Home Blog Page 751

Marovo shows how to spend public funds wisely

Written by
Ben Bilua
-
0
Hon Chachabule, H.E Li and Hon Seleso cut the ribbon to officialy launch Gasini market

BY BEN BILUA

Marovo, Western Province

MAROVO constituency has set an example on how government funds should be spent to benefit people in the rural area.

Yesterday, Marovo constituency opened a brand new market house at Gasini and at the same time officially launched the constituency’s fisheries initiative.

People waiting at Gasini port

A total of 160 boats, engines and eskies were distributed on Monday evening after the recipients signed a contract agreement with the government represented by the Ministry of Rural Development.

The contract binds the recipients and the government making sure the assets will be used for their intended purposes.

Boat parade in the Marovo lagoon

Speaking before the signing of the contracts, Member of Parliament for Marovo constituency, Chachabule Rebi Amoi said the assets are to help communities earn income.

He encouraged recipients to used the assets according to their purposes.

Marovo MP, Chachabule Amoi delivering his speech

“These boats, engines and eskies cost around 6 million. They are very expensive as such I urge you to take goof care of the assets.

“These assets will help you generate income for your financial needs,” Amoi said.

He said the government will retrieve the assets if recipients fail to fulfill the agreement.

On the same note, Amoi urged the recipients to share the assets so that everyone can benefit from them.

Hon Chachabule, H.E Li and Hon Seleso unvail the plague of Gasini market

“I want to make it clear that these assets belong to your community. You are selected as recipients just to keep the assets and not owning the assets.

“Our election motto was leave no one behind, and now I want you not to leave anyone behind,” he said.

Caretaker Minister of Rural Development Rollen Seleso said the distributions boats, engines and eskies is a milestone for people of Marovo constituency.

Minister Seleso, Chinese Ambassador and MP, Chachabule Amoi

“On behalf of the government and my colleague Ministers and cabinet MPs, I congratulate Honourable Chachabule Amoi for this fine achievements.

“The government wants to see more developments like this in other constituencies to help build and improve our people’s livelihoods.

“We are very happy to see Marovo constituency leading the way by delivering most needed assistance to people of the constituency,” he said.

Police praise business body for support

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0
Solomon Islands Chinese Business Council (SCBC) donates bags of rice and two frames to Royal Solomon Islands Police at Rove headquarters as part of strengthening their cooperation.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

ROYAL Solomon Islands Police has acknowledged the Solomon Islands Chinese Business Council (SCBC) for its close cooperation.

This after SCBC donated bags of rice and two frames depicting the Chinese and RSIPF close collaboration and cooperation at the Rove headquarters yesterday.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) National Security and Operation Support Ian Vaevaso acknowledged the gesture provided to the RSIPF.

“We very much appreciated the support of Chinese businesses.

“We know you have done this quiet a number of times in supporting RSIPF and so thank you for the support again,” Vaevaso said.

He said RSIPF will continue to support you and community, in terms of business family.

“We will ensure support is given to you in terms of law and order because you are very important people in community in terms of broadening the economy of the country.

“It is one area of focus for RSIPF, we want to invest more in supporting business people to ensure that the nation is growing,” he added.

Vaevaso said they will continue to work together for the good of this nation.

Chairman of SCBC, Antonio Lee said the donation is to support RSIPF in its operation.

Lee said it is a start in the Council’s effort to build closer cooperation with the RSIPF.

Last week, SCBC also donated bags of rice to the Honiara City Central Police station.

China Police Liaison Team to Solomon Islands Commissioner, Zhang Guangbao and Deputy Commissioner Zhao Biao thanked the Solomon Islands Chinese Business Council for the donation to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.

Zhao Bao thanked them for their concern and support to the cooperation between Solomon Islands and Chinese police, and for their understanding and condolences with the police of Solomon Islands.

He believed that with the joint efforts of the police of the two countries, a good living environment would be provided for the overseas Chinese officers in the agency to live and work in peace and contentment.

Zhao Bao also hoped that the overseas Chinese would strictly abide by local laws and regulations, actively cooperate with the police of the agency to carry out various work and create a beautiful, harmonious, a safe island country.

UN Women project pledges firm support for Auki market

Written by
Samie Waikori
-
0
The Australian government funded tip truck through M4C that handed over to MPG and managment of Auki market yesterday.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

UN Women Market For Change (M4C) project assures of continuous support to provide a better trading environment for markets especially to vendors under the project in the country.

The M4C project aims to promote gender equality and the economic empowerment of market vendors, with specific attention to the needs and aspirations of women market vendors. 

Speaking during handover of a tipper truck to the Malaita provincial government through Auki Market Management yesterday, Ms Edna Dii said the truck is part of the support under the project.

She said the truck came as part of support the Australian Government provided through M4C project for Auki Market to support the management of waste collection at the market.

Australian High commissioner’s rep to the handing over ceremony, Ms Joanna Zoloveke receives gifts as token of appreciation President of AMVA, Ms Janet Ramo for the delivery of a new tip truck to Auki Marke

Dii said the truck was procured late last year by M4C project upon request by MPG through the market management to ensure rubbish collection at the Market is supported.

“I would like to thank the Australian Government for making this possible for our Market and Market Vendors.

“The Australian Government has been our key donor partner to the UNWomen Markets for Change Project since 2014.

“Your continued and generous support has enabled us to implement many activities for our women market vendors across four markets (Honiara, Auki, Gizo and Munda) in Solomon Islands.

UN Women Market For Change (M4C) rep to the handing over ceremony yesterday, Ms Edna Dii receives gifts from President of AMVA, Ms Janet Ramo.

“I would also like to thank the Malaita Provincial Government through the leadership of Hon. Suidani and your staff for the partnership we have with the M4C project.

“The Malaita Provincial government is a key stakeholder of the project and so far, we have provided a number support to market in the last few years,” she said.

Dii said M4C project aims to promote gender equality and the economic empowerment of market vendors, with specific attention to the needs and aspirations of women market vendors.

Premier Daniel Suidani also receives gifts from President of AMVA, Ms Janet Ramo during the handing over of a tip truck to Auki Market Management yesterday in Auki.

“This Tip Truck will definitely help to improve the needs and aspirations of the women market vendors in Auki especially having a much cleaner and safe market environment. 

“I can assure you that UNWomen will continue to work closely with the Australian Government, Malaita Provincial Governments, Councils and most importantly women market vendors to ensure we provide a better trading environment at the market for our vendors,” she said.

UN Women project pledges firm support for Auki market

Written by
Samie Waikori
-
0
(L-R) UN Women Market For Change rep, Ms Edna Dii, AHC rep, Ms Joanna Zoloveke and Premier Daniel Suidani are cutting the ribbon to officially hand over the Australian funded tip truck through M4C project

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

UN Women Market For Change (M4C) project assures of continuous support to provide a better trading environment for markets especially to vendors under the project in the country.

The M4C project aims to promote gender equality and the economic empowerment of market vendors, with specific attention to the needs and aspirations of women market vendors. 

Speaking during handover of a tipper truck to the Malaita provincial government through Auki Market Management yesterday, Ms Edna Dii said the truck is part of the support under the project.

She said the truck came as part of support the Australian Government provided through M4C project for Auki Market to support the management of waste collection at the market.

Dii said the truck was procured late last year by M4C project upon request by MPG through the market management to ensure rubbish collection at the Market is supported.

UN Women Market For Change (M4C) rep to the handing over ceremony yesterday, Ms Edna Dii receives gifts from President of AMVA, Ms Janet Ramo.

“I would like to thank the Australian Government for making this possible for our Market and Market Vendors.

“The Australian Government has been our key donor partner to the UNWomen Markets for Change Project since 2014.

“Your continued and generous support has enabled us to implement many activities for our women market vendors across four markets (Honiara, Auki, Gizo and Munda) in Solomon Islands.

“I would also like to thank the Malaita Provincial Government through the leadership of Hon. Suidani and your staff for the partnership we have with the M4C project.

“The Malaita Provincial government is a key stakeholder of the project and so far, we have provided a number support to market in the last few years,” she said.

Dii said M4C project aims to promote gender equality and the economic empowerment of market vendors, with specific attention to the needs and aspirations of women market vendors.

“This Tip Truck will definitely help to improve the needs and aspirations of the women market vendors in Auki especially having a much cleaner and safe market environment. 

“I can assure you that UNWomen will continue to work closely with the Australian Government, Malaita Provincial Governments, Councils and most importantly women market vendors to ensure we provide a better trading environment at the market for our vendors,” she said.

Afio health centre set for handover and opening

Written by
Press Release
-
0
View of Afio Area Health Centre from Eastern end.

In just a few weeks’ time, thousands of people within the catchment area of what used to be Afio clinic will access an improved and expanded range of health services that the new Afio Area Health Centre will offer.

This followed a recent visit by the National Ministry of Health inspection team to Afio who confirmed that the health centre is now ready for official handover and opening.

Afio Area Health Centre is a construction project that the Ministry undertook under its Role Delineation Policy (RDP) that aims to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), whereby appropriate health services are provided closer to where people live so that they can easily access the services without financial hardship.

Western end view of the Afio area health center.

Similar undertakings were also carried out in Guadalcanal province which saw the recent opening of Aola and Avuavu area health centers that are now operational and serving thousands of people within their catchment communities.

The Afio Area Health Centre will have one full-time residential medical officer in addition to the nursing staff to enable longer-term admission of patients with acute conditions requiring observation, treatment, or awaiting transfers to Kilufi Hospital or the National Referral Hospital, minor or low-risk procedures under local or regional anesthetic, accident and emergency services including short term stabilization and management and where necessary transfer to specialist care for trauma and major injuries; acute medical emergency and psychiatric emergency cases.

Staff house.

The Ministry of Health is pleased with the progress that’s been made to date and thanked the contractor Advance Quality for the work done so far, Malaita Provincial Government and the Malaita Provincial Health Team for the support in ensuring that the Afio area health center project is a success.

The actual date for the official handing over and opening will be announced soon.

Selwyn College boosted with new market, water facilities

Written by
Press Release
-
0
Cutting of ribbon to officially open the new facilities

Selwyn College got an upgrade to their market facility with the help of the Member of Parliament for Northwest Guadalcanal, Bodo Dettke and Oxfam in the Pacific.

The new facilities were handed over to the school on Saturday in an exciting event that involved over 600 Selwyn College students who turned up to welcome the support.

The new market facility includes a new building to house the market vendors and a 5,000-litre water tank supplied handwash station – aimed to improve market users’ hygiene practices as a COVID-19 health response measure.

The market’s rehabilitation was made after the school, located in Northwest Guadalcanal, reached out for the support of Dettke and a timely arrival of Oxfam’s Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) COVID-19 Response Program.

The new market facilities include a new building to house the market vendors and a water tank-supplied handwash system.

The AHP COVID-19 response is an ongoing an Australian Government-funded project activity by Oxfam, targeting market sites in Guadalcanal.  

“This joint response by Hon Dettke and Oxfam is a very timely blessing for us,” says Selwyn College School Principal, Fr. Davidson Ngwaeramo.

He said Selwyn College recently obtained approval by Guadalcanal Province authorities to rebuild the market that was no longer in use due to its deteriorated state.

“It has been a long-time desire to improve the market facilities so that nearby communities, especially the local women as well as our staff can sell their garden produces,” the principal said.

Selwyn College students were treated with some sweets after the ceremony, courtesy of the Northwest Guadalcanal MP

Selwyn College is a mission boarding school operated by the Anglican Church of Melanesia and is considered amongst the country’s top senior secondary education institutes.

During the handover Fr. Davidson described the event as a historic one for Selwyn College, to have a proper market facility and a handwash station.

Oxfam acting Country Coordinator, Gareth Quity hands over the keys to the handwash station to school principal Fr. Davidson Ngwaeramo.

Dettke called on the students and staff of Selwyn College to look after the facilities and fully utilise the opportunity to sell their produces.

The Parliamentarian also provided grass cutters which he said can be used to maintain the market facility area.

“Let’s not forget our partners in this achievement, under the Australian aid program. We are thankful to their support in helping us with the little resources that we have – in the country’s biggest constituency which is Northwest Guadalcanal,” Dettke said.

The AHP COVID-19 Activation response is a regional multi-partnership program delivered in the Solomon Islands by NGO partners Oxfam, Save The Children, World Vision, Plan International, CAN DO / Caritas and Live & Learn.

Government parliament extension plan secretly hatched: Survey.

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0
National Parliament of Solomon Islands

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands Electoral Commission and Electoral Office have not carried out any awareness at all about the proposed extension of Parliament from four to five years.

A survey done by Transparency Solomon Islands found after investigated peoples’ opinions, perceptions, experiences, observations of public institutions whose functions includes the provision of education and awareness, and consultation.

In the survey, 53 percent of the respondents said SIEC in their view has not done any educational awareness about the importance of National General Election.

“During the four-year electoral cycle in the past and currently they do nothing, despite huge funds poured in by United Nations Development Programme year in and year out.

“In their view the current Commission is the most politicised,” survey found.

“It has not implemented the Electoral Act 2018.

“It should be reviewed for its performance and whether it is fit for the purposes,” survey found.

“Election after election, it is clear that the country needs a new Electoral System to minimise the undue influence of Constituency Development Fund (CDF), and other influences on National General Elections,” survey found.

Twenty five percent could not be bothered.

“They say the Commission needs commissioners that are strong enough to bring in the reforms needed for fair and transparent elections, Commissioners that will stand up to political interference, by any ruling government in carrying out its mandate.

“They would like to see that this Commission comes under the purview of the Solomon Islands National Parliament and not the Prime Minister,” they said.

TSI conducted the survey 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.

Stimulus package a total failure: TSI survey

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0

By EDDIE OSIFELO

Government’s covid-19 economic stimulus package is a total failure, a survey carried out by Transparency Solomon Islands finds.

Fifty-five percent of the respondents said it was a free handout to some Members of Parliament themselves and those politically aligned.

“People demand that the Auditor General’s Office audit the ESP without fail.

“Any misuse and abuse and shady allocation of the funds discovered should be investigated,” they said.

“Individuals, company implicated be charged and put to jail.

“Also noting that the final list for recipients of ESP was not disclosed to the public apart from the draft,” the say.

The respondents call for the audit of the Emergency Powers Regulation application, all funds, programmes etc. in response to COVID 19 leaving no stones unturned.

“This to include funds given to MPs for repatriation, for contracts, quarantine facilities, catering etc.

“The country cannot afford to let anyone committing criminal offences go free anymore especially at a time when people have lost their economic activities and loved ones due to Covid 19,” they said.

Further, they argued that any Good Governance Programme intended for the Public Service will not work until those who do these corruption conducts are charged, disciplined.

TSI found after investigated peoples’ opinions, perceptions, experiences, observations of public institutions whose functions includes the provision of education and awareness, and consultation.

Govt parl extention plan to deny people right to vote

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0
TSI

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE DCGA Government’s proposed policy to extend Parliament from four to five years would deny people their democratic right to choose who should represent them more frequently.

A survey carried out by Transparency Solomon Islands found 47 percent of the respondents strongly agree that such a policy would deny them their rights to go to the polls more frequently.

“Any policy that denies citizens democratic rights is not acceptable.

“The Prime Minister labelling citizens as ‘tom, dick and harry’ and public officers as ‘lunatics’ at the floor of parliament indicates the country needs new leadership,” TSI said.

“To be labelled these names for demanding to be consulted, saying no to dictatorship, for having the best interest of Solomon Islands when they leaked the secret China Security MOU with DCGA respectively shows a government and leadership that has lost touch with its people, also a government that does not show care and respect for its people.

“The DCGA Executive Government has very little respect for the views,” TSI said.

“The DCGA Executive Government has very little respect for the views, concerns etc of citizens, nor does it recognise their democratic and human rights to be heard.

“Elected representatives of the people must treat people with dignity, make them aware of their rights be it political, legal, civil, or human rights,” TSI said.

Twenty-eight (28) percent of the respondents strongly disagreed with citizens being denied their democratic rights.

“Should the DCGA be a government that has shown a heart for the country, people, unite the nation, does not declare war on its own people, does not train our police force force crowd control using guns, and seek people’s view, it would not have mattered.

“The DCGA government is not such a government but has openly denied people their democratic right to participate in debates of issues of national interest and concern,” TSI said.

“The extension can only mean more of the same.

“Solomon Islands citizens must stop this dictatorship,” TSI said.

Borders set to re-open with no quarantine

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
-
0
Honiara International Airport Terminal.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare confirmed in his nation-wide address yesterday that international borders will re-open fully on 1 July 2022.

He said all international arrivals to Solomon Islands will no longer undergo institutional quarantine, but can proceed directly from the airport after clearing their normal arrival formalities to their booked accommodations in hotels or to their homes.

“If they go directly to their homes, we encourage them to use face-masks in the first few days after their return.

“Also from 1st July 2022, all international travellers to Solomon Islands no longer need to apply for special exemption to enter the country. All travellers can book directly with airlines to enter the country and sort out their own accommodations”, Sogavare said.

He said all international travellers to Solomon Islands are advised that while there is no longer impose post-arrival quarantine or exemptions for entry into the country, all are still required to provide one negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of arrival in Honiara, and must fully vaccinated against COVID-19 except for children that cannot be vaccinated.

“Any traveller that does not comply with these two requirements will not be able to travel to Solomon Islands,” Sogavare said.

1...750751752...1,723Page 751 of 1,723