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CDF has not achieved much: Liloqula

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has not achieved much.

This was revealed by Mrs Ruth Liloqula during her presentation at the SI women’s forum in Honiara.

She said despite the CDF being in the millions, there is nothing tangible around to justify this.

“Despite the huge growth in the amount available under CDF scheme there is still no evidence of real development.

“Substantial development observed during our visits are from people’s effort and sweat or donor supported,” she uttered.

Moreover, members of parliament and the government continually refuse requests to explain exactly how this money is spent and retirement reports.

However, there are MPs who have done constituency development for individuals, groups, like income generating and community project.

“This shows that a number of MPs have done extremely well in their constituencies,” said.Liloqula.

The reports she presented are from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) community consultation and assessment workshop that was undertaken by the Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI).

$4.5m for voter registration update in Choiseul and Western

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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George Palua.

BY JARED KOLI

THE Solomon Islands Government has poured $4million into the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) update for Western and Choiseul provinces.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs George Palua acknowledged the national government for recognising the importance and provide funds to roll out this update, to the tune of $SBD4.5 million.

“Without such a commitment those eligible to vote in the two provinces would not have the opportunity to register and to vote,” he said.

Palua said the DCC Government has a number of initiatives and strategic actions, in so far as National General Election is concerned.

The BVR update exercise will commence in November 2017.

The BVR update launched yesterday will provide eligible people residing in Choiseul and Western Province, who are not on the register, will shortly be provided with an opportunity for the first time to register for their upcoming Provincial Assembly elections which will also be for the first enable them to use a most updated voters list.

Palua urged all eligible voters in Choiseul and Western province to come forward and register their names.

He also clarified that it is important to note that this is an update, not a re-registration, and that it is for Choiseul and Western provinces only, as a start towards the goal for a complete update of the Voters Registrar for all provinces before the next National General Elections.

In Papua New Guinea BSP has aided 26 projects worth over K650,000

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Dear Editor
 
ACCORDING to a leading article on Linkedin, published on 20 October 2017, the first Bank of South Pacfic (BSP) has completed 26 projects in PNG worth of K650,000 in community aid.
Quoting from the article:
“Each year, BSP makes a commitment to giving back to the communities that we live and operate in. The contribution is simple, the work is voluntary and each time, we hope to leave lasting changes that make a difference in the lives of everyday people.
“The bank’s Community Projects in 2017 has been centred on the theme, “Empowering Women and Children”, in which 49 projects had been identified and carried out throughout PNG.
“The BSP Community project involves staff from branches, Sub branches, Business Units and Subsidiaries from across Papua New Guinea, and the region; who come together each year to deliver one project to a community. The projects are typically focused on Health, Sports, Environment, Education and Social wellbeing.
“BSP is expected to handover 23 more community projects upon completion this year.”
Yours sincerely
Frank Short

Fiji’s Prime Minister’s call for “Absolute dedication” to the strictest limits on global warming

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Dear Editor,
PRIME Minister Frank Bainimarama told delegates at this week’s Nadi meeting that the climate crisis can no longer be ignored.
The Fiji Prime Ministers speech at the Nadi meeting was relayed by Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) today, 20 October 2017 in a morning news bulletin which read (quote).
“Fiji has called for “absolute dedication” to the strictest limits on global warming as it prepares to preside over UN talks which seek to keep the Paris climate agreement on track despite a US pullout.
“The 2015 agreement was dealt a major blow in June when President Donald Trump announced he was pulling out of the accord.
“Fiji is hosting a preparatory meeting before next month’s talks in Bonn, where environment ministers will work on a set of international guidelines for the Paris accord.
“Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama told delegates at this week’s Nadi meeting that the climate crisis can no longer be ignored.
“The accord sets a target of limiting a rise in average temperatures to “well below” two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times, but ideally 1.5 degrees.
“Mr Banimarama said an “absolute dedication” to meet the 1.5 degree target is what is needed and what must be taken to Bonn.
“He said it’s hard to find any part of the world that is unaffected by a changing climate, listing Atlantic storms such as Ophelia battering Ireland, wildfires in California, Portugal and Spain, and floods in Nigeria, India and Bangladesh.”
Yours sincerely
Frank Short

A reality that must be tackled to restore rural health clinics and services

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Dear Editor,
YESTERDAY, I attended the Bangkok Institute of Dermatology, a public hospital facility in central Bangkok where, as usual when attending my appointments, the hospital was full of patients, many of them very elderly, but all getting care and medical attention relatively quickly despite the obvious pressure on the doctors, nurses and administrative personnel on duty.
On such occasions I think of the plight of the many sick people in the Solomon Islands without access to medical treatment and care in the rural areas of the provinces.
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I wrote last year about the plight of the 7000 in the community at Tatamba in Isabel province without a functioning health clinic, another 5,000 without health facilities on Savo Island at Panueli and I could go on, but has anything changed?   I hear not.
From all accounts the 344 rural health clinics are still dilapidated or trying to operate on a shoe-string but a general situation wholly inadequate.
Australia I recall in the past couple of years provided AUD$2.7 to the Solomon Islands Government, through the Direct Aid Program to improve health care outcomes, with 40 per cent of that money earmarked for the provinces to support hospitals and rural care centres performing life saving primary health care.
While the Solomon Islands does not want have to be wholly reliant on aid from regional partners the reality is, from what is occurring still in the provinces, help from its long-standing traditional friends is still much required and perhaps the time has come for the Solomon Islands Government to grasp the nettle, no matter how demeaning it might be considered, and ask for more financial assistance to ensure the primary health care of its citizens and especially those in the rural areas are accommodated with new, or re-furbished, equipped and appropriately staffed health care facilities.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short

NZ charity trust, ‘Take my hands collecting prosthetic and orthotic equipment to support the needy in Asia Pacific countries

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Dear Editor,
TAKE My Hands Charity Trust, based in Auckland, New Zealand, has just sent out a Newsletter in which there is comment on the work TMH is doing in close relationship with the organization NZALS.  Here is the passage (quote)
“The good work our partners and donors are doing is being noticed far and wide, and as such we are establishing strong relationships with those who can make a real impact. It is exciting for us to watch these relationships grow.  It is worth mentioning that we are pleased to have a great relationship with NZALS for prosthetics which enables us to continue collect prosthetic and orthotic equipment from all over the country from them for redistribution to those we support in the Asia Pacific. This keeps us true to the roots in which we started TMH.”
 
I am hopeful that my recent personal appeal to the Government of the Republic of China (on Taiwan) to help rebuild the derelict NRH Rehabilitation Workshop and re-stock it with appropriate tools and equipment will find favour to facilitate both TMH and NZALS, in partnership, being able to then custom fit prosthetic limbs to the more than 400 former patients who became amputees following surgery after succumbing to diabetic related diseases.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short

Taiwan bringing more aid to the Pacific?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Dear Editor,
IN an interesting interview broadcast by Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) today, Thursday 19 October 2017, Auckland University Professor Stephen Hoadley said (and I quote).
“President Tsai is trying to shore up relations with the Pacific bloc to prevent her country from becoming diplomatically isolated.
“This would certainly sweeten the feeling in the Pacific islands,” Mr Hoadley said.
“It would show that Taiwan is a wealthy country that does have resources, it can help the small impoverished Pacific island states in significant ways, in health, education as one, and tropical agriculture as a second.”
“The president will travel to three of Taiwan’s six allies in the region, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands.
“Other countries recognise China instead of Taiwan in line with China’s “One China” policy.”
In my own letters to the local Solomon Islands media these last few days, I have made a couple of appeals to the government of the Republic of China (on Taiwan) to consider helping the NRH with the acquisition of an urgently needed CT scanner and with the rebuilding of the Rehabilitation Workshop and re-stocking it with equipment to see the 400 or more ex-patients of the NRH awaiting prosthetic limbs to accelerate their personal rehabilitation.
While personally very appreciative of all that the ROC  Government has done to aid medical causes in the Solomon Islands my appeals have certainly not been as presumptive as the words and predictions of Professor Stephen Hoadley.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short

Reported moves to make Honiara a regional shipping hub

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Dear Editor,
THE latest news bulletin broadcast by Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) on 18 October 2017 mentioned the Solomon Islands Port Authority is entering a number of international partnerships to transform Honiara into a regional trans-shipment hub.
 
This is what the bulletin said (quote)
“It has forged a new agreement with Washington-based tuna giant Tri Marine International to bring in more vessels to off-load fish there.
“The company and shipping line Maersk are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Solomons government this week.
“This will also involve more Tri Marine vessels off-loading catch at Port of Noro, in the country’s west, onto Maersk vessels.
“The Port Authority said Maersk would provide training for locals to be employed under the new arrangements.
“Meanwhile, the Solomon Star reported the authority was in talks with one of Japan’s largest container shipping companies.
“Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha wants to boost its cargo-holding capacity in the Solomon’s capital.”
Yours sincerely
Frank Short

 

Gov’t stabs Isabel

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Group Photo of Isabel Tripod leadership and members of the government delegations

DCCG ignores Isabel Tripod leaders’ wishes, moves to grant mining licence this week

BY BEN BILUA

PEOPLE of Isabel province are questioning the DCC government’s sudden move to give licence to a company to mine Nickel on the island.

This shock move by government comes only a week after it held dialogue with the province’s leaders.

The Isabel Tripod leadership presented government with a communique as response to the dialogue, asking for time during which issues pertaining to the Isabel Nickel project are resolved before leaping into mining.

Paramount Chief of Isabel Province Bishop James Mason made it clear that Isabel leaders need time and that government must allow enough time for Isabel leaders to sort out issues more especially land issues in the province.

The summary of the communique clearly spells out a moratorium to programmes and activities trying to fast track the mining development.

But this week government has changed skin, the Mines and Mineral Board was forced to hold a meeting to screen investors who are interested in the project.

On Wednesday, the Mines and Mineral Board met but the meeting was suspended until next week after Isabel leaders through the Isabel Province Youth Forum (IPYF) submitted a petition reminding the Mines and Mineral Board of the communique that spelt out the position of Isabel leaders in regards to the proposed mining project.

Speaking in anonymity, a source familiar with the issue said the government is getting out of hand and cannot control its ambition to facilitate the development as soon as possible.

The source said programme and activities that have mobiles this week has put the Communique agreed by the Government and Isabel Tripod at stake.

“There is a question whether the government will continue to respect the communique or not. This is the main question that still hanging there,” he said.

The source stressed that overstepping the communique will be the least and huge mistake the government will do if government plays the game of one-man decision.

In the meantime, the source said Mines and Mineral Board will meet next week.

The source alleged that the meeting is for the Mines and Mineral Board to screen licence applicants for the mining development.

Boxing squad resumes training

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
An action during the national boxing selection trials in Honiara recently

By Taromane Martin

THE Solomon Islands boxing squad for Decembers Pacific Mini-Games in Vanuatu have resumed their sparing trainings at the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Cooperation (SIBC).

The boxers returned back to training on Tuesday after the hosting of the SIABF fights three weeks ago at the Multipurpose Hall.

Coach Warren Pugeva said most of the boxers need to improve on their fitness, combinations discipline and commitment to training which are crucial in this sport.

“They need to improve. Some of them during the sparing sessions had their tongues hanging out after round two.

“They need to try to work it out here. They need to find their range, their speed, combinations and how they execute them in the ring.

“That is what these sparing’s are for to help them build and find their techniques for when they are in the ring,” he said.

Despite the poor and lack of training area for the boxing squad, they are looking for help from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force to allow them to use their sports facility at Rove to train and prepare to represent the country at the Mini-Games.

Meanwhile Honiara Amatuer Boxing Association (HABA) President John Firirote said it is still too early to comment on the progress and also urged the fighters to improve on their fitness.

“It is still too early to comment. However, each one will need to watch their diet and always come to training because this will determine if they will be picked for December,” Mr Firifote said.

“They need to work it out here now and be ready to represent the country because there are a lot of international outings coming up for boxers so they need to start working and figuring it out right now,” Firifote adds.

SIABF has been given ten spots for the two hundred plus athletes who will make up the Team Solomon for the Mini-Games in December.

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