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World Bank fisheries specialist presents on value-added chain in SI’s fisheries sector

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO
The Economic Association of Solomon Islands (EASI) recently hosted a distinguished guest, World Bank Lead Fisheries Specialist Zavier Vincent, who delivered an insightful presentation on the topic of value-added chains in the fisheries sector.


This event marked a significant milestone for EASI, as it was their second gathering since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.


EASI President, Rueben Tovutovu, highlighted the importance of such presentations and the organization’s commitment to promoting informed decision-making.


Tovutovu emphasised that EASI’s goal extends beyond information dissemination; they aim to engage stakeholders involved in policy formulation and decision-making, ultimately serving as a professional body of economics.


He stressed the significance of basing decisions on research and facts, encouraging both the private and public sectors to adopt a data-driven approach to their operations.


“As an organization, we have been pondering over the sources of potential growth. It’s a big question that we, as the highest economic body in the country representing professionals in the economic analysis space, need to address and find answers to. For instance, the logging industry, often regarded as a sunset industry, is on the decline. The pertinent question is, what can replace this fading industry, and what is our long-term plan?” Tovutovu expressed.


He highlighted that presentations like Vincent’s bring experts in their fields to share knowledge not only with EASI members but with the public at large.


Prominent figures from various sectors attended the presentation, underlining the event’s significance.


The guest list included former Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF) General Manager Mike Wate, Annette Leith from World Bank, and Smiley Giobauta from the International Finance Corporation also contributed their insights to the discussion.


EASI’s initiatives, such as these presentations, serve as platforms for experts to share their knowledge and experiences, fostering a culture of informed decision-making, and helping to shape the future of the Solomon Islands’ economy.
The engagement of prominent figures from both public and private sectors further underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in enhancing economic development and sustainability in the region.

PREP FORDISASTER

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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Australia helps churches to be ready to respond

BY NED GAGAHE

Churches have been further prepped on how to respond to disasters and help save lives.
This is made possible with the help of Australia under its sponsored programme CANDO [Church agencies network disaster operations].


Church leaders attending a day-long retreat meeting on October 11 at Honiara Hotel were given a comprehensive overview of CANDO operations and programmes in Solomon Islands.


CANDO Programme Coordinator Lionel Dau presented a summary on the key focus areas CANDO has been implementing, and principles and core values CANDO has abided with.


Mr Dau touched on the activities and responses CANDO has been doing in phase-1 over the last five years and the current activities the organisation will continue to implement in phase-2 for the next five years.


Attending the meeting were United Church of Solomon Islands (UCSI), Moderator Rev Armstrong Pitakaji, Catholic Archbishop Chris Cardon, ACoM Archbishop, the Most Rev Leonard Dawea, ACoM General Secretary Dr Abraham Haruiasi, UCSI General Secretary Mr Braena Bird, SSEC General Secretary Mr Thomas Weape and the SICA General Secretary Dr Edward Kolohai.


Speaking to Island Sun, SICA General Secretary Mr Kolohai said, “we come together to meet and to discuss disaster resilience in Solomon Islands.


“The project on disaster is funded by CANDO Australia where it helps us in the Solomon Islands especially with what the churches can do in face of disasters and how they can work together as partners.”
Kolohai said apart from the presentation the leaders also used the meeting to discuss other internal issues of the association.


Chairman of SICA, Rev Armstrong Pitakaji said, “as Chair of SICA, I would like to acknowledge our SICA General Secretary Rev Dr Edward Kolohai for arranging this one-day SICA Executive Meeting.


“It was a successful meeting for us as we reflected on the mission entrusted to us. And thank you to you all our Church General Secretaries who attended this meeting.


“Finally thank you CANDO officer Mr Lionel Dau for supporting the meeting.”


In Solomon Islands, CANDO is supported by the Australian Government and is an Australian Government initiative through Disaster READY program under the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP).


Disaster READY is focused on ensuring disaster preparedness is localised and led by relevant local and national stakeholders by working to ensure that disaster preparedness and management is inclusive of all within a community, including women, children and people living with disabilities, involving them in preparedness activities so their specific needs are understood and accounted for.

MFAET on labor mobility survey in Malaita province

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Acting premier, Edward Misite'e (second from right) joins members of a team from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade in Auki.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MALAITA Provincial Government is grateful to a team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) that was in the province this week on a survey of labor mobility.

The survey, as reported by acting Premier of Malaita province, Hon Edward Misite’e is to ascertain impacts of labor mobility on individuals, families and communities in the province.

He said during the team’s visit to Auki, a courtesy visit was paid to his office and he was happy to discuss and learn from the team on the survey.

Misite’e said the survey is to go to the people and find-out from them what they like, challenges and benefits encountered or achieved from the mobility program.

He said areas of pursue under the survey include; what they are doing back home when they left the program? Or whether they are applying what they learn from the program at home or not?

Misite’e said program also captured socials impacts experienced on the programs like; divorce (02) and other negative social impacts.

He said the survey was conducted in Auki and its suburb communities.

Meanwhile, Misite’e said MPG is happy to learn on the program and look forward to partner with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAET) on the future of the program.

He said MPG is eager to learn on the outcome of the survey’s report, so they can look at how to support the program for the province.

Misite’e added that from the report, MPG will also understand impacts of labor mobility on families, communities and province as a whole.

He reiterated MPG’s commitment to partner with MFAET to support Malaitans on the labor mobility program.

Tender for Kilu’ufi hospital next month

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Rep from JICA (left) joins the acting premier Edward Misite'e (middle) and a staff from the province displaying the design for Kilu'ufi hospital project.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

MALAITA provincial government is thrill to learn on the progress of Japanese $120 million funded project to upgrade Kilu’ufi hospital in Auki, Malaita province.

This week a team from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was in Auki and briefed the acting premier, Hon Edward Misite’e on project’s progress.

“Upon what my office had learned from them, the design stage of the project is almost finish whilst they also working on the cost of the project.

“According to their schedule, tender for the project will be done toward the end of November in Japan.

And the tender will be done internationally, as I learned during discussion with them,” he said.

Misite’e said Malaita provincial government is supportive of the project and they will work closely together with JICA to make it happens.

He said the project is one of the major developments MPG is look forward to that will benefit Malaitans when completes.

Misite’e said being the most populated province in the country, Malaita province continue to lot of health challenges and the project will help in trying to address them.

He said reiterated MPG’s support for the project and thanked the people and government of Japan for continues support to the country especially Malaita province.

Beside the upgrade of Kilu’ufi hospital, Misite’e said his office was also informed on Japan’s continue support under the grassroot program for the country.

He said Malaita province is among other provinces that continue to benefit greatly from the program.

Misite’e said that under the program, water supplies, classrooms, staff houses and other infrastructure projects were implemented in communities in the province.

‘PATTERN UP POM CITY’

    Written by
    Ofani Eremae
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    Young Davie will stage his tribute show for SABA today in Port Moresby.PICTURE SUPPLIED

    … Young Davie ready for SABA Tribute show

    BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR

    SOLOMON Islands renowned island music artist and producer, Young Davie is ready for his concert music show this weekend in Papua New Guinea’s capital city, Port Moresby.

    The talented hit maker from Isabel Province burst onto the local music scene on December 2003 at the age of 11, following the release of his first album.

    Since then, Young Davie or Barata Young; as he is also known; has established himself as a household music name in the Solomon Islands and across the Pacific, through his catchy ‘one-two-three’ beats style of music.

    The first-born child of Solomon Islands, music legend, the Late Rolley Bogese or famously known as SABA, it was inevitable that he would not follow his fathers’ love for music.

    Graduating with a double major degree in Management and Public Relation with Human Resource Management and Employment Relation from the University of the South Pacific (USP), his music had followed him everywhere.

    Always finding a way to juggle music and studies, Young Davie would manage to successfully release six albums, of which two were contracted with third party recording companies in the pacific, during high school to university.

    And while doing music part-time and working a job for almost nine years,  his passion and love for the 1-2-3 beats always remained strong and true.

    It was only in 2022 that saw the talented Isabel Province musician finally returning full time to writing and producing music.

    Influenced by SABA’s music, Young Davie continues to harness his province’s iconic one-two-three beat style of music, into a unique modern catchy rhythm, from his 140 Studio, in Honiara.

    His return to full time music production has seen him conjuring up hits after hits as his dominant blaze of trail, continues across the local music airwaves and abroad.

    Iconic songs and collaborations like, “Ulawa Flower”, “Choosim Mi”, “Step-Daddy”, “Lele”, “Nogu Daulomani “Look Mist”, “Meri Mortlock” and his latest collab with  fellow local artist, Mi Santana “Lo Kamaosi” continuing to keep his fans hypnotized.  

    This Saturday, along with PNG upcoming artist Jahran and the Cool Range Band, Young Davie for the first time, will be performing a concert show at The Cosmopolitan in Port Moresby, to pay tribute to his late father, ‘SABA’ and their music legacy in Papua New Guinea.

    With SABA’s hit songs, ‘10-dollar beach’, ‘Florida Girl’, ‘Meri Papua’, ‘Horumai’ ‘Ghema Ge’, ‘Naes Bola’ and many more, very much likely to take fans down memory lane during the show, Young Davie says he is happy to remember and build on to the music legacy his father started.

    “Personally, this tribute , I want to give SABA fans, something to remember. Personally, my first trip to PNG, musically was with SABA,” he said.

    “So, this tribute show is to like, complete things. I had planned to do a tour last time, but after he passed, I never had a thought to do it. This time I feel it’s the right time for me to must do it.

    “SABA made the way and cleared the road for me in music, and  I see this tribute as something, a kind of Thank You and as well as to bring back memories for his fans in PNG who have supported and loved his music.

    While he said the tribute show was the company that manages him idea, Gold Entertainment idea, he also feels now is the right time to make such a show for SABA.

    “So, my show concert is this Weekend on 14th  October. This is a SABA Tribute Show facilitated by Gold Entertainment and the Cosmopolitan,” he stated.

    “Show will be featuring Jarahn. One of  PNGs trending artist and backed by Cool Range Band. First leg will be POM. Second one will be announced soon by Gold Entertainment.

    “I will be performing 20 Songs. Ten from SABA and 10 of mine. What to expect is the usual you know mostly positive energy, Island Chemistry and my usual movements, ‘Pattern Up’,” Young Davie said.

    AUSSIE TO RESCUE 

    Written by
    Samie Waikori
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    Current road conditions along East Malaita Road in Malaita province.

    Aussie government steps in to rescue Malaita province current road situation

    BY SAMIE WAIKORI

    AUSTRALIAN government steps-in to salvage Malaita province from the current road situation face in the province.

    An intervention described by acting Premier of Malaita province, Hon Edward Misite’e as sympathetic to the anguish face by people on the situation in the province.

    In an interview yesterday, he said his office was greatly indebted to learn on the initiative from the Australian Embassy office in Honiara during a visit to Auki this week.

    “The team visited my office and we had discussion on the initiative to which they will be funding an urgent patching of roads in the province.

    “Australia has consulted national government on the initiative and with greenlight given, we met and went-out to witness road condition in the province.

    “Australia will fund the program which will see patching of north, south and east roads.

    “The main idea is to urgently patch or reinforce the roads and allow access to flow, whilst waiting for the SIRAP program,” Misite’e said.

    He said the initiative is welcomed by Malaita province and they assure to work in synergy with Australia to deliver the program.

    Misite’e said deteriorated road situation in the province has experienced since the past months and its persistent means the worse the situation is.

    “Due to the situation, people are facing gloomy economic activities and public services like education, medical and delivery of goods and services continue to be affected,” he said.

    Misite’e said the initiative taken by Australia in indeed redeeming and Malaita provincial government will do everything on its side to make it happen.

    According to the acting premier, if the initiative materializes there will be a comeback of economic activities as services will accessible by the roads.

    He said Malaita provincial government is looking forward for the program and the sooner the better.

    Misite’e reiterated that the program will greatly benefit people in the province who have been suffering with basic services due to road situation in the province.

    He thanked Australia government for the intervention to salvage the province from the situation.

    On that note, he also announced MPG’s keenness to welcome any partner that wishes to develop Malaita province.

    Six man arrested for arson

    Written by
    Ofani Eremae
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    BY ROMINAH FAKA

    SIX men arrested for burning of a dwelling house at Bulokalai village in Aola area, East Guadalcanal were charged with one count of arson each for burning a building.

    The six were now remanded in custody and yesterday all of them appeared in Central Magistrate Court for mitigation submission of their cases.

    The defence counsel for the three defendants provided to the court his clients mitigation written submission before Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea.

    After court heard the mitigation sentencing submission the court than further adjourned the matter to later date for judgment.

    Court extended the remand warrant for all defendants.

    Court heard that on May 10 at Bulokalai Village in Aola area, East Guadalcanal six defendants; Philip Raeni, Eddie Leua, Daniel Naghata, Philip Kona, Charlton Kukiti and Lington Saki burned down four houses and a kitchen belonging to an elderly person and his family members in retaliation.

    The accused men claimed the elderly person who practiced black magic was responsible for the death of one of their relative.

    Office of Public Prosecution appears for the Crown and Public Solicitor Office appears for the defendants.

    Missing fishermen from Mala escape ordeal

    Written by
    Samie Waikori
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    BY SAMIE WAIKORI

    AUKI

    TWO fishermen from Lilisiana village near Auki town in Malaita province who went missing on a fishing trip weeks ago had been found.

    They were reported to have been found in Choiseul province and responsible authorities are currently working on their repatriation to Malaita.

    PPC Malaita, superintendent Lesley Kili confirmed to SunAuki in an interview yesterday that the duo is in good condition after recovering from their ordeal.

    He said the fishermen went on a fishing trip to Ramos Island on Tuesday 26th Sept. The trip supposed to last two days expecting back in Auki on Thursday that week.

    However, PPC Kili said they didn’t make it on Thursday and relatives waited until Saturday evening that the matter was reported to Auki police.

    He said on Sunday 1st Oct members of Auki police searched coastal areas of north Malaita and the search-quest was only was only unsuccessful.

    Kili said Auki police issued a call during that time to coastal communities in Isabel and north Malaita to look out for the missing fishermen.

    He said just recently, Auki police received report that the duo was found by communities in Choiseul province.

    Kili thanked the communities and Choiseul police for rescuing them supports provided in recovering the fishermen from their ordeal.

    He appealed that whilst the duo will reunite with families soon, fishermen in the province must be cautious on weather before going out to the sea.

    Veo lauds SIG, World Bank and key partners for delivery of Munda airport

    Written by
    Ofani Eremae
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    Premier for Western Province Hon Veo.

    BY NED GAGAHE

    PREMIER of Western Province Billy Veo has acknowledged, World Bank, Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP) and the traditional donor partners for the delivery of the Munda airport, saying that the national government’s prioritization of the project is a step towards the right direction to equally distribute development across all provinces and minimize urban drift.

    Veo was joined by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, World Bank Resident Representative to Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Annette Leith, Minister of Communication and Aviation Peter Shanel Agovaka, and hundreds of residents of Munda and surrounding communities to witness the historic handing over of the Munda International airport on Tuesday.

    “I believe it is the right step in the right direction to distribute development across all provinces rather than centralizing all economic activities and infrastructures in Honiara.

    “We have been complaining about the increase in illegal settlements in Honiara and its outskirts, the proportionate increase in unemployment, crime and not forgetting disproportionate service delivery outputs.

    The Premier said by equitably distributing development, “we can minimize urban drift by providing economic opportunities for our rural people so that they can utilize their own resources to benefit themselves and their respective communities.

    Premier Veo expressed deep appreciation to World Bank for the provision of resources and funds to support the project.

    He said the World Bank’s continuous support and assistance over the years has played a huge part in Solomon Islands development agenda.

    “While we aspire for progress. we also understand our shortcomings. We look forward to your continuous support and interactions into the future

    “Special thanks are also due to the key government implementing Ministries- MOFT, MCA, MID as well as the World Bank Group Team for agreeing on the SIRAP 2 component of around USD$89M.

    “The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury Mr. McKinnie Dentana is acknowledged for leading and successfully negotiating the terms of the funding agreement.

    Veo also expressed sincere gratitude saying that Solomon Islands have been enjoying continues cordial relationship with our traditional donor partners such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and others over the years.

    “Of course, it would be amiss on my government’s part if we do not acknowledge the continuous cordial working relationship and support that we have been enjoying with our traditional donor partners over the years – The United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and others.

    “Solomon Islands development journey has not been a ‘lone’ one but one built on the legacy of Pacific colonization and forged through the chronicles of World War 2. The recent upheavals experienced by Solomon Islands in the not-too-distant past continue to provide opportunities for meaningful interventions and assistance in ensuring a stable and peaceful South Pacific region.

    “It is very pleasing to note that even given the changing dynamics of geopolitics, we continue to strengthen and enhance our traditional relationships through our development agenda as true friends and partners. We will continue to honour and respect our long-held values and ideals.

    Call to look after Munda airport facilities

    Written by
    Ofani Eremae
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    The new Munda International terminal.

    BY NED GAGAHE

    Premier of Western Province Billy Veo has called on residence of Gizo and the whole province to look after the newly completed Munda International airport infrastructures.

    Premier Veo made the call in his speech during the official handing over ceremony of the new Munda International, domestic terminal and upgraded runway overlay project on Tuesday.

    Veo stressed that such facilities cost a lot of money to construct and to show our appreciation and gratitude is to show respect and regard for these facilities.

    “As beneficiaries, the ball is now in our court to ensure we look after these infrastructures and maintain them so that they continue to serve our people in the years ahead.

    “These infrastructures do not just suddenly appear.

    “They cost a lot of money. resources and require technical people to help us construct these facilities.

    “People spent sleepless nights in order to make this happen.

    “The least we can do is show our appreciation and gratitude by according respect and regard for these facilities.” Premier Veo said.

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