirror of a business.

“The websites will also be mobile responsive (which changes its structure according to the screen size and fits well to give a best user experience) and SEO friendly.

“Keywords would be optimised to promote the website on Google.

“All registered businesses on the Portal would have a member dashboard to manage the content on the website, their contact details, products and services.

“All enquiries coming through their business listing on the B2B Portal or their individual website will be sent to their email ID and also one copy will be stored in their member’s folder so that they don’t miss any enquiry and be to manage and reply to enquiries promptly.

“To be able to keep promoting the Portal online on Google through dedicated SEO activities, and to ensure business enquiries, I would need to change a very affordable and minimal fee of US$999 from each registered member per year.

“I can assure you, Mr. Short, with the launch of a B2B Portal, businesses will flourish.

“I have closely followed your letters to the Solomon Islands media over several years and I have often felt rather sad that the economy is sluggish and that businesses in SI struggle to generate income due to limited online promotion.

“These days, web promotion on Google is not an option but a must.

“I will look forward to you letting me know how my company might help develop a B2B Portal for the Solomon Islands and it would be our great pleasure if our many years of technical expertise can help businesses in SI to grow.

“I would greatly welcome enquiries.

Yours sincerely

Rahul Ranjan

A feared boating tragedy – spare a thought and a prayer for Kiribati

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, the Solomon Islands has had its share of tragic boating incidents but nothing, I believe, as what is emerging as a real tragedy for the nearby island and people of Kiribati.

Quoting the news relayed by Radio New Zealand International today – 30 January 2018.

“Missing Kiribati ferry shaping up as a tragedy for island

“The MP for the Kiribati island a missing ferry departed from says the tragedy has left the island of only 2,000 people devastated.

“The vessel Butiraoi, which may have been carrying as many as 100 people, vanished after leaving Nonouti on January the 18th.

“Seven survivors were found drifting in a dinghy on Sunday and an international search for other survivors is continuing, but chances are growing slimmer by the day.

“The Nonouti MP, Sir Ieremia Tabai, says many of the missing are probably high school children heading to Tarawa for the term.

“It’s a real sad day for those who lost their loved ones. I know from my village, I think two or three people that I personally know and live next to in my village, and they are on that boat that perished. People on Nonouti are affected in a very serious way.”

“Sir Ieremia Tabai says an independent inquiry needs be launched, as the ferry was clearly not seaworthy.”

Copyright 2018, Radio New Zealand (All Rights Reserved)

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

Major reforms and meeting the press

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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GOOD on you Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela for taking the bold move to reduce your political appointees, terminating all vehicle lease agreement and cutting back on post-paid mobile phones for your staff.

These reforms are as you rightly said to save money and cut back on unnecessary spending past governments has endured.

Thumbs up Prime Minister and we congratulate you for this brave move.

We say this was a bold decision because we know some people would be unhappy; however the national interest is paramount and we wish to congratulate you and your team Mr Prime Minister.

Despite your short stint in the Prime Ministership seat, you’ve done a tremendous job so far in saving money. We wish you will continue to implement these reforms until your term ends.

We will want to see these reforms carried through until the next elections early next year.

We also hope these reforms would not be the only ones taken to save money. As an economist yourself, we know you can do a lot of reforms to qualify this country of its developing status.

Although we do not have the qualities to become a developed nation overnight, we have the resources at our disposal to become a rich country.

And only visionary leader like yourself and likeminded people around you would be able to push Solomon Islands forward to be self-reliant, economically sustainable and ensure financial stability.

However we demand such reforms to be implemented in other government ministries and departments.

We think other line ministries are also inquiring unnecessary costs which costs the national government a lot. If such reforms can be done across the board, then it would be save us more money.

Saying it is one thing and actually doing it is quite another, so we hope such reforms must be seen to be done and supported by all those involved. Supporting these reforms spearheaded by Prime Minister Houenipwela is what we are asking for here.

Finally we welcome the ‘meet the media’ strategy the Prime Minister has announced. As patron of the Media Association of Solomon Islands, you have exercised your rights to take the lead in meeting the media with your regular press conferences.

We hope your regular press conferences will contribute to public awareness, educating our ordinary people with government’s policies and eradication of rumours and dissemination of factual information for our people to make informed choices.

For that this newspaper wishes to register its appreciation in spearheading this move and for other ministries to also meet the media regularly.

This is an act of recognising the important role the media plays as a fourth estate and a cornerstone of democracy.

Tourism industry focuses on marketing Solomon Islands

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Participants of the 2018 Tourism in Focus session which held at the Mendana Hotel on Tuesday

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SOLOMON Islands is looking at increasing its tourism industry through new marketing strategy this year.

In the 2018 Tourism in Focus forum held at the Mendana Hotel yesterday, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau and Solomon Airlines Limited have detailed that their focus for this year is to make a disruptive change for tourism industry in an effort to increase leisure tourism and marketing strategy for Solomon’s tourism industry.

The main focus is set on marketing Solomon Islands through promotions by increasing more oversea travel writers, attending events abroad and in-country and sending staffs for trainings.

This year the country’s tourism will focus its market in Europe and Asia as additional markets to Australia – Solomon Islands’ main tourism market.

The Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr Andrew Nihoopara said the country needs to look at opportunities such as developing the Munda airport, and relevant infrastructure.

Nihopara believes the Munda airstrip should be capitalised on, which will require working together to make the desired disruptive change for tourism in the country.

“There are discussions already held in terms of how we can as tourism sector capitalize on Munda infrastructure opportunity to ensure very important asset given to us is utilize for economic benefit of tourism,” Nihopara said.

SIVB’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Josefa Jo Tuamoto adds on that the country needs to focus on leisure market in order for it to grow.

He said Solomon Islands is depending too much on the business market.

Tuamoto also adds September last year, Solomon Islands has increases its number to tourist to 67.8 percent, and to continue increase the figure this year country needs to concentrated on leisure market.

Concerning tourism development so far, Tuamoto said SIVB have done well with support from government and stakeholders despite challenges encountered.

The 2018 Tourism in Focus forum was ended with insights information which sectors from the provinces have equipped with in an effort to work together on developing tourism in Solomon Islands.

Parasi airport nears resumption

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Parasi airport

By Mike Puia

PARASI airport in Small Malaita is being prepped to reopen after nearly two decades of closure.

In 2000, Parasi airport was closed down. It was during the height of the ethnic tension that broke out in Guadalcanal.

Since then, traveling travel to and out of Small Malaita has been an issue. Travellers rely on ferry or powered canoe to get to Afio, Small Malaita’s main station.

As of January, materials, machines, fuel have been arriving at the site – and work has started.

Work started with civil tasks from clearing of the runway and surrounding perimeter, scraping of top soil to reach subgrade level, backfill of identified areas, compaction of threshold area on taxiway and working on drainage on side of runway to account for runoffs.

A Small Malaita traveller, Graham Tahu, said the opening of the airport will provide another means of transportation for traveling public.

“This means, more people will travel between Honiara and other destinations.

“This will make life easy for travellers and will boost business activities in our rural communities. It can be tourism and many more,” Tahu said.

He added they have missed this essential service for years and look forward to its resumption.

New emergency clinic ready to open in town

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Inside the Togamae Private Emergency Clinic

BY BEN BILUA

Dr Ishmael Togamae and Dr Pedical Togamae during the commemorating of their late Dad’s tomb stone at Tirotona village.

A new emergency clinic called Togamae Private Emergency will open its doors in Honiara next week.

The clinic is owned by two brothers from Isabel Province, Dr Pedical Togamae and Dr Ishmael Togamae.

In an interview with this paper, Dr Pedical Togamae said the clinic will provide the following services; general outpatient and emergency cases, lab services includes malaria test, full blood counts and biochemistry tests, dispensing medicines, keeping patients overnight while on treatment, doing patient referral to specialists or overseas and further services includes escorting patients from any destination and home visit.

“This means that you can be seen at your comfort home for nursing care or Doctors’ can come and visit patients at your home.”

He said basic equipment for the clinic is all set except for an ECG machine which is currently on its way to Solomon Islands from Australia.

Togamae adds that laboratory machines and ultrasound machine will soon arrive in the country.

He told this paper that his older brother Dr Ishmael Togamae who has a license to practice and currently working in United States of America is an advantage to the clinic’s set up as some of the essential machines needed were purchased in United States.

Togamae said his brother’s experience working in a 1st world class country like USA is a bonus for the clinic to effectives deliver best services.

“My dream is to have all the equipment that supposed to be in the Emergency Department to meet the quality of care I want.

“In addition to that, learning from my elder brother is a great achievement,” he said.

Togamae said stressed that there are lots of reasons that gave him the strength to establish the emergency clinic.

He said the first reason is to fulfill his late father’s wish and vision, and second is to improve the quality of emergency services in Honiara to save lives.

Dr Pedical Togamae’s father, late Cecil Togamae who passed away on January 19, 2015 here in Honiara is a prominent leader of Isabel Province and he (Pedical) dedicates the establishment to his late father.

Shanel first casualty of PM’s travel restrictions

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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THE Minister for Civil Aviation and Communications, Peter Shanel

By Alfred Sasako

THE Minister for Civil Aviation and Communications, Peter Shanel, yesterday became the first casualty of travel restrictions announced by Prime Minister Ricky Houenipwela earlier this week.

Hon Shanel was on his way to Mainland China, when he was recalled. Details of the visit including whether it was cleared by the Office of the Prime Minister were not immediately clear.

Sources told Island Sun yesterday the visit was supposed to be a first by a Government Minister from Solomon Islands, which does not have diplomatic relations with Beijing.

But Hon Shanel’s recall was not without a hand from Taiwan.

Sources close to the government confirmed last night that Hon Shanel’s immediate recall followed an intervention by the Embassy of Taiwan in Honiara, demanding that the Minister be recalled.

Prime Minister Houenipwela succumbed.

“There’s a lot at stake so the government has no choice but to recall the Minister,” the sources said.

They said Taiwan’s decision to help foot the bill for hosting the South Pacific Games in 2023 and a proposed visit to Taiwan by the Prime Minister in April are reasons enough to convince Prime Minister Houenipwela to order Minister Shanel’s recall.

Hon Shanel was said to be in Brisbane, on his way home.

On Monday Prime Minister Houenipwela announced a raft of measures including a clampdown on overseas travels by government ministers in a move to cut costs.

But the measures are being seen by many as politically suicidal with others suggesting there would be backlash.

Hon Shanel’s recall signals the potential to remove him from a new ministerial line-up believed to be under active consideration.

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