POLICE Commissioner Mostyn Mangau has clarified that any escort or gathering must go through the right process.
Responding to questions asked in regards to speculations that Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani will be escorted from Quarantine to the wharf once he is released from quarantine, Mangau said no application has been received from anybody to do escort at any time.
He said there are processes and procedures to follow, parties have to make application through the Provincial Police Commander of the Honiara City 14 days prior, and there has to be an approval granted before any escort can be conducted.
“We are aware of the speculation about the proposed escort of the Premier but till now there was no application received, such accord is only given to certain people,” Mangau said.
Mangau said that the country has rules and regulation to abide by and given the situation in Honiara that traffic jam is always a problem, any activities that disturb the flow of traffic without any genuine reason is an offence, and those responsible will face the law.
Mangau also dismissed speculations that police will arrest Suidani upon his release from Quarantine.
He said spreading rumors or false information is not a good attitude.
“We have not received any complaint or allegation from anyone to arrest Suidani, and police cannot just arrest people.
“Anybody has issues with Suidani regarding anything then report it, but for public to just speculate about police arrest on Suidani should be stopped,” Mangau said.
OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Wale wants to see decentralisation of resources to the provinces and not Honiara only.
Speaking on the special adjournment motion in Parliament on Wednesday, Wale said decentralised government – Honiara cannot continue to control the governance of the entire country.
He said the result has been that most resources have ended up in Honiara.
“It appears we are in a limbo at present with no sense of direction on this important policy matter.
“We must not, however, create a system of government that will be too expensive for our economy to afford and therefore doom it to failure,” he said.
Furthermore, Wale said the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report and its recommendations now need to be dealt with by Parliament.
“Government has had a very long time to process and decide how it plans to address the recommendations, and it would be good for Parliament to exercise its oversight of that,” he said.
OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Wale is urging government to focus its economic policy on job creation.
Speaking at the special adjournment in Parliament on Wednesday, Wale said there is much more, even in these covid times that they can do to create jobs in our economy.
He said families and households are struggling to merely put food on the table.
“Young people coming out of the school’s system have no realistic hope of finding meaningful work.
“This is not the time to stand back and watch what may or may not happen,” he said.
Furthermore, Wale said CEMA revitalization must not destroy the already vibrant private sector participation in the commodities sector.
In addition, Wale said the land policy needs coherence.
“At the very basic level traditional customary rights must be secured.
“Tribes need to have confidence that their inalienable rights will not be vulnerable,” he said.
“However, there are some rights to use of land that are alienable.
“Reforms must ensure security both to tribes of inalienable rights, and security to investors of alienable rights,” he said.
Police have condemned the alleged rape of a 16-year-old student in Auki, Malaita on October 2.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said police will continue to remind public especially young boys and men to respect girls and women as they are more vulnerable to sexual assaults and harassment inside the communities.
Mangau said the victim is a student at one of the schools in Malaita; according to reports supplied from police in Auki, prior to the incident the victim and her cousin sister boarded a public bus to Auki town and met up with the suspect in one of the shops at Auki.
It was at the shop the suspect asked for the victim’s phone number in order for him to send her mobile credits.
The victim gave her mobile number to the suspect.
The suspect also told the victim to call him should she need transport to return home.
Mangau said around 2pm, the suspect himself called the victim’s phone number and asked her if she wanted to be dropped home, there the victim and her cousin sister went to the bus stop and the suspect came and picked them up.
Mangau said the suspect then gave some money to the victim’s cousin sister telling her to go and buy ice-cream; it was when the cousin sister went out to buy ice-cream, the suspect took off with the victim inside the vehicle.
The victim tried to open the door but could not, the suspect drove off with her to Ambu main road and raped her there.
Mangau also said according to police report from Auki the suspect and victim are related.
Mangau also said investigation still continue and calling on people around Auki and Ambu to support police in their investigation.
A 50-year-old man and his two sons were arrested and charged with assault in Big Ngella, Central province, on Sept 26 this year.
Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau speaking at his weekly media conference yesterday said police in Tulagi arrested the father and his two sons, youngest being 18 years following an assault incident.
He said the trio are now charged with assault causing actual bodily harm and are currently released on bail awaiting court appearance.
Mangau said according to reports gathered by police in Tulagi, prior to the incident the victim was at home when the two sons went into his house and pulled him out.
Mangau said the sons were sent by their father, however, the motive behind the assault is still unknown, as police investigations is still continuing.
Mangau said according to the report from Tulagi police the suspects unlawfully punched the victim on the face, his back and hit him with a stick.
The suspects also tore the victim’s clothes leaving him naked.
Mangau said there are ways to resolve disputes with each and not resolving to fighting, because taking law into your own hands will not solve anything but will lead to another problem with the law.
He said people living together in communities must always have respect for each other to avoid such problem.
Bomb that was safely remove to Hells Point for render safe.
The police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team removed a US 650lb bomb under a residence at Titinge village in West Honiara on October 6, 2021.
Officer in-charge of the EOD team, Inspector Clifford Tunuki says, “The EOD team have conducted a two day operation to safely unearth and remove the US 650lb depth bomb to Hells Point.
“The bomb was initially discovered by the owner of the residence whilst digging a hole to replace old floor posts.
“According to the owner of the residence, they built their house in 2015 and not knowing there is a bomb beneath the ground. This was until when they decided to replace the posts and they discovered the bomb.
“This type of bomb is usually dropped from planes and weighs about 300 kg. Our team has been vigilant to ensure safety of the Titinge and surrounding communities is always of paramount importance.
“The resident is now safe as the bomb is currently at our facility for further disposal and I wish to thank the Titinge community for their cooperation and the resident owner for mutual understanding to stay away whilst the team unearthed and relocated the bomb to our facility.”
It is advisable that if you sighted any bomb or UXO; stop whatever earth works you are doing and report it to the Police toll free line on 999 or any nearest Police Stations or you may call directly to our EOD mobile on 7495215.
Stakeholders who attend the event yesterday where they discussed issues of children.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
FOUR stakeholders have highlighted their different roles in dealing with child and children in the country.
Empower Pacific, Family Support Centre, Seif Ples, Plan International and Honiara City Council Youth Division explained their work during the “Building Safe Environments for Children and Young People in Solomon Islands: Local Partners Even” in Honiara yesterday.
Dalcy Viuru of Empower Pacific said they provide mainly counselling and social services in partnership with Seif Ples.
According to its website, the Empower Pacific Branch has been providing Counselling services since 2016.
The branch is located in Honiara National Referral Hospital.
Currently, Empower Pacific Solomon Island counselling programs are being funded by ChildFund and the University of the South Pacific (USP).
The counsellors also provide training and counselling to the staff and in-patients at the Ministry of Health – National Referral Hospital. One to one counselling sessions and trainings are conducted for issues such as Depression, Anxiety, Stress, NCDs (Diabetes, High Blood Pressure), Amputations, Mental Health Care, Grief and Loss.
Furthermore, Lorio Sisiolo of FSC said they provide counselling, free legal information and legal representation in court for clients.
She said currently there is no hotline at FSC and counselling service has stopped at the moment.
Sisiolo said there is a child friendly space at the Centre following the SEED project which started in July this year.
Currently, there are nine FSC committees in the provinces with Western province (Gizo, Noro), Isabel (Buala and Kolotobi), Central Province (Tulagi), Guadalcanal (Marau), Makira (Kirakira) and Temotu (Lata and Neo).
Further to that, Lorah Etega of Seif Ples said it is a multi-sectoral agency that links with Ministry of Police, National Security and Correction Service and Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
She said the Police comes in the legal side with help of Criminal Investigation Department and Sexual Assault Unit and Ministry of Health assists with doctor to help victims.
Etega said between 2014-2021, about 80 percent to 90 percent of children accompanied their mothers to Seif Ples.
She said the adults were only 10 percent to 20 percent.
Further to that, she said 54 percent below 15 years old were victims of rape and 46 percent above 15 years.
Etega said with funding assistance, Seif Ples has created a child friendly environment by providing toys and other stuffs to keep children busy while staying with their mothers.
On the other hand, Plan International Solomon Islands has helped youths in Solomon Islands through the Growing Up Online.
This was a series of workshops and activities around online safety as part of the National Youth Forum on Cyber Safety.
This came about after in October 2020, Plan International Australia, ChildFund Australia and Western Sydney University, funded by the Australian Government, launched Online Safety in the Pacific.
This was a report highlighting the challenges and opportunities children’s technology use presents in the Pacific.
In addition, the Honiara City Council’s Youth Division in partnership with ChildFund New Zealand have launched the Tokspot in April this year.
It came about following a number of research and consultations conducted in Honiara showing that “social and emotional wellbeing of youth was consistently raised”.
The five years project will provide specific needs for youths, counselling, capacity building, training opportunities for up to 70 youth workers and eight counsellors.
All four stakeholders have work in collaboration with ChildFund Australia and ChildFund New Zealand.
THE fog has just cleared as Walter Ara begins his steep climb up the hills behind his village.
After every five minutes he stops to catch his breath in between smoking tobacco from his pipe. He is a late starter, leaving his home around 9am to find that most of his village folks are well buried in their gardens.
Mr Ara’s working days revolve around providing for his family from his garden and tending to his kava plants scattered around the hills behind his village.
For him, Kava is gold.
From six harvests in the past 10 years, Mr Ara has built a small fortune for himself and his family.
“You see the three permanent houses over there, I built them from the money I got from selling my kava products,” Mr Ara proudly exclaimed as he pointed to three neatly placed structures tucked away in the corner of the village.
Mr Ara is from Aitolo village, located in the Highlands of Central Kwara’ae, Malaita province. He started planting kava in 2011 and since then has amassed close to 2000 plants in his garden.
Aitolo village on the highlands of central Kwara’ae. PHOTO BRIAN LEZUTUNI
In the last few years, kava planting has taken a great leap forward in the Solomon Islands. The Highlands region of Malaita was part of the revolution gripping the country.
On Malaita Island alone, local agriculture expert, Ledley Diudi estimates that there could be up to 1 million kava plants.
Mr Diudi is a recently retired public servant, who used to work with the Malaita Agriculture department. When Island Sun spoke with him he was engaged with the Provincial Government on a contractual basis.
Malaita Agriculture Consultant, Ledley Diudi
He has seen the excitement as people on the Island got caught up in the kava hype and the benefits people in rural communities have achieved from their kava sales.
From three communities he has worked with in the past years there were up to 400,000 plants shared between the villages.
But he warned that the excitement can be short-lived if issues relating to market are not addressed in the immediate future.
“A lot of times when these farmers go over to Honiara to sell their products to big kava buyers such as Varivao and Kubonito, there would be no money to buy their products,” Mr Diudi emphasised.
There is fear in the minds of those involved in kava over the years, that the recent big increase in supply to a competitive industry will crash prices or bring the market to a halt.
And no one knows the market best than Varivao holdings. In July it suspended buying kava due to the bottle-neck demand in the international market.
“The kava famers keep coming but I told them to wait a little bit as we face market challenges overseas, we face exporting competition as well from our regional neighbours,” General Manager of the Varivao Holdings Company, Benjamin Hageria told Island Sun.
He welcomed Australia’s recent announcement that its trial commercial importation of kava could start in the latter part of 2021.
The costly journey Malaita kava farmers make to Honiara has seen local entrepreneurs stepping up to address the needs of those back home.
One such company is Solomon Organic Kava.
It was established in January this year and is buying kava for export to Kiribati.
David Mani who works as a grading officer with the company said their clients come from all over Malaita province.
“We buy gold green kava at $150 per kilo and gold yellow at $160 per kilo,” Mr Mani told Island Sun.
Mr Mani admits that despite the enthusiasm around the product, the company is taking small steps one at a time.
Solomon Organic Kava officer David Mani with kava products
So far, the company has exported three shipments, the first one being 80 kilogram, then 180 kilogram and topping it off with 300 kilograms exported in July.
“Everyday people come to sell kava and with our new pounding machine and according to our boss, we are going to expand in the future,” Mr Mani enthusiastically told Island Sun.
People like Silas Su’ufua from Gwounafou village, East Kwara’ae, are thankful that companies such as Solomon Organic Kava are on Malaita, saving costs associated with travelling to Honiara to sell their products.
On the day we caught up with him at the Solomon Organic Kava shed, Mr Su’ufua was all smiles as he was $1440 richer from the 9 kilogram of kava he has just sold.
“I started in 2015 and now I’m enjoying the rewards of my sacrifice, my whole village are into kava, even the little children,” he added.
Silas Su’ufua with kava samples sold at the Solomon Organic Kava in Auki
For Mr Ara and his villagers at Aitolo and similar communities around Malaita, Kava is a commodity that has helped improved standards of living.
Mr Ara had already completed two homes and was working on completing his third when Island Sun visited the village in August.
“I built the houses for myself, my sons and their families,” he stated confidently.
Walter Ara infront of one of his three houses built from kava money.
One of his sons, Wilfred Ara, used to work in Honiara as a mechanic before returning in 2019 after seeing the success of his father.
Now he has around 400 kava plants in his garden and is looking to expand and build a future for his family.
Malaita Agriculture expert, Mr Diudi said communities who have planted more than 100,000 kava plants are seeing the benefits.
He said nearly all the villages have permanent houses, a sign of wealth in the rural setting.
“Kava is good news for the province, people are into it but the market issue needs to be addressed,” he added.
Kava plants on Aitolo village
Island Sun understands that the USA-funded Strengthening Competitiveness, Agribusiness, Livelihoods and Environment (SCALE) program will provide assistance to local farmers and that farmers on Malaita will be a priority.
Winrock International, a not-for-profit development organization, is one of the five partners in the program.
It will be looking at how best to support kava growers in Malaita to produce not only quantity but also quality as well as to access the international market.
From left AG John Muria Jnr, Minister of Education Lanelle Tanangada and Prime Minister attending the School's 75th Anniversary celebration
PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has paid tribute to St Joseph’s Catholic National Secondary School as a learning institution that has played a pivotal role in educating Solomon Islanders.
Speaking during the school’s 75th Anniversary celebrations today, the Prime Minister said as we reflect on the past, we note with great admiration the resilience, growth and success of St. Joseph’s Tenaru over the last 75 years.
“Many Solomon Islanders both men and women from all walks life has risen through the ranks and are now holding prominent responsibilities both in the public and private sectors,” he said.
Fromer scholars Ezekiel Alebua, Joseph Huta and Paul Kukuteé celebrating the 75th Aniversary
The Prime Minister also paid tribute to some of the country’s great leaders who were former students of the school.
“Some of these great leaders have since left us and they are former Governor General Sir George Lepping, former Speaker of the National Parliament, Sir Paul Tovua and former Prime Minister, Bartholomeu Ulufa’alu,” he said.
Prime Minister Sogavare also acknowledged some of the pioneer leaders that are still around such as former Prime Minister, Hon Ezekiel Alebua and first local Chief Justice, Sir John Muria.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare greets former scholars of St Joseph’s and former Prime Minister Ezekiel Alebua and Victor Ngele
“This great school has also given this country great men and women who have served this country across various professions in both the public and private sector. Even today, we have many former scholars holding senior positions in Government, private and the community,” he said.
The Prime Minister took the opportunity to also acknowledge and recognize the contributions and roles played by the religious missionaries that helped in the education of Solomon Islanders.
“This country owes you a debt of gratitude. Thank you for your service to our country,” he said.
Prime Minister Sogavare also made special mention of the Marist Brothers and Marist Fathers, plus other religious congregations that helped founded the school and other schools around the country.
Paramount Chief Walter Naezon presenting a chupu for the school
“These Leaders and the early Missionaries through their hard work, sacrifice, commitment and professionalism have laid the foundation and planted the seed which our country now enjoys,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Sogavare said the challenge now is to nurture this close collaboration between the Government and Churches to advance and progress our country for a joyful, peaceful and prosperous Solomon Islands.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has also paid tribute to the traditional landowners of Malango and the people of Guadalcanal for hosting the school for the past 75 years.
Islanders students providing entertainments
“I thank you for being an understanding and respectful host to this great institute of education, a nurturing ground of leaders past, present and of course for the future,” Prime Minister Sogavare said when recognizing the Malango House of Chiefs in his speech.
The theme for the celebrations is “Recalling our Past, Forming Our Today, and Shaping Our Future’’.
St Joseph Tenaru School principal Abraham Hihiru calls on former and current students to become educators of the 21st century that would communicate meaning and transforms society.
He made the call during the school’s opening of its three-day 75th Anniversary yesterday.
Hihiru said today, the responsibilities to educate and build the nation falls on the shoulders of former scholars and current students.
“St Joseph’s is calling on all of you today to become educators of the 21st century,” Hihiru said.
North Malaita cultural group performing their item
“The invitation for you to become an educator does not require you to step into the classroom,” he added.
“No, by the vesture of your vocation, you are called to become educators in your own field of expertise.”
Hihiru said some were called to become lawyers, doctors, accountants, politicians, engineers, bankers, priests, pastors, managers, scholars or parents but the question is how do each one lives up to as educators of the 21st century.
He said the answer to this question lies very much on how well each one leads their vacation in discharging their duties and responsibilities in ways that would communicate meaning and transforms society.
“To me this is what it means to be an educator in the 21st century.
“Hence, I would like to argue that in every context we find ourselves in, we are either building a nation or destroying a country,” he said.
Hihiru said as St Joseph’s celebrates its 75th Anniversary, the school has provided equal opportunities for Solomon Islanders to access quality education.
He said St Joseph is the only Catholic National Secondary school in the country that provides 64 percent Catholic and 34 non-Catholic students while for teachers they have 50 percent Catholic and 50 Percent non-Catholics.
He said these statistics revealed that St Joseph’s is very much inter-denominational and ecumenical.
Part of the crowd attending the celebration
In terms of academic, he said the school has continued to produce very good results reaching the 70-90 percent pass rate but that should not measure the greatness of the school.
He said the greatness of the school should be measured by positive changes taking place in society due to the work of former students.
“As former scholars of the schools, how much do we contribute in improving the living standards of the ordinary people in our community?”
He said in view of that he believes the school has achieved its objectives to continue educate and form leaders who are willing to offer their service in advancing the interest of the country.
He acknowledges the founders and pioneers of the school for building a strong foundation of the school for the last past 75 years.
He said without their visions those who attained their education at St Joseph’s would not be who there are today.
Hihiru also extends his acknowledgement to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare for gracing their school’s 75th Anniversary and the government for continuous support to the school.
