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5 months gap in learning this year

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Lanelle Tanangada former Minister for MEHRD

By EDDIE OSIFELO

STUDENTS in Primary and Secondary have experienced five months loss of learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Minister of Education and Human Resources, Lannell Tanangada confirmed this when asked by Leader of Opposition, Mathew Wale in Parliament yesterday.

Tanangada said so far there is limited data to study the questions on loss of learning experience by the students both in Primary and Secondary schools during the covid 19 pandemic.

“Nonetheless there has been significant impact of covid 19 on students learning.

“We could estimate loss of learning experience by students in terms of number of hours, days, weeks, months and years of no face-to-face instructions,” she said.

“For example, this year alone, there were five months of loss of learning experienced by the students.

“Loss of learning could also be expressed in terms of curriculum coverage,” she said.

Tanangada said the subject contents, knowledge, skills and attitudes that were associated with the subjects’ students did not learn during the closure of schools.

“In summary closure of schools resulting from Covid-19 pandemic had impacted on instructions and teaching and learning time.

“We know there was loss of instructional time as well as welfares of students. Students were affected psychology. They become anxious. They are worried about their education and long for a time the schools were open. They thought about their exams they were supposed to sit to progress to the next level of education and students were uncertain about their future and whether they would continue and complete their education,” she said.

“So, the overall closure of schools caused by covid 19 has had devastating impacts on our students learning.

“In other words, students experienced huge learning loss during the covid 19 period and they would need to catch up with their learning to be recover,” she added.

Parliament continues at 9.30am today.

Malaita aware of monkey pox

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Director of Malaita Health, Dr Rex Maukera.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

Malaita is aware of the new virus spreading globally, the monkey pox, and is prepared to resist it should there be community transmission in the country.

DIRECTOR of Malaita provincial health authority, Dr Rex Maukera says the Ministry of Health (MHMS) through the provincial health is aware and monitoring the trend of the virus globally.

“Nothing yet aware for now, however, if there is need to step up program, we will liaise with the mother ministry to roll out monkey box programs,” Maukera said.

He said at the moment the provincial health is rolling out measles and rubella campaign in the province also in preparation for a reported outbreak in the region.

Maukera said covid-19 programme is still ongoing and next month they will roll out a covid-19 integrated vaccination for the province.

He also noted that just recently the provincial health had resumed normal health services for all health centres across the province.

Maukera said this is after the covid-19 era that charged the country since the beginning of this year, and even the past two years of covid-19 preparation.

Frontliners query covid-19 allowances

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MINISTRY of Health and Medical Services is being asked when it will pay frontliners their June covid-19 allowance.

A front-liner, who is a staff under Malaita provincial office, makes this call through this paper in anonymity.

The person said staffs under Malaita provincial health and several others under MPG are still waiting for their June allowance.

The frontliner said although delay in covid-19 allowance is not new, it is affecting them; and it is unfair since they have fulfilled their side faithfully by working, only to be treated such way by MHMS.

The person said front-liners’ frustration on the matter has all along been buried, and it’s time responsible authority to tangible about it.

SIBC NOT UNIFYING!

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Prime Minister Sogavare during the recent PIF meeting

….PM explain reasons for broadcasters’ omission as SOE

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Prime Minister has accused the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) of deviating from its purpose of uniting the country.

 Manasseh Sogavare made this statement when explaining the government’s decision behind the omitting SIBC as a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) recently.

Responding to a question from the Leader of Opposition in Parliament yesterday, Sogavare said SIBC is a statutory body and service provider that continues to receive fundings from the Solomon Islands Government.

“As a national broadcaster, SIBC is expected to conduct its business in such a manner that instils unity amongst our people.

“However, in recent times, that was not the case,” he said.

“In fact, in 2015, we came up with this National Broadcasting Policy 2015 that clearly outlines what is expected of the national broadcaster, bring country together, unity, issues that this country grapples with.

“We struggle to hold this country together,” he said.

However, Sogavare said they have seen recently SIBC has been broadcasting news that is inciting, allow anxiety in our public, mostly based on misinformation and in some cases deliberate lies.

He said the government was not even given the opportunity to respond to this misinformation and lies.

“The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has brought this up with the Board and CEO of SIBC but to no avail.

“I had personal discussions with the CEO and officers have discussed with them that some issues they are broadcasting is dividing this nation,” he said.

Sogavare said but to no avail.

He said SIBC must abide by code of ethics but most importantly must abide by National Broadcasting Policy, should guide the way SIBC do its work.

Furthermore, Sogavare backed his argument for the basis of Government’s decision by quoting the preamble of Society of Professional Journalists.

SPJ believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. Ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough. An ethical journalist acts with integrity.

The Society declares these four principles as the foundation of ethical journalism and encourages their use in its practice by all people in all media.

The four principles are Seek Truth and Report It, Minimize Harm, Act Independently and Be Accountable and Transparent.

Sogavare said the National Broadcaster must at all times keep this in mind when discharging their statutory and professional obligations to our people.

He also used former United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt quote:

“Freedom of the press is essential to the preservation of a democracy; but there is a difference between freedom and license. Editorialists who tell downright lies in order to advance their own agendas do more to discredit the press than all the censors in the world.”

Sogavare said this is a real concern of the government where journalist reporting back to their editor with stories and news and it is the editor that decides what get printed and sets the agenda for public consumption and debate.

“I urge all of us to take heed of the observation of this great man,” he said.

Moreover, Sogavare used the words of former publisher of New York Times from 1931-1963, A.G. Sulzberger.

Sulzberger stated:

“Perhaps we out to ask ourselves just what freedom of press really is. Whose freedom, is it? Does it guarantee the right of the publisher to do what he wishes, limited only by the laws of libel, public order and decency? Is it only a special license to those that manage the units of the press? The answer is of course is no.”

Sogavare said now it is time to act that SIBC discharge its mandate in accordance with ethical journalist, especially when propagate by national broadcaster.

“We don’t have control of newspaper, because of that cabinet has agreed to establish government newspaper,” he said.

The Prime Minister also said SIBC had not been making profits since 2018 even though Government supported all along including Subvention grants from Office of Prime Minister.

He said SIBC will still operate under Broadcasting Act Cap 122, it has been doing since 1978.

Variana township development opens for investors 

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Mr Rosalio and Mulekopa posed with the Variana Township Development plan

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

VARIANA township development in West Guadalcanal is seeking local and international investors through partnership arrangement.

Chairman of the taskforce for Variana Township Development David Rosalio says the land has been registered and transferred to Tiaro Savulei Purchase Corporate Society and the committee has agreed to utilise the land as a commercial centre for West Guadalcanal people.

Rosalio said this township project was taken up to the Guadalcanal Provincial Government when Anthony Veke was the premier.

And Veke’s government gave the approval to develop the Variana Township concept.

He adds, the current provincial government is also well aware of this plan.

Rosalio said survey work has completed, now they are putting together efforts for the zoning of different sectors. These sectors include administrations, commercial, Industrial, residential, police, tourism, market, sport, health, education and also proposed road project.

He said in terms of budget, there is no budget set aside or allocated for this development but they are seeking assistance to support them with this township project.

“With this we invite investors to come. We are open for investors but must through a partnership arrangement.18 investors have already applied,” Rosalio said.

Chairman of the Tiaro Savulei land Purchase Corporate Society Vincent Mulekopa said the establishment of Variana Township will help a lot to people at West Guadalcanal and South Guadalcanal because it will provide employment and services will be available and easy to access.

Expired goods sold in Auki

Written by
Samie Waikori
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A segment of Auki CBD that holds some of the retail shops in Auki town.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

MALAITA provincial office through its Environmental Division has called on shop-owners in Auki to cooperate on expired goods and food items.

Head of Environment Division, Gloria Siwainao made the call yesterday following reports shops in Auki are selling expired goods.

She said her office usually carried out quarterly checks in shops in Auki, but admitted that they never conducted the exercise since beginning of the year.

Siwainao said reasons for that were covid-19 and fund to facilitate the exercise.

She said her office is planning an exercise soon as long as resources are available and ready.

Siwainao called for cooperation from shop-owners and to take-up responsibility by doing the right thing in their business.

She said being responsible is when “shop owners take charge of the exercise themselves and not for MPG to tell them what to do over and over again”.

Kuma highlights risks in government payment system

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTER of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma has highlighted the risks in the current payments landscape.

These include credit risk, legal risk, liquidity risk, cross border transaction, operational risk and antimony laundering.

Speaking at the second reading of the Payment Systems Bill 2021 in Parliament yesterday, Kuma said these risks are magnified by the fact that the advancement in technologies has provided many choices to the people on how payments are conducted.

“And as technology continues to develop, safety and efficiency issues become increasingly important matters for consideration under various risk elements,” he said.

First on credit risk, lenders offer credit lines to borrowers (or counterparties) as and when borrowers’ requests for credit and meet the lenders’ credit policy requirements.

Kuma said in absence of appropriate legal parameters, a default in a payment obligation can have rippling effects on payment services and financial stability overall.

Secondly, on legal risk, the Central Bank of Solomon Islands Act 2012 is in itself insufficient to provide the Bank with the mandates to implement functions that it is required to ensure that there is sufficient oversight powers to administer the payment system.

Thirdly, on liquidity risks, in a real time, payments settlement process, time critical payments may have adverse effects on the way credit is made available to liquid deficit institutions.

Fourtly, on cross border transactions, the abolishment of foreign exchange and capital controls in many countries in recent years have increased the movements of funds across border.

Kuma said in the absence of prudent measures, catastrophic results could adversely affect a country’s economy.

Fifth, operational risks; and

Sixthly, antimony laundering requirements for good monitoring of the payments landscape.

Parliament meeting continues at 9.30am today.

Measles, Rubella vaccination underway in Malaita province

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Measles vaccine

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

MALAITA provincial health has entered its second week of Measles and Rubella vaccination and awareness campaign.

Director of Malaita provincial health, Dr Rex Maukera told this paper yesterday the campaign is to catch-up with children who did not take their measles and rubella vaccines the last two years, as health focus was on covid-19.

Maukera said the campaign started last week and teams from the provincial health are visiting clinics and communities.

He called on parents whose child/children are yet to get the vaccines to help them when the teams come to their communities.

Coordinator of Expanded Program on Immunization at Kilu’ufi hospital, Mr Rockson Siliota who heads the campaign also stressed the importance of the campaign in a recent interview.

He said the campaign was a catch-up for children who are yet to take their measles and rubella vaccines as well as vaccines like polio and others.

Siliota said this is also to prepare eligible population to counter measles and rubella outbreaks that had been reported in other parts of the region.

He said measles and rubella vaccine usually facilitated for children when they are 12 months, first doze and second doze when they are 18 months.

Siliota said children who are within that range or above and yet to get their vaccines must help by their parents to get their vaccines and protected from the measles and rubella virus.

Judgment on Liomauri case August 12

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE Court of Appeal will make their judgment on the case of Allen Liomauri on August 12, 2022 after prosecution and defence made submissions on the case yesterday.

Defence filed an appeal regarding the conviction; the accused Liomauri was convicted after a trial for killing an elderly person at Ranadi, East Honiara in 2017.

The prisoner Liomauri who was 25 years-old at that time did assault the elderly person on January 14, 2017.

Prosecution said the deceased was 57-year-old was the security officer then at the Sugar and Salt Company at Ranadi, it was on his way to work when he was attacked by the prisoner.

Prosecution said on the day of the incident he was on his way to work, and met a female and the deceased talked with her at the road side, it was at that time the prisoner Liomauri who was also at the vicinity swore at him and a brief argument ensured.

He assaulted the deceased in which he fell and hit his head on the ground and whilst on the ground, Liomauri continued to kick him.

The female then stopped the accused from further assault and the deceased was taken to his work place and later returned home.

He stayed at home and after two days, experienced severe abdominal pain and on 16 January 2017 sought medical attention at the National Referral Hospital.

On the following day, he died and the matter was reported to the police on that same day.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Andrew Kelesi appears for the crown.

NEW LAW ON GOVERNMENT PAY

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Minister Hurry Kuma

Kuma says bill aims to remove delay in system

By EDDIE OSIFELO

DELAYING of payments between banks and the Government will soon become a “thing of the past” once the Payment Systems Bill 2021 becomes operational.

Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma stated this during his second reading of the Bill in Parliament yesterday.

Kuma said the Bill will address the risks that exist in our payments landscape.

He said it will ensure that the Central Bank has the oversight and operational mandates to monitor the country’s payments environment.

“This way we are guaranteed safety, efficiency and responsibility as we go about performing our payments obligations,” he said.

Kuma also said the Bill also provides legal parameters on performances of payments service providers whilst it ensures that customers are protected in the whole payment ecosystem.

The 2018 version of the Bill was first tabled in Parliament on 29th June 2018 but never proceeded beyond its second reading.

The Bill was re-introduced again as the Payment System Bill 2020 into Parliament in 2020 but was withdrawn as the Ministry needs to re-examine the Bill and make necessary adjustments to capture our changing economic and financial environment.

In 2021, the Payment Systems Bill 2021 was re-introduced in Parliament.

Kuma said there were amendments made to the Bill at the Bills and Legislation Committee level in 2018 to ensure that the legislation correctly reflects the policy intent.

He said the amendments include the use of the terms common law, international reporting standards and international accounting in the Bill and increase the rate of penalties to deter any person from sabotaging the smooth operation of the payment ecosystem.

Debate of the Bill commences at 9.30 am today.

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