BY SAMIE WAIKORI

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed yesterday on the island of Ugi in-light of a proposed wharf project for the island.

Premier of Makira Ulawa Province (MUP), Hon Standley Siapu said the MOU was signed between staff of MID, representatives from the provincial government and landowners in Ugi.

He said morning yesterday, staffs from MID and two of his senior ministers left Kirakira to Ugi for the signing.

Mr Siapu therefore expressed his gratitude on behalf of the government to landowners and the national government for the achievement.

He see this as a milestone for his people on the island as it will contribute to the development of the province.

Mr Siapu stressed that as the province is striving for improvement, taking stride in various areas of development in the province is what people and the provincial government should have applauded.

He urged the people in Ugi or those who will benefit from the project to take great care of the facility soon to be constructed.

Mr Siapu also appealed to those on the island to work hand-in-hand with both national and provincial governments for any future development of the island.

He pointed out that his government is in full support of any form of development in the province, and they will continue to work together with people to ensure tangible development is achieved.

The premier also urged the people in the province to open up their resources as it is the only way one can allow development to the province.

Mr Siapu reiterated that partnership in development is very important and they must work together to achieve development.

Explaining the status of the project, he said MID already issued the tender for the wharf construction and soon the tender will be awarded to the contractor.

Mr Siapu said as long as the project is awarded, construction on the wharf will then start.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

FOR 80 percent of the Solomon Islands population which are people living in rural areas, coconut is grown for a variety of uses and many depend on the crop for their source of income and livelihood.

This was expressed by the Government and Palm Industries CRB Taskforce report which highlights that although we are aware that crop is regarded as the most important crop in the country, most people don’t know the level of importance this one crop poses.

“Solomon Islands has about 40,000 families or 80 percent of the population, living in the rural areas. Most of these families grow coconuts for many different uses”

“Most Solomon Islands families, in villages and in towns, use coconuts for cooking, eating and drinking every day. This is estimated at nearly 200,000 nuts every day for food”, the report said.

In relation, the taskforce mention that about 400,000 to 600,000 nuts are used every day to produce copra.

On top of that, also stated is the value of copra exports at SI$300-400m per year comprising of raw copra, copra and virgin oil and copra byproducts.

Moreover, the CRB taskforce stresses that while most of the above income goes directly to the villages equivalent to a figure of SI$10,000 per household on a yearly basis from copra alone, the true value of the crop is much higher because it also provides income from domestic sales or through local use of coconut products.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

The Managing Director of One Life FM radio Ministry Derald Michael is happy with the new establishment of an FM radio station for East Kwaio in Malaita province.

The new FM radio station was officially dedicated and handed over on December 23, 2017, by Mr Michael.

Michael told Island Sun Gizo yesterday that it took three days to set up, dedicate and hand over the station to Minister Gary Manele, Harry Sovo and the Atoifi media team to run the radio station.

He said the programmes to be broadcasted will be strictly on religious and health awareness and the Atoifi media team will be responsible for the contents.

He explained that One Life Radio Ministry will only be responsible for the technical issues.

“Many people from the bush, surrounding villages and along the coast attended and witnessed the dedication and the opening.

“The program was also live broadcasted on One Life’s Designated Frequency 95.3 and many people down the coast were also part of the opening by listening through their mobile phones.

“Work is currently under way to set up two new ones at Auki and Takwa before middle of this year, 2018. The family of One Life Radio Ministry is excited to be part of this ministry,” said Michael.

Michael thanks those who have been involved, especially, the Solomon Islands Seventh Day Adventist Church, the Malaita Sub Region of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

He also thanks the Atoifi Adventist Hospital Administration as co-hosts for the FM station and members of the local Adventist churches around Atoifi for letting them in and for all the support they have rendered towards this work. He said without them, all these would not have eventuated.

Different vibes of gospel music will be played during late night hours.

The general public in East Kwaio are encouraged to listen.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

DESPITE negative debate on handing over of Outboard Motors (OBM’s) for constituents, Ngella citizens and recipients appreciate receiving Constituency items for support.

Locals say OBM’s they receive will help them through transportation for health services, church programs and other purposes for transportation.

It has been highly debated in Ngella Constituency that handing over of OBM’s and such from the Constituency’s Office are just cover-ups for campaigning.

“A passenger ship should be purchased for the Constituency rather than giving OBM’s being similar to giving death,” suggested locals.

However, such debate has been refuted as Ngella Constituency’s Development Officer (CDO) Mr David Teva said that they are maintaining their delivery service for the Constituency.

The Ministry of Rural Development during a recent handing-over of twelve OBM’s thanked Ngella Constituency for supporting the constituents with boats as one of their ongoing program in the transportation sector.

“Access to service is important in our islands as these boats are here to improve the livelihoods of people in areas of income and so forth,” said the Ministry.

“It is important recipients receive and care for these materials as they are purchased by public funds.”

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE execution of court orders in relation to repossession of land has always been an issue and the courts are urging parties to respect the law.

During the opening of the legal year, President of the Solomon Islands Bar Association Silverio Lepe said this issue is of concern to the court and the lawyers, and that parties must always respect the law and avoid taking the law into their own hands.

He said there are avenues to seek proper legal advice and bring grievances to when one encounters problems.

“You can seek assistance from the Public Solicitors office if you are unable to afford a private legal representation.

“Please do not sit on your right,” Mr Lepe said.

In the courts record a total of 43 cases were issued in 2017 and 28 enforcement orders were issued, 19 from the High Court and nine from the Magistrates Court in which half of the cases were successfully completed while the remaining half are still outstanding.

He said he acknowledge the Sheriff’s office that there are some movement in the enforcement of the court orders and also he thank the work of the police for maintaining peace and law and order during the enforcements.

Meanwhile the Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer also shared the same sentiments that the courts must value the orders at least as much as individual litigants do and wherewithal to make justice happen on the ground.

“Progress in this area has to date been measured, but if we are to move forward at a better rate this year there must be tangible signs,” Sir Albert added.

He said sometimes executions of court orders are difficult when dealing with difficult and stubborn parties who blatantly refuse to comply with orders of the court.

And thus sometimes it has been necessary to require police assistance, which again takes time to organise, coordinate and facilitate prolonging delays further in enforcement, Sir Albert said.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

SPREAD of the coconut rhinoceros beetle to the rural areas will be a challenge for people who are mostly dependent on the country’s most important crop.

This is according to the Government and Palm Industries CRB Taskforce which expresses that people will have to make hard decisions whether it will be deciding whether to make copra or consume it with low probability that the crop will be enough for both.

Moreover, the taskforce expressed is if they should feed their family with free healthy food or to make copra to cater for school fees, food and other necessities.

In addition, the report stated that health will also be affected given that if families choose to make copra then this would mean that they would have to buy more food from the shops most likely cheap, less healthy but available food which in turn will increase the consumption of soft drinks followed by high diabetes cases.

Furthermore, the taskforce advises that everyone can help control the spread of the rhinoceros beetle Guam biotype (CRB-G) by cleaning up and destroying breeding sites as well as by cutting down dead palms and getting rid of palms that have recovered.