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Isabel leaders call on Mines to stop playing ‘consultant’

Written by
Ben Bilua
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BY BEN BILUA

Leaders in Isabel province are calling on the ministry of Mines to stop playing the role of consultant in a controversial mining operation there.

A full scale operation is underway at Suma in Bugotu area Isabel Province following an agreement signed between Solomon Islands Resources Company Limited (SIRCL) and some landowners.

According to reports, Environment Impact Assessment carried out had failed twice but the Ministry is pushing to please the government’s ambition and that is to launch a full-scale mining operation in Isabel.

The report adds that there is no agreement of benefit sharing, let alone a failed term and condition agreement between the company and the landowners – meaning the investor and the government is running away with the benefits.

To date already SIRCL have about 90,000 plus wet metric tonnes of extracted nickel ore at 1.5% nickel to 2% nickel at their designated stock piles at their Suma Mining Project in which to date putting more pressure on Mines Division.

It is said that all the mess behind Isabel Nickel Project is driven by the government through the Ministry of Mines and Energy for acting like a consultation company rather than an institution established to respect the law of the country when comes to fulfilling process according to legal procedures.

Report has it that the push towards fast tracking the nickel mining operation is for economic growth and development of Solomon Islands – a move spearheaded by the Ministry of Mines and Energy without thorough check to make sure everyone including the landowners and other stakeholders are involved.

It states that Mines Division is implementing an “in-country Nickel Mineral Processing and Extraction Project but sadly, there is no involvement of resource owners and that makes the proposed ambition unpopular.

Internal dialogue is currently underway between the Director of Mines and Deputy Director of Mines and mines officials in liaison with Commissioner of Lands to appointing an Acquisition Officer aiming at conducting a brand new land acquisition for all customary land areas being earmarked for nickel mining developments – A process established to invade the EIA process as EIA process failed twice.

While the development will certainly boost the country’s economy, Isabel leaders fear that the project will be similar to bauxite development in Rennell where landowners are still waiting for their benefits.

Isabel leaders now calls on the Ministry of Mines and Energy to stop acting like a consultation company and start doing what is right.

Nickel deposit in Isabel ‘sold like hot cake’

Written by
Ben Bilua
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0

BY BEN BILUA

NEW reports have emerged that the Nickel deposit in Isabel has been sold like hot cake at the expense of landowners and innocent people who will be affected by the mining operations.

More controversial arrangements have emerged as information regarding the mining operation at Suma and other proposed mining operation in Isabel province continues to come to public.

Early this week, this paper published a similar article stating that the process which led to the granting of mining licence to the company that operates at Suma was done without satisfying the country’s law.

On Monday, it was identified that Solomon Island Resources Company Limited (SIRC) was the company operating at Suma tenement – one of the nickel rich deposits on the Island.

Yesterday, new information states that the owner of Solomon Islands Resources Company Limited has sold its share to Win Win Mining Company Limited.

Report states that Solomon Islands Resources Company Limited now owns another PL over South East San Jorge under a new company name FAR EAST.

These report reconfirmed that Win Win Mining Company is the company currently operating at Suma Tenement.

Report has it that the landowners of Suma tenement objected to proposal for Win Win to be granted the prospecting license during a meeting with the Mines and Mineral Board but to their surprise the government rejects the resolution.

Knowing that the landowners will not accept Win Win, the government granted Solomon Islands Resources Company Limited (SIRCL) the mining license little that the landowner knew that SIRCL will later sold its shares to Win Win hiding behind a different company name.

It seems that the transfer of shares between Solomon Islands Resource Company Limited and Win Win was done without consulting the landowners and it is the very reason why there is no legal agreements which includes benefit sharing reached for mining operation at Suma.

Latest report states that SIRCL have 90,000 plus wet metric tons of extracted nickel ores at 1.5% nickel to 2% nickel at their designated stock piles at their Suma Mining Project.

The pressure in on the Ministry of Mines and Energy (Mines Department) for export permit.

Scholars and prominent leaders of Isabel province are seeking clarification from the Ministry of Mines and Energy for the mess the Ministry created.

The question is, who is behind all these mess? Is it the ministry? The government? The politician? The landowners?

Malaria and diarrhoea cases increase in Auki

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Auki provincial town of Malaita.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI clinic has over the past weeks reported an increase in malaria and diarrhoea cases in certain communities within Auki.

A statement from the clinic said there is increase in cases for both diseases in certain communities within Auki town, and the trend is stable.

It said according to data gathered, the increase is beyond normal data the clinic usually collects.

The clinic warns people to take appropriate measures to avoid the disease.

It said given the situation that the province is running low on drugs, it will be a challenge to control these rise in cases.

There are also reports of similar increases in rural health clinics around Auki town.

Supervising Director of Malaita province health, Dr David Danitofea said yesterday that his office is yet to be fully made aware of these increases in malaria and diarrhoea cases, but says people are asked to take control measures.

He said people must take up responsibility to make sure their homes are clean and apply hygiene practices at all times.

Women encouraged to check for breast and cervical cancer

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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NRH CEO Dr George Malefoasi. Photo by GCU

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

ALL women are encouraged to do health check-ups for breast and cervical cancer at the clinics and hospitals.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Referral Hospital Dr George Malefoasi voiced this at a recent press conference. 

Malefoasi said all cancer screening is ongoing as part of health programmes in the clinics and hospitals.

“Clinicians, doctors and nurses have been trained to carry out cancer screening. 

“Cancer screening is done by basic physical examinations and aided by diagnostic tests which are medical imaging (ultrasound/ mammogram), pathology testings (histology), which helps in confirmation,” he said.

Malefoasi said cancer screening should be available in the clinics where there is a doctor and a trained midwife or a nurse.

“With breast and Cervical Cancer, all women are encouraged to seek advice at the clinic (nurse) and doctor (Government & Private practitioners). Cancer screening is already happening,” he said.

Malefoasi said cancer treatments available are surgical and chemotherapy.

Hormonal and radiotherapy is also one but currently not available in the country, he adds.

“Earlier we diagnose and intervene, the better the outcome,” he said.

Malefoasi said breast and cervical cancer screening are part of reproductive health services at the clinics including youth centres (SIPPA and all public and private clinics).

He said at the national referral hospital breast and prostate cancer screening, treatment and management of care are dealt with by the hospital surgical and medical oncology (cancer) teams.

This is the same for cervical cancer screening and treatment is dealt by Gynaecology and oncology teams at the hospital.

Malefoasi adds that in terms breast cancer pre-warning signs include – lump (pain).

“Most times its painless lump. How it is confirmed – Women will suspect breast lumps (from above clinics) are referred to the NRH for further assessments. The assessments include the following; Physical examination by the doctor followed by ultrasound (of the breast) (confirmation, size and shape) Mammogram when it is available

“I understand this is being procured by donors – FNA (Fine Needle Aspiration) is done, result by pathologist available in a week. (Histology- confirmation test (duration- 1 to 2 months) Specimens come back early now because results come electronically so takes about 3 weeks on average from time of sent. Longer from provinces,” he said.

“What we do mainly is opportunistic screening that is people who present to us. Not mass public screening which we do not have the capacity to do at the moment. For breast cancer we have been giving talks to encourage Breast Self-Examination (BSE) to feel abnormal lumps. And come forward if there is an abnormal lump.

“Women above 40 years old, and those who have family history of breast cancer be extra cautious/vigilant. If you can emphasise that the early the women presents the better the prognosis. They should not delay but come early for any lump or even a concern,” he said.

Malefoasi further adds by explaining the pre-warning signs of cervical cancers. One of key signs is abnormal bleeding. 

He stressed this can be confirmed when a woman with abnormal visual inspections of the cervix undergo pap smear. Pap smear is stained and visualised for abnormal cells- carcinogenic (histology confirmation).

Malefoasi said regarding the treatment for cervical cancer it can be through surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Long queue disturbs issuing of passport books

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Long queues and overcrowding in front of the Immigration office has hindered issuing new passports.

This has led to many new passport books remaining uncollected at the Immigration office.

Immigrations is calling on public to cooperate and not to over-crowd the office entrance.

A notice from Immigration said they have around 500 to 700 uncollected passports in their office, however over-crowding and long queues disturbs them from issuing the passports to the owners.

Immigration office said once the door entrance is clear it will be helpful to the officers to deal with the issue.  

The notice says that seasonal applicants disrupted normal office services and becoming a concern for visas and other Immigration services.

Therefore, the Immigration are urging the public concerned especially those seasonal workers to cooperate with them so that they can fairly serve everybody who wanted their service.

Meanwhile one of the passport applicants said the long queues and over-crowding outside the Immigration started way back last year.

The applicant said that some of them already put their application forms last year and yet to collect their passports.

“If only the Government decentralize the Immigration office to other locations it will be helpful, because our population increases and its time the government think of other location to avoid such over-crowding,” the applicant said.

Gov’t appeals to private sector to join Safe and Green campaign

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Chair of the Government Services Integration Committee (GSIC) overseeing Government Preparations for the Pacific Games, in the office of the Prime Minister and cabinet, Bernard Bata’anisia. Photo supplied.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

Government has appealed to private sectors and all stakeholders to join the Safe and Green clean-up campaign scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 1 and 2, 2023.

This call was made by the Chair of the Government Services Integration Committee (GSIC) overseeing Government Preparations for the Pacific Games, in the office of the Prime Minister and cabinet, Bernard Bata’anisia on behalf of the government.

“The government is seeking the assistance of the Private Sector and all the other stakeholders to clean-up this weekend to compliment government ministries and agencies, which are doing cleaning up on Friday afternoons,” Bata’anisia said.

He also appeals to the public and residential homes to join up in the clean up.

“The cabinet has approved Ministries doing weekly Friday afternoon clean ups from March 10 to December 15 2023, in preparation for the games,” Bata’anisia said.

He said GSIC recently held a meeting with private sector group and briefed stakeholders on how better they can plan and improve the “keep Honiara clean” campaign.

Bata’anisia said stakeholders were also briefed on the Honiara City Council by-laws and on the spot-fines which the cabinet approved on March 9, 2023, as a means of preparing Honiara city clean and ready for the November games.

Present in the meeting were representatives from the Our Telekom, CEMA, Solomon Islands National University, Central Bank of Solomon Islands, National Provident Fund, Solomon Water, Solomon Power, HCC, Solomon Airlines, Forum Fisheries Agencies, Bank of BSP, DBSI, Solomon Ports Authority.

Mental health acute award to be built before PG23: Dr Malefoasi

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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NRH CEO Dr George Malefoasi. Photo by GCU

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

PLANS to construct a new mental health acute ward to accommodate individuals who are suffering from neurotic and psychotic mental disorders prior and during the upcoming Pacific Games 2023 in November is progressing now.

This was confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Referral Hospital Dr George Malefoasi.

“Plan is in place for Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and NRH to build the proposed new Mental Health Acute ward well before the Games in November. This project has been approved since 2021 but couldn’t start due to Covid 19 and due to payment process delays.

“The new mental health acute ward will make available 5 beds for acute patients, and 1 for very critical patients needing isolation and management. So we are working on this now,” Malefoasi said.

He confirmed that the ward will be built next to the current day clinic and NRH psychiatric unit next to the old morgue site.

“Some Relatives have shown willingness to support the psychiatric department in contributing to the welfare of the psychiatric patients of theirs,” Malefoasi said.

He said the revised mental health policy which is due for cabinet consideration calls for multisectoral approach in caring, promoting and protection of mentally illness in the country.

“This is due to increasing youth men and women suffering from neurotic and psychotic mental disorders. Especially depression among youths,” Malefoasi said.

AUKUS has nothing to do with us: MFAET

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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MFAET permanent secretary Collin Beck.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE signing of the trilateral security pact between Australia, United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS) in September 2021 has nothing to do with Solomon Islands.

This is according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAET).

Under the AUKUS pact, among other things, US and UK will assist Australia in acquiring nuclear powered submarines.

AUKUS was established after Solomon Islands’ diplomatic switch from Taiwan to China in 2019.

MFAET permanent secretary Collin Beck told media last week that “this particular matter has nothing to do with Solomon Islands, more to do with interests of AUKUS members”.

“If we look at Indo Pacific strategy, targeting one particular country.

“This is before we established relationship with China,” he said.

“So it is nothing to do with Solomon Islands, but more to do with their policy and direction to contain China.

“That is a geo political issue,” he said.

Beck said Solomon Islands views the region and world as inter-connected and linked.

“But with current conflict, especially with Ukraine, we go back to cold war situation, a divided world.

“How do we see development issue? We see as middle ground, not take side with any side,” he added.

Beck said if anything goes bad, no one is the winner.

“Everyone will lose. Those losers will be the front line of climate change.

“Geo political agenda took us from our developmental agenda,” he said.

Apart from that, Beck said the signing of the security agreement with China last year is basically for the country’s domestic interest and not external.

He said Solomon Islands needs security relating to water security, food security, climate change and relocation.

Beck said relocation can also lead to domestic war between people who relocate to someone’s land if they start encroaching into another tribal land.

As such, he said the real threat is domestically and not externally.

DRUG SHORTAGE IN MALAITA

Written by
Samie Waikori
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0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Malaita province is facing a shortage of medicine, a problem which has been ongoing for nearly a month.

Malaria cases are also reportedly increasing in Auki and surrounding communities.

Patients to clinics are being sent home with only paracetamol. Few clinics are down to their last supplies with children’s Coartem tablets (anti-malarial drug) which is being given to adults.

The province’s health authority has confirmed this drug shortage to Island Sun.

Supervising Director Dr David Danitofea admitted to the paper yesterday that the province is indeed facing drug shortage.

He however explains that it is cyclical – there will be a period of drug shortage before their stocks are replenished from Honiara.

Danitofea says there has never been a time where drugs were in full supply when new stocks arrived.

“This is a normal issue as supplies are coming, distributed, run-out and supply continues to come.

“Recently, I was submitted with a list of drugs that the province is without and my office is working on to get supply soon,” he said.

Danitofea adds that this same problem is faced by other provinces as well.

He concurs that ideally health authorities should ensure that there is no period of drug shortage before replenishment of stock.

“Sadly, that is not the reality,” he said.

Danitofea said this is one of the challenges his office is facing especially on how to maintain drug supply, given the delay of supply from Honiara has become the new normal.

“This is an area my office will try to strengthen making sure supplies are maintained until we receive new supplies, though it will be challenging,” he said.

Island Sun Auki has received reports that for nearly a month sick patients especially those diagnosed with malaria were advised to receive home-care or referred either to Kilu’ufi hospital or other clinics with prescriptions.

Malaria and dengue cases increasing  

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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NRH CEO Dr George Malefoasi. Photo by GCU

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

The national figures of Malaria and Dengue cases are increasing, it is reported.

Chief Executive Officer for National Referral Hospital Dr George Malefoasi said, “I can confirm to you that is Malaria case increasing in Honiara and some part of the country.

“According to the National figure Malaria and dengue fever is at the hospital National Referral Hospital. 

“For now, we still have a lot of severe Malaria cases coming.

“A lot severe cases of Malaria are presenting at the National Referral Hospital at the moment.”

He said the sad thing is that the PF (Plasmodium falciparum – a unicellular protozoan parasite of humans, and the deadliest species of Plasmodium that causes malaria in humans) is increasing and is one challenge the Ministry is facing.

Malefoasi said Malaria is seen increasing in Honiara, Guadalcanal and Malaita.

“These areas are identified as high-risk spots.”

He said there are multifactorial answers to this increase, some of these factors are environment, the primary health care setting and as well as funding getting, people over spraying and not forgetting people’s attitude so relaxing and bed nets are not used wisely.

Malefoasi on the same note reminded people on some common public health measures.

“I hereby reminding the general public to sleep under bed nets, get your house sprayed, get your medication if presenting with malaria and dengue,” he said.

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