HEALTH authorities have clarified that Gizo Hospital, Western Province, is opened to all and not only to those who are vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines.
“Rumour that Gizo hospital is only providing medical services to those vaccinated with COVID-19 is not true,” a statement from the ministry said.
“Not at any time did the national nor the western provincial ministry of health issued a directive for such condition as prerequisite for anyone to receive medical service,” the statement added.
“Should anyone come across a health facility or medical worker advising of such condition, please call health’s emergency operation centre toll free line, 115 and provide details for relevant health authorities to address the matter.”
The statement says that it is crucial that all media outlets, even social media platforms and groups, take great precaution on information provided by the public for publication on print media and broadcast on radio as well as postings on social media group pages.
It says that when in doubt it is important to verify such information with the Ministry of Health’s media office on phone 24529 before publication.
PUBLIC Prosecutor Margaret Suifa’asia assured court yesterday that prosecution has accepted a proposal made by defence in a 2015 robbery incident for a plea bargain.
She said there is room to accept the plea bargain proposed by defence counsel Bobby Harunari on the case of Nathaniel Junior Eric.
But since there are three defendants charged in relation to the same incident, prosecution will give time for other defence counsels representing the other accused persons to make their proposal for plea bargain on behalf of their clients.
Mrs Suifaasia said she is intending to address one legal opinion for all the three accused together and forward it to the Director of Public Prosecution for consideration.
High Court Judge Justice Leonard Maina then adjourned the case to November 29 for an update regarding the negotiations between the counsels.
This is in relation to the case against Ramo Stanley, Farobo Ben, Faiga Junior David and Nathaniel Junior Erick who were charged together in relation to an armed robbery incident.
Police alleged that the accused were masked and armed with a knife when they attacked two Asian men as they were about to enter the BSP bank.
The court was told that one of the Asian businessmen was struck with a knife and also shot from sling, the court was told.
Police also alleged that in one of the interviews one of the accused admitted having several meetings with the other accused days before the robbery and that they shared some of the money.
According to the prosecution, police recovered $200,000.
Part of the participants who attended the workshop
BY BEN BILUA Gizo
LITERACY Coordinator of Western Province, Mavete Masepitu, says schools within the province lacked proper system to monitor children’s learning ability.
She said the existing system of monitoring and evaluation of children learning is more like judging children based on their performance and not their ability.
Masepitu suggests that a system where a diagnosing test on the ability of children performance should be done at the beginning of semester to determine children’s strength and weaknesses be put in place.
She stresses that the tests can determine areas where teachers and parents can collaborate in helping children’s learning at school and homes.
Masepitu said children’s learning differs from each other so as their learning ability and that it is important for schools to establish a system where children’s ability can improve their performance.
“It is obvious the teachers can easily recognise children ability to learn.
“We can categories children based on their learning ability and this is the baseline information we as teachers need to focus more to help the low learning children,” she said.
Masepitu said most schools in the country failed to accommodate proper approach towards children learning more especially an environment where children with special needs can best fit in the learning process.
She adds that there are children with special needs among other children in classrooms and lack of proper learning process forced children with special needs on the bottom of the learning process.
Masepitu said the lack of schools available for children with special needs is also a huge problem that needs immediate attention.
She made the statement during a stakeholders meeting organized by Save the Children to discuss how “Helpem Smol Wan Skool Gud” project can be delivered effectively.
Helpem Smol Wan Skool Gud Project is implemented by Save the Children through funds from Education Sector Support Program (ESSP).
Education Sector Support Program (ESSP) is a joint partnership between the government of Solomon Islands, Australia and New Zealand toward education development and services in the country.
CHOVOHIO Midstream Association wants to see WinWin Investment Solomon Limited halts its mining operation at Turarana in Central Guadalcanal.
This was after claims they did not receive royalty payments comparable to the loss and damage caused by the operation on their environment and land.
Chairman Joel Jackson said the mining operation is now on pit 6 and they want the company to halt its operation now.
Jackson said their call followed by Gaenalu (Moro) Movement of Guadalcanal and Guadalcanal Post Conflict Reconciliation, Rehabilitation & Restoration Association (GPCRRRA) earlier who asked the Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, Bradley Tovosia, to stop the operation as well.
“I call on the chairman of Koihoto Landowners Association to call an urgent meeting to discuss the operation of Win Win.
“We realized the company did not pay its royalties to the people from January to December this year,” he said.
However, the company said it cannot response to Jackson in the media because he has issues with them.
The Company said it can only response on the issue if the 2000 people in the community request the information.
According to WinWin mining report on 10th July 2021, alluvial gold mining is continuing and progressing well at the Turarana (Kavahambe) alluvial flats during the month of June, 2021 within Pit 5 that was initially opened up at the start of April 2021.
Pit 5 is located just to the south of previously mined out and rehabilitated Pit 4.
Mining output production data for the month of June totaled 76,100.0 cubic meters of ore gravels hauled and processed from which 24,387.12 grams (784.15 oz at 31.1g/Oz) of alluvial gold was recovered.
Production from 2019-2020 and January to June 2021 totaled 1,194,210.0 cubic meters of ore gravels mined and processed with total gold recovered from its being 115,708.65 grams (3,720.52 oz)
In June 2021, WinWin exported 24,337.97 grams (782.57 Oz) of gold bars or pellets to its buyers in Hong Kong.
It is the 16th gold consignment ship from the company.
The June export consignment is now the 6th month of alluvial gold export consignment from the Turarana Mining Lease MML02/18 operations.
The export was facilitated by the Director of Mines who signed and authorized the Export Permit.
From the current practice of royalty’s payment, the Company pays 3 percent royalties from its gold export to the Government who then is responsible to pay the landowners and the concerned Provincial Governments hosting the operations accordingly.
The 3 percent royalty payment is then proportioned at 50 percent to the Government, 40 percent to the two Turarana Landowner’s Associations and 10 percent to the Guadalcanal Provincial Government.
Burns Creek Primary School Teachers and students pose for a group photo with RRR Staff after their visit inside RCCC.
A delegation of 72 students and three teachers from the Burns Creek Primary School led by Head Teacher Raynold Sikepitu conducted an hour’s educational visit at Rove Central Correctional Centre.
The students first entered the Correctional main entrance gate where they were warmly received by the Commandant Rove Central Correctional Centre Chief Superintendent Catherine Kere and her Acting Chief Security Officer Lawrence Isa.
Kere informed the students the protocols and rules of the Rove Central Correctional Centre.
The student first visited three blocks in the Centre including block-three for female inmates, block-five for long serving inmates and block-three for Juveniles inmates
The school visitation is a part of their learning capacity development, said the Headmaster.
“It is very important for the primary student to visit Correctional facilities, inmates and environment here at the Centre to ensure that the student should experience the real life in the Centre rather than hearing stories from anybody else outside there.”
Kere expressed her appreciation to the Head Teacher for his continuous support to the organisation especially with regards to supporting inmates with prayers.
She said, CSSI looks forward to further collaboration with the Burns Creek Primary School for future visitations.
Head Teacher Sikepitu said as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, “we are so lucky and fortunate to visit our inmate’s brothers and sisters here in the Rove Central Correctional Centre”.
International Cooperation Department Consultant Tetsuya Ishikawa showing the progress of the project
THE Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) describes the recent site visit to the Honiara International Airport Improvement Project by Civil Engineering students from the National University (SINU) as a positive step forward in its continuous effort to realize local participation in major infrastructure projects in the country going into the future.
SICCI acknowledges Gyros and Kitano Construction Cooperation and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Solomon Islands for this initiative which is understood to be one of the positive outcomes of a recent Infrastructure Symposium the Chamber hosted which brought together key stakeholders in the infrastructure development sector.
“At the Symposium, I and my colleague presented a brief introduction about this Airport Project and informed the participants of an intention that the project member would be planning to hold a site observation tour for students who are learning civil engineering in Solomon Islands.
Today (Tuesday 16 November) we made it a reality,” Motoyuki Uegaki, Resident Representative of JICA, said.
At the Symposium, Mr Uegaki said the issue their Projects are facing is a shortage of Engineers or Technicians in specific construction area in the local market and that job training is the most important factor for the future Employment Promotion through Public – Private Cooperation.
During this week’s site visit, he uttered that it is a bit hard to find enough resources who are able to provide a certain level of engineering knowledge and skills in the country, however, recognize that these students will be crucial engineers who will be able to drive the infrastructure development of Solomon Islands in the near future.
Project Manager Takeshi Iwasaki, of Kitano Construction, said: “Solomon Islands needs the participation of young people in the task of nation building.
While we are making good quality things, nurturing of local workers is also our important objective.
In line with this, I am looking forward that many engineers will be trained among you for the future development of Solomon Islands.”
SICCI maintains that we can maximise the benefits of infrastructure spending in the country if there are policies and regulations in place to promote local content.
“Focusing on maximizing local content ensures that local workers have a job that will lead to skills development and transfer.
“Not only that but local suppliers will also have an opportunity to grow in the market, and local companies will develop and contribute to revenue that remains in the country and promotes the standards of local private sector,” a SICCI statement said.
One of the outcomes of the Infrastructure Symposium in October was to get an overview of infrastructure projects across the country and to gauge its impact on the local economy.
The Honiara International Airport Improvement Project is one such project which is a $340 million Japanese Government funding that will add tremendous value to the economy.
The project is scheduled to be completed by 2023, just in time to cater for the anticipated increased demand of people arriving in July 2023, when Solomon Islands host the 2023 Pacific Games.
The completion of the Airport Project will coincide with the completion of another major infrastructure project funded and built by the Government of Japan, the second phase of the Kukum highway project.
Turarana river, where the WinWin mining company is operating.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
WIN Win Investment Solomon Limited has promoted an environmental management plan (EMP) to monitor the quality of air, land and water within its Turarana mining lease area, Central Guadalcanal, during its planned alluvial mining operation.
This was stated in its monthly report released on 10th July 2021.
It states earlier monthly reports have not made any mention of environmental monitoring activities being undertaken within the mining lease area.
Francis Badii Professional Consultancy Services conducted on site Environmental assessment monitoring works in June, 2021.
“He was also contracted to undertake quarterly environmental assessment reviews for Win Win Investment Solomon Ltd for its alluvial gold mining operation at its Turarana ML02/18 Mining Lease areas.
“He had since completed and submitted quarterly environmental reviews for Win Win Investment Solomon Ltd for years 2019 and 2020 as of February, 2021,” the report states.
It states Badii has already completed and submitted year 2021’s first quarterly environmental review works.
“He is yet to complete the 2nd quarterly environmental assessment review works.
“The 2021 quarterly environmental reviews will be submitted when Francis Badii Professional Consultancy Services completes the task,” it states.
AHC Political Counsellor Kevin Playford and DAP Manager Laura Wilson with representatives of the 12 DAP-funded projects at the handover ceremony on 12 November.
THE Australian Government, through the Direct Aid Program (DAP), has funded 12 additional community-led projects, taking the total number of DAP-funded projects to 19 for the 2021 calendar year.
On 12 November, Counsellor (Political) Kevin Playford and DAP Manager Laura Wilson congratulated the successful project applicants during a handover ceremony at the Australian High Commission.
The 12 projects in this round will support communities across Solomon Islands, including in Isabel, Western, Choiseul, Malaita and Central Provinces and in Honiara.
President of the Central Province Council of Women Naomi Selo and AHC Political Counsellor Kevin Playford signing a DAP project agreement to upgrade and complete a conference and training block at the Central Province Council of Women office in Tulagi.
In line with Australia’s COVID-19 Development Response, the DAP team encouraged project applications which helped build COVID-19 resilience, particularly in the education, health and sanitation sectors.
“We also prioritised projects which benefitted disadvantaged groups such as women, youth and people with disability, as well as those from remote communities, including projects that build climate change resilience.
The approved projects include classroom building refurbishments, water supply and restoration works, installation of a school dormitory fence and support to build a seawall.
AHC Political Counsellor Kevin Playford and DAP/CPP Manager Laura Wilson with Rhoda Sikilabu, MPA for Sigana Ward, discussing Sikilabu’s sea wall project in Isabel.
Counsellor (Political) Kevin Playford urged the Project Coordinators to complete the projects in a comprehensive and timely manner.
He advised the Project Coordinators to build awareness about their projects in their communities and to ensure the projects benefit as many community members as possible.
“We wish the project coordinators all the best with the implementation of their projects and look forward to visiting their projects and communities in due course,” Playford said.
DAP is a small grants-based program, which supports community-led projects.
Applications are available free of charge on our website or can be picked up from the Australian High Commission in Honiara.
GOVERNMENT says accusations by Opposition Leader Mathew Wale claiming the Prime Minister intends to extend the life of Parliament for five years were baseless and grossly misleading.
“First, it is Parliament that has the legal mandate to amend the Constitution to extend the life of Parliament, not the Prime Minister,” a statement the Government issued last night said.
“Wale is using a deceptive scheme to turn the public opinion against the Prime Minister by misrepresenting the Constitutional requirement to the public as if the public is dumb,” it added.
“For Wale to say otherwise and put this on the Prime Minister is an insult to the intellectual capacity of our public.
“Our public deserves more from the Leader of Opposition, not calculated misrepresentation of facts and law to mislead the public with the aim of causing instability and public confusion.
“This is unbecoming, immoral and unethical of someone who has always aspire to be a Prime Minister.”
The statement said the Government’s ongoing consultation at present on this issue is to solicit learned views of the public on the issue whether to extend the life of parliament or not.
“The views from the public consultation will be collated for government to take account of and to make a decision on after the consultations.
“Misinformation on the extension of the life of the current parliament is not only misleading on the part of the Opposition Leader but demonstrates his ignorance on important national events that has implications on the upcoming election.
“The Government reminded national leaders to take the responsibility not to stir emotions and spread unfounded and baseless information similar to the latest outburst by the Opposition Leader.
“The statement explained that as both the Pacific Games 2023 and the National General Elections will occur on the same time, government has the option to bring to parliament the premature dissolution of the parliament prior to the games or extend it for a few months after the games.
“These options are being considered by the government and until a firm decision is made the status quo remains.
“National leaders such as the Opposition Leader know these processes and are reminded not to share half-cooked information.
“The Government added that as opposed to the Leader of Opposition’s ‘Deceptive Scheme’ article accusing the government of trying to unnecessarily hold on to powers, the opposite is actually true.
“In all seriousness, the government in its 2022 budget is committing funds to fast track the necessary electoral reforms.
“Major activities for next year’s budget include voter registration update for Western and Choiseul provinces.
“This will be followed by Provincial elections for both Provinces.
“The National biometric voter registration update is a massive load the government is assisting the Solomon Islands Electoral Office complete ahead of the coming National General Elections.”
The statement said preparations for the upcoming National General Election, largely in terms of procurement, is a priority for the government that will also be reflected in its 2022 budget.
The Government is supporting SIEC to establish the mechanism of the automatic voter registration and begin the actual registration as soon as possible, a process already hindered by the restrictions and constraints of COVID19 for a year.
White River Community High School student Thomas Afu shares his achievement with his family members for scooping the form 3 overall prize during the school’s graduation ceremony at Pacific Casino Hotel yesterday. PHOTO: CHARLES KADAMANA
BY CHARLES KADAMANA
Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Dr Jack Maebuta inspired White River Community High School graduates through his reflections of his successful personal journey in life.
Dr Maebuta’s journey to success is a long story he achieved it through perseverance, which he masters it from his heart, head and hands.
He highlighted these when delivering his keynote address during the school’s graduation ceremony at Pacific Casino Hotel yesterday.
Dr Maebuta said his journey when he started in high school did not turn out as he wanted but what inspired him is, his goal to do his personal best.
Aciting Vice Chancellor Dr Jack Maebuta presents the form 3 overall prize to Thomas Afu
He recalls that during his primary school days he did not have the marks to go to national secondary school so he ended up in provincial secondary.
In Form 3, he did not have the marks to make it to Form 4 so he was pushed out at Form 3.
But that did not stop him because in his heart he knew Education is a limitless industry.
Form 7 students of White River CHS procession for the graduation ceremony
As result of that he was accepted to do Primary teaching at the Solomon Island College of High Education.
He said what motivates him at that time is he has an inspiring goal and that is to do his personal best.
“I set my goal that I must work hard and do my personal best.
“My personal best is not the best for others. Personal best is not all about getting straight A grades. It is about giving your best.
Brevonstar Analau share his achievement with his mother
“If your best is C grades that’s your best and it can move you on as you journey through your education journey,” he told the graduates.
Dr Maebuta added that to succeed in life they have to educate themselves (Head).
“You must guide your education because it is like gold mine so you must guide it well.
“Education gives you more options in life.
White River CHS Dux student, Renzol Lote receives his award from Dr Maebuta
“After completing my teacher training, I started my preliminary studies at USP centre here.
“It was a challenge. Being a form three dropout, I have difficulties in the subjects but what got me through was reading and reading and reading and more reading of my course materials.
“When I read, I don’t understand, I read and read again until there is a window of understanding,” he said.
Rapeiasi Benny fill with excitement after receiving her certificate
Dr Maebuta encourages the graduates to train to read no matter how hard it is they can go as far they can.
He further said to succeed in life they must take action despite their failures.
“You may be discouraged because you may see yourself as failure. Don’t see yourself as failure.
“When I dropped out of Form 3, I did not see myself as failure but that experience pushed me to aspire and do something which I did.”
Kilamu Julian smiles after receiving her certificate
He said failure is a good thing. It is feedback and it is success in progress.
“Don’t be afraid to fail. Be less concerned with short-term failure, and more concerned with long-term success.
“Your career is a marathon, not a sprint so if you’re not off to a fast start, don’t sweat it. Your High School is where your career starts, but it’s where it ends that counts.
Top students cutting the cake
“See the benefits in not getting the mark you want (when one door closes, another door opens)
“It’s character building. We learn much more from our challenges than our successes,” he said.
He told the graduates to search for a goal that inspires them, educate themselves and take action despite failures.
