BY GEORGE MANFORD
AUKI
CROCODILES are reportedly increasing in numbers at Gwaunaruu, Malaita province, with sightings recounted on a daily basis.
It is believed the reptiles are roaming because their lairs have been destroyed by some people.
People of the area of sightings are worried and are calling on authorities to help with the risk.
They say their children are no longer free to roam the coastlines for leisure and hunting for marine food.
BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
CAUSE of death against the Indonesian man employed by the Bintan Mining Company (BMC), reported to have died on September 18 at Rennell Island, Renbel Province, is unknown.
Supervising Police Commissioner Juanita Matanga revealed during a press conference that police tried liaising with his colleagues for a post mortem to be conducted on the deceased but his colleagues have rejected the idea.
Instead they opted to have the body embalmed and sent back to Indonesia as soon as possible.
Ms Matanga says according to information they have, the deceased had gone out diving with his colleagues at Naone, West Rennell, when he faced some ‘issues’.
Though his colleagues tried to rescue him, taking him to a nearby clinic, he was pronounced dead thereafter.
She said the body was flown to Honiara on September 19.
The deceased was 26 years old and had been in the country since March this year.
He came to the Solomon Islands employed by the BMC as a mechanic operator.
BY BEN BILUA
TWO coconut specialists are currently in the country to help develop and assist the coconut sector in its economic development aspirations.
Mr Lasantha Wickramasekara, who is an activated carbon specialist, and Dr Priyantha Wijewardane, a leading scientist with specialisation in the coconut sector – both from Sri Lanka, return from Gizo this week.
Mr Wickramasekara and Dr Priyantha’s trip to the country was made possible by the Honourary Consul of Sri Lanka to Solomon Islands.
In a statement, Mr Kutila Pinto from the Sri Lankan Consulate in Honiara said Mr Wickramasekara and Dr Priyantha are in the country to assist in reviewing the current framework, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the industry.
He adds that these two experts will develop a platform to promote and provide awareness on methods that would expand the current usage of coconut tree to resources owners and also develop positive micro-economic conditions for entrepreneurship and employment.
Mr Pinto said Mr Wickramasekara and Dr Priyantha will be visiting provinces to meet and train landowners who have coconut tree assets on how to maximise their yield.
He said Honourary Consul of Sri Lanka to Solomon Islands is looking at bringing in resourceful experts to help grow the coconut industry in the country.
“I’m strongly committed to continuously explore ways in which I could assist Solomon Islands better its current economic situations with the assistance of sustainable natural resource utilisation,” Mr Pinto said.
THE Prime Minister Acting Hon Manasseh Maelanga, MP, has expressed interest for a Croatian Ambassador to Solomon Islands and stated the desire to enhance bilateral cooperation between Solomon Islands and Croatia.
Maelanga said that the accreditation of a Croatian Ambassador to Solomon Islands would be a step to show commitment of the two countries to forming closer bilateral ties with each other.
He was responding during a bilateral with the Croatian Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand His Excellency Dr Damir Kusen.
HE Dr Kusen expressed the desire to support Solomon Islands in promoting and maintaining peace and stability and mentioned how Croatia have transitioned to a stable democratic country after going through trouble 25 years ago.
Both leaders discussed ways forward for future cooperation that Croatia being a leader in tourism can assist in the field of education; can work together to support the Solomon Islands in tourism education.
The Ambassador is here for the opening of a Catholic Centre in Buma, Malaita which was funded by Sr Miroslava Bradica who is the Governor of Sisters of Mercy in Croatia and built by Croatian/Australian volunteers.
HE Dr Damir Kusen also described his stay as a privilege to visit the country, and labelling the Solomon Islands as beautiful.
“I am honoured to note that four Croatian nuns from the order of Sisters of Charity are running a charity mission in Buma, helping the local people in needs, especially young girls in their education and vocational training and to the elderly and ill people in Buma.”
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Acting further stated that he will also encourage the Solomon Islands Embassy to Europe to work closely with the Government of Croatia to look at ways forward for the cooperation of Croatia and Solomon Islands.
The Croatian Ambassador is in the country from September 20-24, 2017.
–OPMC PRESS
By Alice Nantara
MANAGING director of Ricoh New Zealand Mr Mike Pollok said that his company wants to help Solomon Islands unlock its potential through digital technology.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) at the Heritage Park Hotel yesterday evening, Mr Pollok stressed that Solomon Islands has the potential to improve and digital technology will play a massive role in that.
Right now Ricoh aims to provide the best printing services in the country, giving the chance for all work places to transform into digital working places.
According to Mr Pollok, it is time that businesses or offices consider stop wasting money on expensive printers that cause much hustle and are unreliable and start thinking of trying Ricoh, a Nambawan printing service that’s been around for almost three years now.
Mr Pollok is optimistic about his Company’s endeavours
Ricoh’s Managing Director and his New Zealand team are joined by the Honiara based team to go around and doing talks and promotions.
SICCI have been hosting the business-after-five (BA5) for the purpose of bringing together the business community, encourage networking and the expanding of business opportunities.
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
THE New Zealand Pacific Council is in Honiara on a trade mission to scout business opportunities with government and the local private sector.
The team held a two-day conference in Honiara which ended yesterday with discussions on how the two should partner in business.
New Zealand Pacific Council Team Leader, Mr Paul Pledge said it’s a privilege to come to Solomon Islands and engage with government and private sector to investigate business opportunities here.
He said the purpose is to establish a close link for private sector from NZ to work more closely with the private sector in Solomon Islands.
“It’s great for the team to get over to Solomon Islands and meet new people, build new relationship and create new business initiative.
“It is the first for this formal trade mission to come over to Solomon Islands and we have a mixture of businesses of people who do businesses here regularly and some haven’t been here before who look at doing businesses in Solomon Islands.
“The New Zealand Pacific Council has been around for twelve years, this is our first ever trade mission to Solomon Islands.
“The reason we chose Solomon Islands is we spoke to our members in New Zealand and lots of people have lots of questions around opportunities that are here in Solomon Islands,” Mr Pledge said.
He said hopefully New Zealand will increase the amount of businesses they do here as they have a good mixture of business.
Mr Pledge also said he works in international labour mobility and he supplies workers from New Zealand around the Pacific as well as bringing workers from Pacific to New Zealand.
“So it’s good to make new conduct with private sectors in Solomon Islands and build businesses relationship with them,” he said.
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
NORTH East Guadalcanal Constituency received a fleet of machineries from the Minister of Infrastructure and Development yesterday.
The fleet consists of three dump-trucks, an excavator and a two-tonne truck. They are provided under the Transport Rural Infrastructure Initiative Grant through the MP North East Guadalcanal Constituency, Hon Samson Maneka.
Speaking during a ceremony to hand-over the machines at Pitikole village yesterday, Minister for Infrastructure Development, Hon Stanley Sofu said receiving these machineries is a step forward for the constituency in terms of rural infrastructure.
He said this transport rural infrastructure initiative comes under the DCCG policy which looks at addressing rural transportation.
Sofu said government saw the need for rural people to participate actively in economic development, and so they came up with the initiative.
He said this initiative goes in line with the programme of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development.
“But most of the work done by MID never reaches straight down to the rural setting. For example: in the case of this constituency, MID can only provide maintenance of the main roads.
“However, many roads lead to villages where people stay especially they do economical activities are luck with quality infrastructure.
“People in rural areas are in need for infrastructure to connect them so that they can do business and whatever with the outsiders.
“This is the reason the initiative came about to ensure infrastructure connect them and provide them with access that can help address some of their needs,” Sofu said.
He also said North East Guadalcanal Constituency is one of the potential economical sites in the country.
Sofu said lots of developments happening in the area are contributing to the national economy.
Adding that roads is very important to connect people and economic services in the area.
On the same note he thanked Hon Maneka for his efforts in pursuing the grant to pay the machineries for his constutency.
He told the constituents that work to procure what they now have is not easy and together they should applaud their MP for the work done.
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
A community initiative in organising a three days event for the Community of White River is soon to start next month called the “White River Arts and Cultural Event”.
The initiative Division being the first of its kind is motivated through the training provided under the Culture in equipping cultural producers with various capacity building and basic business trainings including report and proposal writing.
According to Mr Moses Aunama Jnr the Chairman of the Task-force, the trainings have influenced and encouraged participants residing at white river community to initiate the ideal of organising an arts and cultural community event that may assist in promotion of arts and cultural skills and talents.
“The event is a pilot program for future events and festivals. Evaluation will be on the program for the development and continuance of the initiative,” said Mr Aunama Jnr.
“This is an important opportunity to encourage cultural groups and artists for not only promoting respective skills and talents but also for the purpose of preparing artists and cultural groups to participate in next year’s upcoming Melanesian Arts festival organised under the Culture Division of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.”
“The event is merged with the ideal of community peace building through bridges across diverse cultures.”
“Members of the Task-force comprises with diverse cultural origins that are with the common goal to promote peace through arts and culture.”
The rationale of the initiative is basically to promote peace and stability through art work and cultural performances including local dishes and youth related issues through films.”
Its alternative is focusing on the employment of art works, cultural skills and talents in addressing and promoting peace in the community of White River.
In addition, the event is set as an opportunity for cultural producer’s skill promotions and marketing.
This is identified as a privilege on which cultural producers are able to demonstrate and showcase their respective skills and talents.
“The event enabling interactions and socialization amongst participants with great skills is also an opportunity for the general community and public to get to know each other, learn and share ideas and knowledge’s,” said Mr Aunama Jnr.
“The community stability was being shaken during the Ethnic tension. This is why there is enhance to reinforce community peace and harmony to certain extent.”
“This is relevant due to the fact that the peace within communities was taken care of by RAMSI who have recently reserved back the community responsibilities before their departure.”
“It is a challenge left behind for citizens to take responsibility in sustaining peace which was restored through the RAMSI Operation.”
Besides the event is an avenue for also addressing community related issues that apparently pose challenges to societal stability, youth and gender issues for instance.
It is a prerequisite for building a vibrant and prosperous society where all levels of social groupings may live and enjoy.
The ideal is an opportunity as to re-integrate the community for a better future for the children.
Through various activities, the event addresses youth issues and participation.
Promotion of gender equity is also an intertwine element which focuses on men and women’s fair participation through shared responsibilities and opportunities through the program.
This is to ensure that both maximise the benefits of the events in empowerment, promotion, showcasing and entrepreneurial activities.
Furthermore, the event cherishes in its program the involvement of various social groups on which specific activities are developed particularly for each respective groups.
Games are created and inserted into the event activities specifically for children, women, youths and others.
Arts and cultural ideals the development of the event is structured along are blended around community peace building.
The event is structured into many different activities and programs stretched out for three days.
It engages cultural and contemporary performances including dances, singings, speeches, demonstrations, dramas, games, films and other awareness programs with interviews amongst others.
This is to promote collective participation as to ensure connectivity among community members and to make them feel part of the event in having ownership of the initiative.
“Our Event’s benefits enlisted are what have been attempted by other organizations but through different strategies,” said the Chairman.
“This ideal offers the other alternative which is more holistic in approach and is a collective initiative contextualised to suit the need of the community.”
“The general populace of White River through participation and involvement in the event will very much benefit either directly or indirectly.”
“It entails and addresses the many different issues faced which influences the choice of including peace awareness and community policing awareness.”
“Through encouraging promotes innovation and creativity which ensures creative minds and creative futures.
“This is also a fact of motivation and empowerment which assists in building capacity and capability.”
The event is schedule for three days starting on the 27th of October to the 29th. This is to allow time for the working populace to also attend this important event. Each day is tied with different types of activities selected for various social groupings.
Yesterday it was mistakenly published that the event will take place this month on which the actual date is in October next month.
The first day is a half day program being occupied by the official ceremony with few performances and games for children.
On the second and third days have full day programs in which all the required activities are to take place.
The Theme for the event is “Building peace through Arts and Culture.” Venue is at the White River playing ground.
Representatives of the Task-force are leaders of various cultural groups and freelance artists’ entrepreneurs.
DEAR EDITOR, I am informed that a large freezer container has now been delivered to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) to be used as a temporary mortuary facility.
The container has been donated by the SFA when the SFA’s President, Mr J Sy, became aware of the hospital’s desperate need for additional mortuary space.
I would like to thank Mr Sy and the Board of the SFA for the kind donation, but also thank Mr Peter Huge the Deputy Controller of Customs for the pre-release of the container, the CEO of the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) and Express Freight Management for their assistance in clearing the container and seeing to its delivery to the NRH.
Yours sincerely
FRANK SHORT
DEAR EDITOR, yesterday in Honiara, the Acting Prime Minister, the Hon. Manasseh Maelanga received a petition from the representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) calling on the government to re-introduce its anti-corruption bill at the next parliamentary session.
The acting PM said he accepted the petition on behalf of the Democratic for Change Coalition Government and announced that the anti-corruption bill is with the Cabinet and, as soon as it is finalised it will go to Parliament at the upcoming sitting in October.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring PNG, the ICAC draft legislation to be submitted to the PNG Parliament has come under fire.
Quoting Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) today, Wednesday, a bulletin claimed:
“Papua New Guinea’s government has been accused of watering down the powers of a draft Independent Commission Against Corruption, or ICAC.
“After his recent re-election, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill appeared to finally be advancing his long-running promise to introduce ICAC legislation.
“However his government’s amended draft legislation removed the powers of arrest and prosecution in earlier ICAC drafts.
“It also placed the Prime Minister in charge of appointing the Commissioners.
“These changes were announced by the Minister for Justice, Davis Stevens.
“The anti-corruption NGO, Act Now, said they rendered the ICAC ‘toothless’ and open to political interference.
“Act Now said denying ICAC full powers of arrest and prosecution meant it would not be able to act independently and effectively to investigate and prosecute those guilty of corruption.
“It also criticised government for not publishing a full copy of the draft legislation.
“Act Now said that under the changes signalled by Mr Stevens, ICAC investigators would be dependent on other agencies like the police and public prosecutor to ensure their findings were acted upon.
“This has been one of the weaknesses in the existing anti-corruption bodies as police and public prosecutor are already overwhelmed, under funded and subject to political interference,” said the NGO.
“The government’s proposed ICAC will be as toothless as the Commissions of Inquiry it is supposed to improve on!
“It is essential the ICAC is fully independent of other government agencies and full funded to investigate, charge and prosecute those accused of corruption.”
Yours sincerely
FRANK SHORT
Island Sun Newspaper Limited is a privately owned daily newspaper in the Solomon Islands. Island Sun launched its first issue on Friday 6th October 2006. It began as a weekly newspaper before going twice a week in early 2007 and later publishing three times a week by the end of the same year. In 2008, Island Sun was published five days a week and later added the Saturday issue in June 2014. Plans are already underway to add a Sunday issue anytime soon.
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