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SIPPA to offer 2 days free cervical cancer screening to commemorate IWD

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BY NED GAGAHE

To commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day, the Solomon Island Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA) will be offering two days of free cervical cancer screening for women aged 25 and above.

This initiative is part of SIPPA’s ongoing efforts to support women’s health and rights.

The screening will take place at the SIPPA Clinic, New China Town, from Monday, 10th March to Tuesday, 11th March 2025, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

This year’s celebration will be held under the theme “Accelerate Action: For all Women and Girls: Rights, Equality.”

A statement from SIPPA said, “As we observe this year’s International Women’s Day, SIPPA is taking concrete steps to improve women’s access to essential health services. The free cervical cancer screening is a vital service aimed at early detection and prevention of cervical cancer, a leading health concern for women worldwide.”

This event is open to women aged 25 years and above. In addition to the screening, an information tent will be set up on-site to provide valuable resources and information related to women’s health, rights, and gender equality.

“We encourage all women to take advantage of this opportunity for free screening and to join us in celebrating the progress and continued efforts to achieve gender equality.” The statement said.

SIPPA is a non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting and advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights for all individuals, especially women and girls. Through education, advocacy, and accessible healthcare services, SIPPA strives to empower communities and reduce health disparities.

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PALM SCHEME IS FREE’

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Only RSE scheme conducts recruitment through agents: MFAET

BY NED GAGAHE

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) has clarified that only the New Zealand Labour Mobility program under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme conducts recruitment through Agents.

In a statement yesterday MFAET via their Facebook page announced that for 2025/2026, the Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) has recently issued licenses to 7 active agents who will be tasked to do recruitment in country for RSE work in New Zealand.

“As we have announced earlier, only the New Zealand Labour Mobility program under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme conducts recruitment through Agents.” MFAET said.

“The RSE Agents will be working closely with their Approved Employer in New Zealand for recruitment and will report to the LMU for data purposes and pre departure briefings.” The statement said.

Last week, the Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade is responsible for overseeing the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme, which facilitates employment opportunities for Pacific Islanders in Australia.

The LMU has issued a public warning about individuals and groups falsely posing as recruitment agents for employment under the PALM and Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) schemes.

These fraudulent agents have been demanding upfront payments, despite the fact that the PALM scheme is free, with applicants only needing to cover costs for their passport, police, and medical clearances.

The LMU has clarified that recruitment for the PALM scheme is not taking place at this time and urged job seekers to only engage with official, verified sources.

The unit continues to emphasize the importance of caution and vigilance to prevent people from falling victim to scams.

Meanwhile, the seven (7) active agents who will be tasked to do recruitment in country for RSE work in New Zealand this year are; Islander Recruiting Agency, AMA Recruiting Agency, United Isles Recruiting Agency, Kelvin’s Recruitment Agency, Macos Recruitment Agency, Teraroa Company Agency and Leeman company Agency.

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Mission to the Solomon Islands successfully concluded

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Initially an early adopter in the pilot phase of the World Bank’s Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI), for the past decade the Solomon Islands has been limited in its ability to prioritise disaster risk financing expenditures over other pressing budgetary considerations.

It is hoped that the recent 4-day mission to the nation by PCRIC CEO Mr. Aholotu Palu and Chief Risk Officer, Mr. Richard Poulter will ease the way for this to change over the course of 2025. Undertaking briefings with the Permanent Secretary for Finance, Mr. McKinnie Dentana, Accountant General, Mr. Paula Uluinaceva and senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and subsequently with officials from the Central Bank, details were shared of the recently revised and vastly superior product options now available to regional nations including the Solomon Islands.

Able to be scaled and customised to the specific preferences of client governments, policy options currently include coverage for tropical cyclone, earthquake, tsunami and excess rainfall / flooding with a product option of drought soon to be released. Featuring greater transparency and ease of comprehension, plus a focus on the number of people impacted rather than the scale of damage to physical assets, government officials commented on the appeal this revised line-up held for them.

The PCRIC team also provided details on the availability of donor funded subsidies to improve the affordability of policy premiums, putting pre-arranged disaster risk finance solutions in much closer reach of the government.

The mission also created an opportunity to meet with the CEO of the Solomon Islands Submarine Cable Company (SISCC), one of the nation’s most critically important state-owned enterprises. The innovative policy development of coverage for earthquake damage to submarine cables was showcased and prompted formal requests for further information to be provided.

With agreement to provide concrete policy options for further consideration ahead of FEMM 25, parties agreed that significant progress has been quickly made toward Solomon Islands becoming the next member nation of PCRIC.

Australia supports international womens day 2025 in Solomon Islands

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The people and Government of Australia, and the staff of the Australian High Commission in Honiara, wish all Solomon Islanders a Happy International Women’s Day 2025.

As Solomon Islands’ number one partner, Australia is proud to be supporting the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs to host a three-day event, from 11th to 13th March at the National Auditorium.

The theme for this year is Accelerate Action: For all women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment. which calls for faster action to ensure that all women and girls benefit from greater economic and leadership opportunities, and greater freedom to shape the future of this beautiful country.

Australia’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Rod Hilton highlighted Australia’s commitments to creating opportunities for Solomon Islands’ women and girls to thrive.

“As a global champion for gender equality, accelerating progress for women and girls is central to our development efforts,” High Commissioner Hilton said.

“We are proud that our support across the breadth of our partnership, including in health, education, economic growth and infrastructure, continues to have a positive impact on gender equality.”

“For example, in just the past five years, the Solomon Islands Australia Partnership has provided over 4,000 women entrepreneurs with financial and business development services.”

The three days of International Women’s Day events will focus on three different themes: leadership and inclusion; peace, security and wellbeing; and women’s economic empowerment.

Everyone is invited to join the events to share, network, advocate, collaborate and celebrate the various vital roles women play in Solomon Islands.

Women entrepreneurs will have stalls of products, and there will be a charity drive to purchase wheelchairs for the Gynaecological Ward at the National Referral Hospital.

SIBC will livestream the events which can also be viewed on the International Women’s Day – Solomon Islands Facebook page.

Auki police charge 26-yo man with rape

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Police in Auki, Malaita province, have arrested and charged a 26-year-old man with rape.

The complainant is a 23-year-old female and the incident allegedly occurred on February 25, a police media statement yesterday said.

Malaita PPC Chief Superintendent Tex Tafoa said the complainant was drunk and asleep in her room when the incident allegedly occurred.

Tafoa said the complainant’s girlfriend witnessed the incident.

The matter was reported to Auki Police and the suspect was arrested on February 27.

The suspect was charged with rape contrary to Section 136 (f) of the Amendment Sexual Act and is currently remanded at Auki Correctional Centre awaiting court appearance on a later date, the police statement said.

Man charged with sexual offence against minor

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Taro police in Choiseul province have arrested and charged a man over allegations of multiple sexual activities with an underage girl.

Police media statement yesterday said the complainant is a relative of the suspect.

Choiseul Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Superintendent Berry Pogesopa said these incidents occurred on different dates and locations between January 2023 and January 2025.

Pogesopa said initial report shows the first incident took place when the complainant was 14 years old.

Police allege the last incident occurred on January 21, 2025.

That day members of the community conducted a search for the girl and found her with the suspect, police media statement said.

A report was filed at the Taro police station and the suspect was arrested.

The suspect was charged with the offence of Persistence Sexual Abuse of a Child Contrary to Section 142 of the Sexual Offence Amendment Act 2016.

Pogesopa said the suspect is remanded at Gizo Correctional Services awaiting court on a later date.

He said investigations into this matter is ongoing therefore appealed to any person with relevant information to come forward and assist police with their investigation.

Police arrest 23-yo male under warrant for domestic violence

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Police arrest 23-yo male under warrant for domestic violence

Auki police in Malaita province have arrested a 23-year-old male who was under warrant for domestic violence in Honiara last year.

Police media statement yesterday said Auki police acted following a report from the office of the Public Prosecution in Honiara of the man’s status.

The suspect failed to attend court after he was charged with domestic violence and went home, the police statement said.

The warrant was issued on the man for evading and failing to attend Magistrate Court.

The suspect was arrested on February 27at his home village in West Are’are and will be escorted to Honiara, where he will appear before the Honiara Magistrate Court, the statement said.

Malaita Provincial Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Tex Tafoa said, “Failing to attend court does not mean that the courts will sweep their cases under the carpet.”

He also thanked community leaders and individuals for their ongoing support to the police in upholding the laws.

Man, 21, sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment for stealing

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A gavel rests on sounding block next to a brass scale of justice in front of a long row of law books on a desk in a law office. Photographed with a very shallow depth of field.

BY ROMINAH FAKA

The Magistrate Court has sentenced a man to one year, two months’ imprisonment for housebreaking and stealing.

The ruling was delivered on March 4 by Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison.

For count-one the defendant was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment for one count of housebreaking and committing felony contrary to section 300 (a) of the Penal Code [Cap 26].

Count-two the defendant was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment for one count of housebreaking and committing felony contrary to section 300(a) of the Penal Code [Cap 26].

Count-three the defendant was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for one count of simple larceny contrary to section 261 (1) of the Penal Code [Cap 26].

Court ordered that sentences for counts one and two be served concurrently, and consecutive to the sentence of count-three.

Time spent in custody prior to sentencing will be deducted.

The defendant has 14 days to appeal.

Zivoka Lamani, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of housebreaking and committing felony and one count of simple larceny.

Court facts on counts one and two said that on January 22, 2022, the complainant did a stock take of his liquor shop and returned home.

Lamani unlawfully entered the liquor stop twice between January 22 and 23 using a spare key and took two cartons of whiskey cola drinks.

The complainant found out about the missing cartons on January 23, 2022, and together with other people followed a trail of foot prints behind the shop.

The trail led to Mr Lamani’s house.

Upon arrival they saw Lamani still drinking and the area surrounding his house scattered with empty cans of whiskey cola.

The matter was reported to Buala police and Lamani was arrested and charged with housebreaking and committing felony.

Court facts for count-three said on January 25, 2024 Lamani and two friends stole an electric guitar from a nearby CRC church.

The guitar was found on February 2, 2024 in a drain near Lamani’s home.

Mr Jonathan Lui Auga acted for the Crown and Kevin Maelanga for Lamani.

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Man, 38, pleads not guilty to rape of minor

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

A man, 38, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of rape before the Magistrate court.

The accused, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the under-aged complainant, is accused of raping the 16-year-old girl.

After the defendant’s not-guilty plea yesterday, defence asked court for a 14-day adjournment to decide on the form of preliminary inquiry.

Court adjourned the case for March 28.

Allegations said the incident occurred on October 22, 2024 along a footpath at Titinge road.

Prosecution alleged the girl was on her way to her uncle house to collect water between 3pm and 4pm.

The defendant allegedly met her on the road and had sexual intercourse with her, without her consent, and in the process used a scissors to cut up the girl’s clothes.

The matter was later reported and the defendant was arrested and charged with rape.

Georgina Oroi is prosecuting the case with Voice Law firm representing the defendant.

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Gov’t & PRC lauded on Auki Road Project

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LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale has acknowledged the Government and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the launching of the Auki Road Network Rehabilitation Project.

Wale also adds that similar projects must also be considered for the rest of Solomon Islands.

The launching took place in Auki, Malaita province on Wednesday this week.

Mr Wale in a statement yesterday acknowledged the collaborative efforts between the national government and PRC for this milestone project.

He said this project when completed would go a long way in benefitting the people of Malaita in the transport sector, trade and investment.

The Opposition Leader encouraged the people of Malaita to take ownership and pride in the project.

“I must thank the Government and PRC for this milestone project. It will surely benefit Auki and Malaita province as a whole,” Wale said.

Wale said road infrastructure project in Auki is essential for the development aspirations of the province.

The Opposition Leader encouraged the Government and PRC to also extend their good gesture to other road projects and developments in Malaita province.

“This will be essential for connectivity and it will greatly assist our people around the whole of Malaita province,” he said.

Wale said the Government must also move ahead with other major developments in Malaita such as the Bina Harbor project, Suava Bay project and others.

“These projects need political will and I urge the Government to make it a priority. These projects have progressed on a snail pace over successive governments,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wale said the Government and our donor partners must also prioritise road projects in other provinces around the country.

He said this would enhance economic growth, connectivity and improve transportation.

“This is an important sector that needs not only investment but strategic planning,” he said.

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