Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare will pay the tobacco company a visit.
Details of the visit is being finalised, a statement from the prime minister’s office (OPMC) said yesterday.
SITCO General Manager Kazi Mushfiqur Rahman had invited Prime Minister Sogavare during a courtesy visit on April 6.
The Prime Minister will visit SITCO’s premises to witness the company’s rebuilt factory now running double shifts over the past two months.
According to the OPMC statement, the damage sustained by SITCO during the riot is worth more than $48 million.
Mr Rahman had said during his courtesy visit, “the PM’s visit will be a big boost and encouragement to 120 mostly local workers as the company bounces back from the ruins of November riots.”
The SITCO GM thanked the government for continued assistance which is necessary for business confidence and investment following last year’s riots.
SITCO has operated in Solomon Islands for more than 50 years.
Over the last four years, it has reportedly paid one billion dollars in taxes to the government.
An earlier invitation for the Prime Minister to visit SITCO could not eventuate during the Lock Down period.
The National Disaster Council (NDC) says there is no major damages in the provinces due to the current bad weather, so far.
However, it continues to advise members of public through out the country to practise safety measures and be alert to the weather at all times.
A NDC statement yesterday said, “A call out made to Provincial Disaster Officers and key informants by the National Disaster Management Office today to determine the impacts of the current weather condition indicated that no major damages to properties, infrastructure or loss of lives were being reported so far.
“The call out was made to Temotu, Renbel and Makira provinces.
“All three provinces reported continuous rain but are yet to experience any kind of major damages that require immediate assistance from authorities.
“Renbel province in particular reported that people are still enjoying occasional sunshine only punctuated by intermittent down pours.
“Guadalcanal on the other hand has experienced heavy down pour for the past few days with reports of flooding in low lying area in north Guadalcanal resulting in minor damage to food gardens and properties.
“So far there is no report of any deaths within the affected areas. The NDMO is still to make contact with the remaining provinces.
“Despite this good news people who live on areas prone to flooding, landslides and along the coast and those traveling between our islands in small boats and crafts still need to take the usual precautionary measures put out by Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) and National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) as we are still in the cyclone season.
“The SIMS and (NDMO) are the two national agencies charged with providing weather alerts, warnings and updates and WHAT TO DO information to the general public respectively.
“The public can contact toll free number 933 (SIMS) for updates on weather and 955 (NDMO) for WHAT TO DO information should you further information and assistance.”
Principal Rural Development Officer (Research & Development) Brian Douglas leads the Focus Group Discussion with community leaders during the Monitoring and Evaluation visit in Ngella constituency last year.
Ngella Constituency Office (NCO) remains committed to boosting rural economic activities in its constituency, by supporting members engage in small business and income generating activities targeted at alleviating poverty and improving their livelihoods.
And beneficiaries of the CDF projects in Ngella Constituency have applauded the benefits of CDF and how it positively contributes to their livelihood enhancement.
These economic activities were part of the CDF programme and delivered to recipients by the constituency’s office as aligned with the MRD development priorities and the NCO yearly development plan.
Principal Rural Development Officer, Gabriel Manetiva who led a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team to the constituency in November, 2021 said,” apart from the housing scheme, the constituency also supported other sectors, and small business and income generating activities is one of the areas of support.”
Mr Manetiva said recipients have testified how the CDF programme positively changed their lives.
The support towards this sector (Income generating activities) is one of NCO strive and determination to stimulate economic activities in the rural areas to guarantee people improve their livelihoods.
Homestay Project downstairs in Tulagi town – Ward 4 supported by CDF.
“We have managed to witness some of these projects and the constituents were happy to be part of the CDF programmes. Others testified that the CDF programmes changes the way they live compared to what they were experiencing in previous years,” Mr Manetiva said.
Peter Manekaoni and family owns a Homestay business in Tulagi and thanked NCO for its continuous support towards small businesses and incoming generating activities in the constituency.
“NCO has supported my business with housing materials and that has enabled us to expand and made improvements to our homestay apartment,” Manekaoni excitedly told the M&E team in an interview.
The constituency also funded constituents with Transportation and Fishing Projects. The projects included a Yamaha/Suzuki 40HP and fiberglass boats and nine (9) families from various communities were the happy recipients in 2020.
The projects touched many lives said Regan Nofo, one of the prior recipients. “My family are grateful to have received project assistance of a Yamaha 40HP Engine and a fiberglass boat from NCO, and that has enabled us to ran a transportation business service between Ngella and Honiara. This has helped us a lot to pay for school fees, family needs, building materials and meet other community obligations.”
Regan Nofo of Haleta Community in Ward 2- Central West Ngella pointing to his Transportation Project funded by CDF.
Another beneficiary, Robert Kabe of Logapolo Community also thanked the constituency office for supporting his family with a Suzuki 40HP Engine and a fiberglass boat. Currently Mr Kabe also rans a transportation business service and help communities around his community by transporting them to Honiara for market and the sick to seek medical services in town.
“My small business has enabled me to meet my family expenses such as school fees, household needs and solved transport difficulties.”
Fr John Talisi of Borohinaba village who was supported with a canteen project and funds to purchase copra similarly acknowledged NCO’s support. Now we have expanded our business to buying of cocoa beans.”
“The support we received through the small business project helped my family to meet our family needs as well as improve our livelihoods. Thank you, NCO.”
Bartholomew Parapolo is the current Member of Parliament for Ngella Constituency.
The objectives of the Monitoring and Evaluation activity are:
To verify the implementation status of projects funded by CDF programme in the constituency in 2020.
To establish community participation in the CDF funded projects in the constituency.
To investigate the level of awareness of CDF among community members.
To determine the level of satisfaction of community members in CDF funded projects.
Constituency monitoring of CDF projects is part of MRD’s ongoing activity on CDF funded programmes being implemented within the 50 constituencies. Government through MRD supported the M&E activity.
Income Generating Activity at Borohinaba village in Ward 8 – North West Ngella supported by CDF.
The M&E mostly focused on projects funded by the Solomon Islands Government (SIG), including the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) CDF funded projects for 2020.
Relevant data/information collected will support the ministry in its planning to assess status of projects and impact’s the funding support (CDF) have on the lives of constituents. Not only the data collected is important but gathering evidences on the ground by M&E officers, to confirm that constituencies utilized the funds for its intended purpose is paramount.
MRD is fully committed to see that all rural Solomon Islanders become meaningfully participated in development activities to improve their social and economic livelihoods.
RAPPP Commander Paul Osborne handing over vehicle key to Commissioner Mostyn Mangau
Local police have acknowledged the Australian police for a new Toyota hilux donated today.
Commissioner Mostyn Mangau during the handover at the Rove police headquarters, thanked the partnership programme between the two police forces, known as RAPPP (RSIPF and AFP Policing Partnership Programme).
Mangau said the Trans National Crime Unit under the National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) will be boosted with the help from AFP (Australian Federal Police), Police Media reported.
Commissioner Mostyn Mangau and Commander Paul Osborne signing a handing over document of the vehicle
Mangau said, “I am certain that it will improve the work of our officers working inside the unit. Please look after the vehicle and use it for its intended purposes. Visit the RSIPF vehicle policy as a guide on using the vehicle.
“I want to thank the government of Australia through the RAPPP for their great support to the RSIPF especially during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The vehicle was gifted to the Trans-National Crime Unit (TCU) of the RSIPF this morning 7April 2022.
Permanent Secretary Colin Beck and Jeremiah Fono'oata of Exodus Trade Development signing the agreement.
BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade through the Enhanced Integrated Framework project have signed an agreement with a locally owned company to build a taro packhouse at Adeliua, Malaita Province.
Permanent Secretary Collin Beck said his Ministry has support from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the EIF project to enhance our trade capacity, so this project of constructing a taro packhouse is one of those projects.
He said construction of the new Taro Packhouse is the second infrastructure under this project.
He said the completion of the packhouse will not only be limited to Taro, but include other products as well.
“This packhouse will be actually for all agricultural products, and we have a time-line that the packhouse will be completed in the next couple of months and we are looking forward to work closely with the contractor.
“It is a pleasure that we have our local company to construct this packhouse,”Beck said.
He said this is despite the country’s economy going through a difficult time, not only due to covid, but with the November unrest pushing our revenue to a tight space.
“Therefore, the government policy is trying to keep investing more in economic activity and the productive sector and this is one of them.
“This is more-less rules out that direction that the government policy in supporting the rural area and increase more farmers to plant commercially.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Exodus Trade Development who won the bid to construct the packhouse, Jeremiah Fono’ota assured the Ministry of their commitment to build the infrastructure.
He said they have been engaged in working with other government sectors in building a few infrastructures, but this is the first time they are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said they have a committed team to complete the building within the time-frame.
Opposition Leader Hon Wale, Premier Sikilabu and members of the Isabel provincial govt
THE new Isabel Premier Rhoda Sikilabu has spoken highly of the important watchdog role played by the Opposition Leader.
Premier Sikilabu highlighted this when she paid a courtesy visit to the Opposition Leader Matthew Wale today.
She said the Isabel provincial government has a high regard and appreciates the constitutional role of the Opposition Leader.
“We appreciate and recognize the important role you continue to play in our democracy,” she said.
The new premier said her new executive is prepared to work closely with both the government and opposition moving forward.
She emphasized a united approach moving forward.
Opposition Leader Wale in response congratulated Premier Sikilabu again for creating history as the first female premier not only in Isabel but also Solomon Islands as a whole.
“The winds of change has shown that women can make a difference in this country,” he said.
Mr Wale has also spoken highly of the men who have supported the new premier and their vision for the province and her people.
The Opposition Leader also discussed with the premier the importance of decentralization and that its time that provincial governments must be trusted to manage its own affairs.
Wale also encouraged the Isabel premier to pursue what is best for the province and her people.
Ysabel Premier, Rhoda Sikilabu and her delegation meeting with the Prime Minister yesterday.
The newly elected Premier of Isabel Province and the country’s first female Premier, Rhoda Sikilabu, and her executive have yesterday visited Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in office.
During the brief courtesy call, honorable Sikilabu reaffirmed her executive government’s support to the national government.
She pledged to implement government’s policies relating to the strengthening of the provincial governments. Mrs Sikilabu affirmed that to be effective agents of the national government, her new executive must get its instruction from the government of the day.
Mrs Sikilabu also acknowledged that her executive as an agent of the national government aligns itself to the national government policies.
“My government is in support of the state government system,” she adds.
In response, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare congratulated Mrs Sikilabu for her election victory to become the first female Premier.
“Thank you for acknowledging your position as agent of the National government,” said the Prime Minister.
PM Sogavare assured the Isabel Premier of government’s support to Isabel Province to ensure it becomes an effective agent of the national government.
PM Sogavare also acknowledged the social and economic contributions of Isabel Province to the national growth of the country.
He told the new Isabel Provincial executive (as he told all other provincial executives), his office is open whenever advice is needed.
PM, Foreign Affairs Minister, Police Minister with Special envoy and Australian High Com to Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands and Australia reaffirmed mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and agreed to work together as close friends.
Thanks to a ‘talanoa or tok stori’ session between Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and an Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison’s Special envoy today which resulted in a positive outcome.
The meeting provided a platform for the two countries to better understand each other in particular on Solomon Islands decision to broaden its security partnership with China and other countries.
China remains an important trading partner for both countries. The meeting discussed Australia’s core security concerns, Solomon Islands reassured Australia that its security concerns are domestically focused and compliments current bilateral security Agreement with Australia and the regional security architecture.
Prime Minister Sogavare assured Australia, Solomon Islands will continue to roll out the implementation of its National Security Strategy and uphold its Foreign Policy of “Friends to all and enemies to none.”
Solomon Islands and Australia recommit their governments to cooperate more closely at all levels and tackle issues of common concerns.
“Australia remains our partner of choice.”
The Solomon Islands and Australian partnership is over very many years. Its growth continues to be robust.
Trust is being cemented between the two sovereign states.
SEVENTEEN of the 179 people serving their mandatory quarantine period within the different quarantine stations in Honiara have tested positive for COVID-19.
Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Culwick Togamana said these positives cases and their close contacts are being held together for an extended period of days and for additional testings protocols.
He said the remaining people are serving the normal 10 days mandatory quarantine period and will undergo two COVID-19 tests, one at day five to seven and the second test at day 10 of quarantine.
“Extended period of quarantine days and testing for a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 in quarantine is 24 days, with three additional tests.
“First additional test is to be conducted on day 10, second test after another seven days (day 17) and the third test after another seven days (day 24),” Togamana said.
He adds that Honiara is starting to report an increasing number of cases due to more people starting to come into the Solomon Islands.
These will not be counted as case count in Honiara.
Togamana further confirmed that of the 179 persons in quarantine, 171 are from international flights from Brisbane, Fiji and Kiribati and eight from the provinces.
THE CT scan machine services at the National Referral Hospital is expected to go live May next month.
Minister of Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana confirmed this in his covid-19 situational update on Tuesday evening.
“Fellow Citizens and friends, the installation of the CT Scan machines and all its accessories, soft and hardware is underway at NRH,”Togamana said.
He said the installation process of the CT scan machines and all its accessories is led by the Team of experts from Australia with support from the country’s very own local Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT) professionals.
“Once these final tasks are completed as per timeline, the CT scan services should go live, May next month,” Togamana said.
