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Kuma highlights SI challenges to climate change

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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Minister of Finance and Treasury Harry Kuma

BY NED GAGAHE

Minister of Finance Harry Kuma says Solomon Islands is at the forefront of climate change and the country has experienced the full brunt of its impacts and the reoccurrence of natural disasters.

Kuma made these statements at the gathering to launch the Solomon Islands Roadmap for improving access to climate finance and public spending at Heritage Park Hotel last week.

Kuma said the country as an island archipelago is experiencing an unprecedented scale of extreme weather events such as heavy rainfalls, flash floods, increasing intensities of cyclones, sea-level rises and coastal erosions.

“It is clear warning and message that these have threatened our security, challenged our economy, and impacted the livelihoods of many of our rural communities, cultures and sustainable developments.

“Disaster losses can represent a major portion of our country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and impeded economic and social development to our country.

Kuma said the impacts of climate change and disaster risks remain a top priority for the government and these are clearly articulated in Policy frameworks such as National Development Strategies, National Adaptation Plans, Solomon Islands Climate Change Policy and Disaster Management plans.

He said Solomon Islands alone cannot response effectively without accessing global climate finance to support its interventions.

“Unlocking access to these funds is very important and I urge development partners, line ministries, NGOs and the private sector that our collaborations is very important for a resilient Solomon Islands.” Kuma said.

The document- Solomon Islands Roadmap for improving access to climate finance and public spending is a five-year plan 2022-2027 developed by Solomon Islands Government in collaboration with UNDP Gov4Res project and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).

Aftershocks slowly easing: Report  

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Damages caused to the stairs of the Anthony Saru Building yesterday. Photo: Collin Beck.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE reoccurrence of aftershocks is slowly easing, says National Disaster Council situation report released on 5th December 2022.

“Reoccurrence of aftershocks slowly easing, however, people particularly in Southwest Guadalcanal are still living in fear and uncertainty,” the report stressed.

The report says the risk of further landslides and flooding is high in communities in Southwest Guadalcanal. The current heavy rain warning will eventually exacerbate the risk and may cause further disaster to the already volatile communities because of the impact of earthquake.

The Initial Damage Assessment for Guadalcanal was completed on the 1 December 2022. A total of 55 communities in 10 different wards are assessed in Guadalcanal the report stated.

“Damages to physical infrastructures, particularly residential houses are minimal and are scattered. Traditional built houses mostly tilted, and needs minimal repairs such as bracing.

“Most of the school classroom sustains major damages to classrooms and needs technical structural assessment. Most schools opted to take a break earlier due to the damages to buildings,” the report says.

It report also mentioned that food gardens are the most eminent impact due to landslides and ground shake that uprooted crops.

The Honiara City are yet to conduct the Initial Damage Assessment to verify reported damages, due to lack of funding although budget and relevant documents are submitted the report said.

ENDS///////////////////

Ete raises concerns on 2023 approp Bill

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Douglas Ete

By EDDIE OSIFELO

CHAIRMAN of Public Accounts Committee, Douglas Ete has raised concerns on the 2023 Appropriation Bill 2022.

The Government through its line Ministries is asking Parliament to appropriate four billion, six hundred and sixteen million, three hundred and five thousand and six hundred and thirty-four dollars to the service of the financial year ending December 31, 2023.

Speaking on the debate of the Bill in Parliament on 5th December 2022, Ete said the Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma highlighted two pillars of the budget.

They are:

  1. Transforming investments to boost recovery of the economy
  2. Empowering people and promote unity in the country

Ete said while this is an honorable cause, if one looks at the recovery policy of the government to recover the economy, it is seemingly while it is good, promotes uneven growth in his take.

“Growth is projected to be bolster through construction centrally on and in Honiara and a slice of the growth through the provinces.

“But under the fiscal budget, nearly one quarter of the budget is spent on Pacific Games 2023 in Honiara,” he said.

Ete said PAC suggests a package for visitors during the Games to also enjoy the Games and spend money on crucial importance.

He said there should be cultural attractions in Central Province, Gizo, Auki, something in the scale of what Festival of Pacific Arts did.

“The only issue was it incurred high debt on the preceding year in 2013 and hampered growth,” he added.

Furthermore, Ete said PAC also noted for 2023 for growth areas for the provinces, is thinly sliced.

He said creation of jobs will bear minimal as it is.

For example, Ete said under the Development, Ministry of Forestry is allocated $10.6 million.

However, he said Noro Timber year is given $3m, while Kolombangara Land Trust Fund Board is allocated $1 million.

Ete said the Ministry of Forestry is not aware of this $1 million allocation because it’s not in their programme.

He said it is questionable because the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Forestry is also the member of the KLTB.

Ete said it is not good because all budget preparation should come from Ministry.

“If give to them, give to all other Land Trust Boards like in Shortlands, North New Georgie and many others in Malaita.

“This is a question of equity and fairness,” he added.

However, Ete praised the Government for allocating $30 million to Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

MHMS concerned with Copen drug

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services has raised concerned over the new wide spread Copen drug in the country because of its use extending to children in primary and secondary.

Minister of Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana speaking in parliament on 5th December 2022 said, “MHMS is equally concerned because of the use of this drug or substance has extended to children who have attended primary schools as well as secondary schools and that is a major concerned for the Ministry.”

He said the ministry is also worried due to that substance is being produced at some hotspots and sold to children.

“That presents even more challenging issues as far as the quality of the substance. The production of it and quality is of real concern as well.

“Based on the information reaching us there has been some spots in Honiara practised the selling of this substance (copen drug).

“This substance is not imported, it is actually made locally. If it’s imported we would actually know the quantity coming into the country.

“According to other information, this drug is composed of a mixture of Colgate, lime and tobacco and use some form of heating to form a substance. So these are extremely dangerous substance that our future leaders are exposed to and it could really harm their health.

“That said, the Ministry of Health will like to investigate further and we need to work closely with the RSPIF attain some samples of copen to do lab analysis,” Togamana said.

He adds, the health ministry will include copen use in Solomon Islands school health survey to verify this information,

“Having said that we have not done any test on this material even our laboratory does not have that capacity to test this substance.

“So maybe if we get hold of this substance we can send it overseas for testing of chemical constitutes,” Togamana said.

ENDS//////////////////////

ENDS//////////////////////

Climate finance roadmap launched

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
A-group-photo-of-the-participants-that-attended-the-launching-ceremony.

BY NED GAGAHE

Finance Minister Harry Kuma launched the Solomon Islands Roadmap for improving access to climate finance and public spending document at the Heritage Park Hotel on 2nd December 2022.

Kuma launched the document with Permanent Secretary National Planning Susan Sulu and Berdi Berdiyev, UNDP’s Deputy Residence Representative.

The document is a five-year plan 2022-2027 developed by Solomon Islands Government in collaboration with UNDP Gov4Res project and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).

The key line ministries involved in the creation of the document are Ministry of Finance Treasury (MoFT), Ministry of Environment Conservation Disaster Management (MECDM) and Ministry of National Planning Development Coordination (MNPDC).

The roadmap was intended to support the Solomon Islands Government on two key areas; one is access to climate finance and two is, improving resource management and enhancing coordination between the government, development partners and stakeholders in achieving sustainable and inclusive growth.

Yesterday’s launching ceremony was attended by development partners, members of the Climate Finance Steering Committees, Non-Government Organizations, Civil Society Organizations and representatives from keyline government ministries and private sector.

In his keynote address Kuma said the climate finance access roadmap is an important guide towards accessing global climate finance but more importantly for strengthening of coordination and collaboration at all levels.

“I feel particularly honored this morning so please allow me to welcome you all to the launching of the Solomon Islands Roadmap for Improving Access to Climate Finance Access Roadmap. 2022-2027 which is known as the Climate Finance Access Roadmap.

“First of all, I would like to start by thanking you all for coming today.

“I would like to thank our development partners, for picking up some of the recommendations highlighted in the Solomon Islands Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Finance Assessment Report and the Scoping Report on the Establishment of the Climate Finance Unit and addressing them.

“I would like to thank the UNDP Governance for Resilience Development in the Pacific Project and PIFS for supporting my ministry in resourcing the Climate Finance Resilience Unit and for supporting the two main components or pillars of the roadmap, Access to Finance and Improving Resource management. Also, I would like to thank ADB for supporting a consultant to help establish the climate finance resilience unit.” Kuma said.

Kuma also thanked key line ministries, development partners, NGOs, CSOs and private sector for their contributions towards the development and during consultations and collaboratively review the roadmap.

He said the launching marked the great work and collaboration between different stakeholders and also the lead ministry in terms of climate change.

 “And also progress to access global climate finance to respond effectively to climate change impacts and become resilient.” Kuma said.

Court wants a quick one on Winwin case

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Court has told counsels in the case of the general manager for Winwin mining company to quickly progress the case.

Principal magistrate Tearo Beneteti said this is because the charges against accused, Dan Shi, are only minor ones.

She said intimidation charge is a minor offence and thus should be disposed off quickly by the court.

Meanwhile defence lawyer Silverio Lepe sought for adjournment on the matter to allow him time to submit proper proposal to the prosecution.

Lepe said since the earthquake their office at the Anthony Saru building has been closed.

He said their office was badly affected and the landlord is still assessing the building.

Lepe also informed court that his client needs to travel out from Honiara for work purposes and will make submissions to vary bail conditions.

Magistrate Beneteti said the defendant is on police bail and there is nothing to vary as the court does not have control over police bail, unless the prosecution makes proper application on bail before the court, then defence can apply to the court for variation on bail.

Beneteti adjourned the case to December 8, 2022 for mention.

Shi is charged with two counts of intimidation relating to an incident that occurred on Aprill 1 this year.

Prosecution alleged that the charge was in relation to the incident alleged to have occurred on April 1, 2022, where some landowners called in at Winwin Company to seek advance payment for the purpose of purchasing goods to mourn with one of their landowners who died at that time.

It was alleged that Shi appeared with a replica gun and intimidated the landowners since he was not happy with one of the landowners who had accompanied the team.

The replica gun is now with police and subject to investigation as to how it reached the country. The replica guns are not the ones that came into the country for police training.

Steward Tonowane is appearing for the crown while Silverio Lepe of Sol-Law represents the defendant.

Gov’t hopes to table TRC report next year

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Chairman of NHA and Secretary to Prime Minister Dr Jimmie Rodgers.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Government hopes to table the long-awaited Truth and Reconciliation Commission report in the March sitting next year.

The five-volume report uncovers the accounts of victims and perpetrators on the causes, details and effects of the ethnic conflict from 1998 to 2000.

Sectary to Prime Minister, Dr Jimmy Rodgers stated this when asked during the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament this week.

The PAC was enquiring into the 2023 Appropriation Bill 2022 budget.

Dr Rodgers said with the TRC, the government is working on the reparation policy.

He said it is one of the recommendations of the TRC report to a Commission to look at claims of people affected by the ethnic conflict.

Previous governments have failed to table the TRC report in Parliament, which led to the editor to leak it on social media.

Apart from that, Dr Rodgers said the government is hoping to table the Federal system in Parliament for deliberation as well.

World AIDS day marked in Gizo

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Trina Paroi and her colleague at one of the stalls.

HEALTH officials and stakeholders in Gizo, Western Province has joined the world celebrating World AIDS day.

The event kicked off with a parade led by a long line of cars from PT109 to MSG building where the official programme unfolded.

The theme of 2022 World AIDS Day is “End inequalities end AIDS” – a renewed mission to respect the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS.

The highlight of the day was a testimony from a brave patient living with HIV/AIDS (name withheld) taking a stand to educate people on the stigma and trauma HIV/AIDS patients go through in their lives.

In her speech, Youths Desk Officer of Western Province, Trina Paroi reemphasised the importance of recognising and addressing inequalities which continue to hold back efforts to end discrimination against patients with HIV/AIDS.

She also reinforced the importance of providing equal access to essential HIV services, particularly on the young population

Paroi said progress towards HIV goals have been stalled, resources have shrunk and numerous lives are at risk – a situation that needs urgent response.

She adds that disparity and inequality of access to health services and HIV services and disregard for human rights are among the failures that allow HIV to become and remain a global health crisis.

“However, I’m encouraged by the universal understanding that solidarity, unity, compassion and hope forms the basis of fair and equal ingredient to address the issue.

“The system is finally working for us, but it is still failing those who are marginalized, our young people, our children and those with disabilities.

“It is everyone’s right to access health, be informed and treated with respect and dignity.

“We have to fight stigma, discrimination and guarantee the rights of our marginalised groups.

“We need to invest more in testing, treatment and care at the same time empower our youths,” Paroi said.

19 ACTIVE HIV CASES

Written by
Ben Bilua
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HIV virus

BY BEN BILUA

A total of 19 people are living with HIV/AIDS in the country.

HIV/AIDS Coordinator of Gizo Hospital, Western Province, Ellen Tanito speaking during the World AIDS Day celebration yesterday, said the total number people infected by HIV/AIDs has increased from 36 to 37 in 2021 and 2022.

She told those present that the cases are distributed as 17 male and 20 female.

“So far we have a total of 37 cases HIV/AIDs cases registered in the country. 18 have died and 19 people are still on treatment.

“Of these 19 cases, 16 patients are under medication while others have lost contact with health authorities – meaning they have lost their medication.

“Of the existing cases, 10 are women and nine are men,” Tanito said.

She said the number of cases at hand are those who have been tested by health authorities.

Tanito said HIV testing is voluntary and anyone who wants to check his/her status can reach out to the nearest clinic or hospital to do their test.

Globally, 38.4 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2021, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WHO says the African region remains mostly affected, with nearly one in every 25 adults living with HIV and accounting for more than two-thirds of the people living with HIV world-wide.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), according to WHO, is a virus that damages the cells in your immune system and weakens your ability to fight everyday infections and disease.

“AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the name used to describe a number of potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that happen when your immune system has been severely damaged by the HIV virus.

“While AIDS cannot be transmitted from 1 person to another, the HIV virus can.

“There’s currently no cure for HIV, but there are very effective drug treatments that enable most people with the virus to live a long and healthy life,” WHO says. 

With an early diagnosis and effective treatments, most people with HIV will not develop any AIDS-related illnesses and will live a near-normal lifespan.

GM Win Win in court today

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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In-court

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of the General Manager of Win Win mining company who faces two counts of intimidation will be called again in court today for mention

On the previous occasion, the Office of the Director Public Prosecution allocated the file to a prosecutor and will update the court on the progress of the case.

The defendant Dhan Shi is charged with two counts of intimidation relating to an incident that occurred on Aprill 1 this year.

On April 1 2022, some landowners called in at Win Win Company to seek advance payment for the purpose of purchasing goods to mourn with one of their landowners who had died.

It was alleged that Mr Shi appeared with a replica gun and intimidated the landowners since he was not happy with a man accompanying them.

The replica gun is now with police and subject to investigation as to how it reached the country. The replica guns are not the ones that came into the country for police training.

Nickson Tonowane is appearing for the crown while Silverio Lepe of Sol-Law represents the defendant.

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