BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

HONIARA Youth Council’s Executive Board acknowledged the move of City Major and its board for addressing the short bus route which provides efficiency for young people within Honiara City.

The HYC as an independent body advocating for young people within Honiara city, appreciated Mayor Andrew Mua describing the move as right timing for young people while preparing for academic year.

HYC President Mr Harry James Olikwailafa praised and acknowledged Mr Mua for his bold stand to solve the short bus route issue, which young people in Honiara, over the years have advocated, organized forums and held petition for.

“Short bus route is one issue indirectly affecting young people, and the Mayor’s move really benefits the young people that access both directly and indirectly the HYC programmes and service delivery,” Mr Olikwailafa said.

Mr Olikwailafa said as a body established for youth’s voices in Honiara, it is timely to acknowledge the Mayor and its Board to address the long pending issue, the unregulated public short bus route.

“HYC see the step that the Major took a bold step that will provide efficient and effective services for people which includes young people,” Mr Olikwailafa said.

Moreover, Mr Olikwailafa also acknowledged other stakeholders for being part of the advocacy and petition which now see the issue of short bus routes being addressed through the stepping up of the City Major to hear the outcry of the country in terms of transportation services.

The Head of Division for Youth, Sport and Women Division, Mr Roland GK Pauku also acknowledged HCC Mayor saying it is the right direction which will provide efficiency and reliable bus services to the people.

He encourages bus operators to work collaboratively with HCC.

Mr Pauku appreciated the comments made by HYC in acknowledging the Mayor as leaders also needs moral support from organizations and stakeholders regarding national and local issues.

Photo caption- HYC President Mr Harry James Olikwailafa acknowledges Mayor, Mr Andrew Mua for addressing the short bus route which affecting young people in Honiara city

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

YOUTH, Sports and Women Division (YSWD) of the Honiara City Council and volunteers are appreciative of the New Zealand High Commission’s second secretary Ms Esther Jens work with young people in Honiara.

On Sunday 21, they have organized a get together to farewell and acknowledge her work with the HCC-YSWD and Honiara Youth Council which resulted in a New Zealand funded project to upgrade and make an extension of the multipurpose hall.

During the gathering, HCC-YSWD and HYC gave gifts of appreciation to Ms Jens who worked as the Second Secretary of Development for the New Zealand High Commission in Solomon Islands.

The Head of Division for YSWD Mr Roland GK Pauku said, Ms Jens work with YSWD was amazing and has an impressive fruition.

“Partnership and collaboration is just amazing, a relationship that produces results” Mr Pauku said

HCC Youth Development Officer, Mrs Mary Tuhaika during the gathering commended Ms Jens’ work which contributes to youth development programme for the past 12 months within the Honiara city.

“You are a legend because you have facilitated a project that will benefit young people now and entire generation ahead, hope when the project completes you could come and see for yourself the fruition of your hard work,” Mrs Tuhaika said.

Ms Jens said she was excited to work with HCC-YSWD and HYC including young people in Honiara where they now see the success of this project because of their partnership and corporation.

She adds involvement of young people in consultation, workshop and planning process towards the project was greatly recognized and appreciated as well.

“Without advice and constant dialogue with YSWD, the project will not reach this stage,” Ms Jens said.

HYC President Mr Harry James Olikwailafa said, working with Ms Jens was amazing. Her simple character and contributions to the development of young people in Honiara city will be a legacy of friendship.

HYC Programme Coordinator, Mr Bobby Siarani also acknowledged New Zealand High Commission and Ms Jens saying she has done an amazing work in supporting youth development.

As of last year, Ms Jens had been working in partnership with YSWD for consultation and workshop to upgrade and extension of the multipurpose hall both indoor and outdoor.

Funding for upgrade came from the New Zealand Aid programme, and construction work is now underway.

BY JARED KOLI

CONSTRUCTION of the Prime Minister (PM) new official residence is scheduled to start next year, 2019.

This is according to the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) Mr Jimmy Nuake.

“All preparatory works including design and architectural drawings are expected to be completed in 2018 for the construction work to start in 2019,” he said.

The Government, through the Ministry of Infrastructure Development has approved a plan to relocate and build a new official residence for the Prime Minister at a site adjacent to the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) headquarters overlooking Honiara City.

Nuake said the new Prime Minister’s residence was based on Government’s Policy initiated in 2016.

He said, according to MID Director for Architect and Building Division, the state of the proposed PM’s residence at Level 5, next to FFA is as follows:

First, the tender for Architectural Design has gone out and recommendation for the designer is now at the Central Tender Board (CTB) for the award.

Second, geotechnical tender has also gone out, waiting for award and work to be carried out thereafter.

Thirdly, according to Nuake, the boundary surveys have been completed.

The Acting Permanent Secretary said Programme schedule for its construction and completion will come after the Architectural Design is completed and a public tender will be put out for the construction work.

“Architectural design of the building is for the building itself including the landscaping. The tender Geotechnical investigation is for the investigation of the soil foundation on which the building will sit on. This is to make sure that an appropriate design is done for the building’s foundation,” he further clarifies.

Nuake assured this paper to give the status of the Geotechnical investigation tender and also the estimated project costs in due cause.

Island Sun understands that Prime Minister Rick Hounipwela and Madame Rachel have moved out from their private residence and are currently residing temporarily at the Heritage Park Hotel.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) in a statement announced, the temporary arrangement is necessary to allow required renovations to their private residence to meet security and protocol requirements.

“The government currently does not have an Official Residence for the Prime Minister following the demolition of the former Red House which was the Official Residence of the Prime Minister.”

According to the statement, Mr Houenipwela has rejected an assessment cost at more than SBD$2 million to renovate his private home, and instead engaged another contractor to complete the necessary work at a much more reasonable cost of SBD$490,000 from his private expense at a projected timeframe.

The announcement sparked a heated debate and generated a mixture of argument in the social media.

Although many supported the Prime Minister’s rejection of the SBD$2 million as saving tax payers’ money, others argued that in terms of accountability, evidence must be made on the part of the SBD$490,000 PM’s private money and who is going to foot the Hotel bill, and at what cost.

By Mike Puia

LOCAL manufacture of can taiyo products, soltuna, has appealed to locals to help protect local products from being imitated.

Soltuna’s trade marketing and merchandising representative, Isirele Saelea, made this call in light of soltuna products reportedly copied by outside countries.

There are reports that the ‘Solomon Blue’ taiyo product is spotted in Vanuatu shops believe to be fake product. The feature of the label is similar to the Solomon Blue except the name spelled ‘Solemoon Bleu’.

Saelea said Soltuna’s products are among the best in the region and it is no wonder other countries try to copy them.

He said in cases where our products are copied elsewhere, locals should help protect them.

“Locals should be proud of the things produce locally and help protect them from being imitated by anyone or any country outside,” Saelea said.

He said this applies to whatever product produced here.

Saelea said Soltuna products are fresh and people in the region tend to love them and any business would try its best to copy the label in order to have its products sold.

Reflecting on their operation, Saelea said they are had a wonderful year last year with sells going very well.

He said they are exporting about seven and eight containers to Fiji, Vanuatu and PNG every month with the bulk to the United Kingdom.

Saelea said Soltuna and the country’s number one company employing close to 2000 people in its processing facility in Noro in the Western Province.