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MP hands over boats, engines & eskies to constituents

Written by
Ben Bilua
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One the recipients try out his outboard motor engine.

BY BEN BILUA

MEMBER of Parliament for Marovo constituency has handed over 160 boats, 160 15hp engines and 160 eskies to the people of his constituency.

The handover ceremony took place yesterday, Dokudola Camp, where the boats were built.

Ambassador of People’s Republic of China HE Li Ming, Supervising Minister of Rural Development Rollen Seleso, plus other government MPs Fredrick Kologeto, Samson Galo and officials from PMO and other government ministries witnessed the handover ceremony.

The event also attracted people from communities far and near who were eager to see community representatives receive their share.

Speaking to Island Sun newspaper, one of the recipients Rev Ahopitu Maka acknowledged MP Chachabule Amoi for making a difference in people’s lives.

Officials after inspecting the boats.

He also acknowledged the national government and People’s Republic of China for making the project a success.

Maka said the assistance served its purpose as it comes with an esky.

“I believe that this assistance is something to do with fisheries and we thank the thinking of our Member of Parliament for giving us eskies.

“We have youths doing nothing in our small community and confident that this assistance will make a difference.

“Our youths will engage in fisheries d this would help their families financial needs” Maka said.

Another recipient, Daniel Lokopio, a chief and elder of Patutiva Community, shared similar sentiments saying that the assistance will definitely have positive impacts on communities.

He said sea transport is an essential service for people of Marovo.

“We live in different place divided by ocean as such we need sea transport to travel to other places.

“We also need sea transport to transport our sick ones.

“Above all, these assistances will help rural people,” Lokopio said.

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Rural Development, Dr Samson Viulu said the recipients will sign a contract with his ministry before owning the boats, eskies and engines.

Brand new engine ready to be installed on one of the boats.

He said the process is important as it will safeguard the properties for intended purposes.

“This process is to avoid misuse of properties bought under government fund.”

The recipients will take home their shares after the official launching and handing over of Marovo Constituency Fisheries Initiative and Gasini Market.

‘TVET education important for SI’

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Don Bosco students

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

The negative perception that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is a second choice compared with the conventional academic field should be eliminated by parents and youths in order for the country to produce a more skilled workforce.

With the Country’s population comprising 70 percent of youth, there has been a perception that TVET is a second-choice education among young people. It has been observed that youth participation in TVET is considerably low due to this perception.

Director for TVET at Solomon Islands National University (SINU), Mr Solomon Pita said every nation needs people to build it, and nation builders are those people who have skills, and most of the skills that are needed to build the nation fall under the TVET training sectors.

Pita explained that Solomon Islands has come a long way in its journey as a nation but still struggles to develop the country to build the nation. Some industries have to recruit people overseas to work in order to help build the nation—a very good example of why TVET education is very important.

“We need TVET education to build this nation. Every developed nation has a very good TVET training program in their country that help them train and produce people who can build the nation and work in the different industries that require the skills to build the nation,” he said.

“We need to develop TVET in order to help the government develop this nation, and not only build the nation but give the opportunity to people who will not go and take the higher education pathway but choose to take TVET and not regard it as a second-choice education.

“Young people should regard it as a choice for life. They should be helped to realize that when they choose TVET training, they are not second best but they are the best and the best related to what they can do with the skills they gain when they attain training and when they are employed or when they create their own business to make a living and also to give opportunities to others.”

Pita encourages the Government sectors, private institutions, private sectors, donor partners, and families to continue promoting TVET sector in the country so young people can recognize the importance of TVET as a key driving force of economic growth and social development in today’s world.

Solomon Islands National Youth Congress is the legitimate youth body that represents the voice of young people across the Solomon Islands.

One of its key functions is to represent the interests, views, and aspirations of young men and women, to the government and other stakeholders including donor and development partners.

Vicechair for Solomon Islands National Youth Congress and President for Honiara Youth Council, Mr. Harry James Olikwailafa said National Youth Congress has been working with TVET institutions to clear the TVET perception among young people.

He said their collaboration with the Australia Pacific Training Coalition to host a virtual youth skills hub dialogue recently offered a great opportunity for young people to have meaningful conservation on TVET skill training and employment opportunities.

Currently, there are 68 Rural Training Centres spread through the nine provinces of the Solomon Islands.

These RTCs are active members of the Solomon Islands Association of Vocational Rural Training Centres (SIAVRTC).

Sogavare reaches out to widowed market vendors

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Madam Emmy presents a gift to one of widow

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

MADAME Emmy Sogavare hosted a fellowship for widowed market vendors over the weekend.

The vendors are from the Honiara central market and other satellite markets around the city.

The prime minister’s wife encouraged the widows to always seek God amid the challenges they face in their vending businesses.

Group photo of widows with Madam Emmy

“Widows I want to encourage you to seek God every day in your life. Mothers pray for your children they are your gifts from God. I don’t know the pain and hardships you been through but I want you to seek first the kingdom of God and all these shall be added unto you, this is my Godly advice to you Godly advice.”

She presented gifts to the widows donated by the Peoples Republic of China.

She adds by thanking China for the donations.

Moreen Sariki, president of the Honiara Market Vendors Association, thanked Sogavare for recognising the difficulties women vendors face in their daily lives.

President of the HMVA Moreen Sariki

“We thank you madam for inviting us to your home. We are all here with broken hearts. No one can read the tears we share with you only God can,” Sariki said.

Irene Paia, one of the widows, shared how honoured they were to meet and have fellowship with the prime minister’s wife.

“We cannot change and repay what you do for us today. We prayer that God will bless your heart and your home Madam Sogavare,” Mrs Paia said. 

The fellowship was held over the weekend at Sogavare’s private residence at Tasahe, west Honiara .

Malango chiefs reject deferment of election

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Solomon Islands National Parliament

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Malango and Bahomea House of Chiefs says it opposed to Government moves to defer of the National General Election from 2023 to 2024.

This was resolved in their meeting held at Holiday Resort on 10 June 2022.

The Resolution totally rejected the six reasons put forward by the DCGA’s strategy to extend parliament term from 4-5 years in 2023-2024.

The six reasons of DCGA are:

  1. The main rationale behind the deferment of the 2023 National General Election is that will we be hosting the 2023 Pacific Games in the same year. This is needing a lot of financial and logistics support.
  2. Registration of Voters have not started or updated yet, include those who turn 18 years from last NE.
  3. The effect of the global pandemic has affected our economy as well include the riot.
  4. Political parties reform, looking at changing the process of electing the Prime Minister
  5. The deferment will be a one off, it is not to extend the term of government, it’s the term of the 11th parliament that is extended NOT the government.
  6. The issue of permanently extending the term of Parliament from 4 to 5 years is one that can be campaigned on in preparation for 2024 NGE.

But the House of Chiefs rejected the main reason for DCGA’S deferment of the election, in relation to the Pacific Games 2023 as following:

“Sports is not a Constitutional requirement; it’s a social requirement, reference to other sporting bodies in the world, reference to Olympic, Commonwealth, include others have moved due to global pandemic.

“Why not the SPG?

“The other five reasons are just a mere political excuse by DCGA’s without any supporting constitutional evidence,” the House of Chiefs said.

TSI: why MPs want elections deferred

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

The entitlements and benefits MPs are getting is believed to be a driving factor behind government’s proposal to extend parliament.

This was stated in a recent survey by the Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI).

Half of the 1,248 respondents interviewed strongly agreed that the lucrative members of parliament entitlements and benefit is “one of the hidden motives for the extension of the Parliament”.

They were interviewed in a survey conducted by Transparency Solomon Islands on the opinions and views of the citizens of this country on the proposed extension of the parliament from 4 to 5 years between March 16 to 1st April 2022.

“When it comes to these entitlements and benefits, the Constituency Development Fund all sides of the house (Executive Government, the Official Opposition and the Independent) are the same – they hardly speak against it, or when they do present very weak arguments in their own favour.

“Performing or non-performing, they continue to receive lucrative allowances and other entitlements,” TSI said.

TSI said they are the most privileged of all public officers with their entitlements reviewed and new ones added yearly performing or otherwise.

“They hardly passed more than one Bill last year.

“Some MPs have not said any word for the entire parliament 4-year period or contribute to any debate of substance in the parliament and yet they continue to get these benefits for doing nothing,” TSI said.

“What is given to parliamentarians under the Parliamentary Entitlement Regulation each year should be based on their attendance, performance and active engagement.

“The taxpayer of the Solomon Islands should no longer pay non performing parliamentarians,” TSI said.

“Let people vote in new representatives every 4 years to get rid of highly paid non performing MPs,” TSI said.

One commonly quoted comment by the 28 percent that strongly disagreed with this is the need to put in place a mechanism or tool to measure the performance of members of parliament.

“Their entitlements should be reflective of their performance rather than being paid these lucrative entitlements and benefits just for being members of parliament.

“Such a mechanism will demand quality and high performing MPs which produces positive results and construction debate in each parliament seating,” TSI said.

Survey: China remote controlling DCGA

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

MOST believe that China is remotely controlling the DCGA Executive Government since the switch.

This is one of the hidden agendas Transparency Solomon Islands got from its survey in public and in street discussion.

TSI said of the 1,248 respondents, 41 percent strongly agreed that the extension for a year longer is to allow China to cement its relationship with the DCGA government.

“It is allegedly to give time to DCGA government to effect policies and legislative reforms demanded by Chinese Communist Party for the funding of the Pacific Games 2023 and other development projects.

“The current happenings with the secretive importation of replica guns, the arming of Chinese officials of the Embassy, the police training on crowd control by Chinese police officers, the secretive China Security MOU is but just a tip of the iceberg of what DCGA government has promised China or China demanded of the DCGA government,” TSI said.

“It needed the extra year in power to affect all of its new diplomatic friend’s demand,” TSI said.

Furthermore, TSI said the 27 percent strongly disagree with this as a good enough reason for the proposed extension argued that Solomon Islands is a democratic country and should not be sold to China.

Both strongly agree (41 percent) and the strongly disagree (27 percent) are of the opinions that DCGA/China diplomatic relation continues to be the most divisive of all the diplomatic foreign relations in the country and in the region.

“It has pitched the national government against the provincial governments, resulting in the downfall of premiers who do not work with it or dance to its tune.

“It portrays Solomon Islands and the people of Solomon Islands as manipulative, scheming, and not trustworthy,” TSI said.

TSI said this is the image and reputation that DCGA Executive Government has painted of the country, and people is not welcomed.

“China, since the switch, is remote controlling the DCGA government for its own world and regional agenda.

“It is time for a new government and new leadership to step in and ensure that the Solomon Islands government and people decide what China could and could not do in Solomon Islands as Solomon Islands new diplomatic friend,” TSI said.

Solomon Islands switched to China in 20 September 2019, ending 36 years of diplomatic relationship with Republic of China (ROC) Taiwan.

Survey: MPs fear losing seats

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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National Parliament of Solomon Islands

By EDDIE OSIFELO

One of the main influences behind government’s proposal to defer the 11th parliament is the fear by some MPs that they would not be re-elected next election.

In the survey carried out by Transparency Solomon Islands, about 48 percent of the respondents strongly agree that this is one of the hidden agendas behind the proposed extension of the parliament term.

“Given the many controversial policies and decisions the DCGA Executive Government has made in the absence of an inclusive consultation process with the people, they fear not being re-elected.

“The extra year is needed to buy voters that have become disgruntled,” TSI said.

“Solomon Islands has experienced a very turbulent time with this leadership and people must be given their right to go to the polls and elect new representatives.

“It is about people, their economy empowerment and the education and health of the people of this country that is important, not the biased of temporary government and temporary group of politicians,” TSI said.

The 25 percent who strongly disagreed with this being a good enough excuse to extend the parliament believe that the country needs a change of leadership.

“Naming citizens ‘Tom, Dick, and Harry’ is unacceptable.

“It is only at the election times that citizens have the opportunity to inflict punishment on their representatives – National General Elections must be held in 2023,” TSI said.

TSI said the country needs leadership that has a heart for the country and citizens.

TSI conducted the public opinion survey on the opinions and views of the citizens of this country on the proposed extension of the parliament from 4 to 5 years between March 16 to 1st April 2022.

The interviews were by phone, face to face and online reaching 1,248 respondents.

On Facebook group pages 930 respondents were reached. A total of 2,178 respondents participated in the survey.

Of the 1,248 respondents 42 percent are female, and 58 percent male.

On age cohorts 9 percent of the respondents are age groups 13-18 years (children), 50 percent are age group 19-34 years (youth), and 41 percent are age group are 34 plus years (adults).

SolAir welcomes reduced quarantine time for visitors

Written by
Press Release
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Solomon Airlines airbus

Solomon Airlines has welcomed the news that mandatory quarantine requirements for inbound visitors will be reduced shortly, with a new international schedule effective from August 1, re-introducing regular flights between Solomon Islands and Australia, Fiji, Vanuatu and Kiribati, and connections to partner airline services from New Zealand, Asia and the USA.

“Reopening our borders is a major milestone that means Solomon Airlines can again open up our flights and network to the world,” Solomon Airlines CEO Brett Gebers said in a statement.

“That means gradual recovery of inbound tourism, more opportunities for international air freight, and that our optimism about the future of air travel in our region has proved well-founded,” he added.

“On behalf of the Solomon Airlines team we thank the Solomon Islands Government, the Australia and New Zealand Governments, and our business and industry partners for standing by us, and helping us to keep our nation flying through our most difficult era ever.

“The past two years and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have been an incredibly long and testing journey, and we say tagio tumas to everyone who has supported us, for your patience and perseverance, especially our hardworking staff who made sacrifices to ensure the survival of Solomon Airlines.

“Our immediate priority now is to re-establish our core Pacific Islands network and ensure convenient connections from global markets especially NZ, Asia, the United States, and Europe via Brisbane and Fiji.

“We also look forward to continuing our work with our travel industry partners as well as Tourism Solomons to ensure Solomon Islands is indelibly placed on the world map as an attractive and accessible international destination,” Gebers said.

Until the complete lifting of mandatory quarantine, international visitors to Solomon Islands must continue to follow the updated health protocols while accommodated at one of the approved ‘Tourism Bubble’ operators.

Currently those operators include:

Honiara – Heritage Park Hotel, Mendana Hotel, Coral Sea Resort & Casino, King Solomon Hotel, Pacific Casino Hotel, Honiara Hotel

Marau – Tavanipupu Spa & Wellness Retreat

Suavanao – Papatura Island Retreat

Munda – Zipolo Habu Resort, Castaway Lagoon Resort

Gizo – Fatboys Resort, Sanbis Resort, Imagination Island

Liveaboard Cruises – Bilikiki Cruises, MV Taka

Details of the latest Solomon Islands Travel restrictions are available at this link:

https://www.flysolomons.com/plan/australia-solomon-islands-travel-advice

Solomon Airlines’ new international schedule effective from August 1, 2022 will include flight times that enable same-day connections at least twice weekly to and from all major international markets.

The airline has also adjusted timings on selected domestic flights to Munda, Gizo, Seghe, and Suavanao to allow for direct connections from international services on the Brisbane-Honiara route.

Highlights of the new schedule from 1 August include:

• Brisbane-Honiara flights twice weekly and a third Brisbane-Honiara flight every fortnight

• Honiara-Brisbane flights twice weekly

• Honiara-Port Vila-Nadi-Honiara flights every Tuesday

• Brisbane-Tarawa flights via Honiara to operate fortnightly

• Tarawa-Brisbane direct flights to operate fortnightly

• Direct connection on Wednesdays from Munda onto the Honiara-Brisbane service

• Lomlom gains a second weekly service to and from Honiara via Santa Cruz on Tuesdays and Thursdays

• Honiara-Auki-Honiara services will operate twice daily on Monday in the morning and afternoon

Solomon Airlines said COVID-19 safety protocols including a requirement for passengers to wear face masks onboard all Solomon Airlines flights will continue to support the protection of passengers and staff.

Bednet distribution to north and east Malaita soon

Written by
Samie Waikori
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0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

THE Provincial Vector Borne Disease Malaria office in Auki says they will soon begin distributing bed-nets (mosquito nets) to northern and eastern regions of the province.

Officer in-charge, Mr John Susubi told this paper they are currently waiting for the budget for distribution.

He said early this year they completed bed-net distribution to southern and central regions.

“Next is northern and eastern regions and then Malaita Outer Islands (MOIs).”

Susubi said a total of 19,253 bed-nets were distributed to 345 communities in southern region, and 50,757 bed-nets to 583 communities in central region.

He said the bed-net distribution is an integral program of the national vector borne as one mitigating measure to address malaria in the country, as a chronic disease.

Susubi urged communities to use the nets only for intended purpose; because another distribution could likely happen after the next three years.

Adding that this is based on the effectiveness of insecticide on the bed-nets that has a lifetime of three years.

He said the bed-nets can be washed up to 20 times, only with rain water, with no soap, cleaner and other washing detergents or even brushing it.

Susubi said, “recommended method to wash the bed-net is by soaking it with rain water, fold it into a plastic bag and sunbath it so that the net can sweat and regain the effectiveness of the insecticide for uses.”

He also warns that water used to soak and wash the nets must not be disposed off into waterways, because it is harmful to the environment.

Goshen optimistic with Taro project in Malaita

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Goshen Enterprise demonstration taro farm at Gwaigeo, Malaita.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

GOSHEN Enterprise Company is optimistic of a successful taro industry in Malaita province and the country.

Since the establishment of the company in 2019 under the Enhance Capacity for Agriculture Trade ECAT programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET), Goshen is growing the industry locally.

Director of Goshen, Mr Levi Maesimae said they came into the programme to support food security and encourage taro-diet to reduce rates of Non-Communicable Diseases.

“Also to uphold taro as cultural root crops, conservation and preservation of taro and encourage farmers into commercial farming of taro.”

Maesimae said they have a vision to become the leading producer of fresh taro, frozen taro and taro products for farmers.

He said with that they are working towards achieving a slogan “taro on every body’s dinner plate”.

Maesimae said Goshen also has a goal and that is to “produce 60 tonnes of taros every year”. And by having the pack house, they hope to achieve that by producing 60 tonnes (three containers per year).

He said so far Goshen through the ECAT project under MFAET had provided trainings and distribution of basic farming tools to taro farmers in the province.

Maesimae said they also continue to distribute taro planting materials to farmers from their demo farm at Fiu, as they continue to build networks with associations in the province on the program.

He said Goshen is also looking forward to support farmers with logistic access whereby in the future they will buy taro products at the doorstep of farmers in the province.

Maesimae said Goshen Enterprise is partnership with MAL and MFAET on the taro program and so far the development of taro pack house at Adaliua is progressing.

He said their current taro market in Auki is slowly growing with steady demand for frozen taro and the beginning to expand the taro industry to international market.

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