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Solbrew celebrates 365 ‘days accident free’

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Solomon Breweries celebrates 365 days accident free.

SOLOMON Breweries Limited (SolBrew)says it recently celebrated 365 days without an accident, a key milestone for the brewery that prides itself in maintaining high quality products and standards in all aspects of its business.

SolBrew’s Supply Chain (SC) Manager Kuri Yuwai said:

“We always say at SolBrew that we want each and every one of us to return home to our families as we arrive each morning, whole and that is essentially what living and breathing safety every day at SolBrew means.”

Kicking off their day of celebration SolBrew staff were paired with colleagues from different departments to share experiences on the turning points in their lives that have made them more safety conscious, highlighting the importance of having a safety first mindset beyond the workplace.

“We really wanted to make the day meaningful for us at a personal level,” said Safety Manager Edward McPherson.

“Because an accident means so much more than a loss for the business, as we have heard from our story telling session, accidents can mean the loss of income for the family or worse the loss of a loved one,” he added.

SolBrew ended the day with food and great beers, employee Safety awards and a Safety quiz.

Winners of the Safety Wow Award for the months of April, May and June received certificates for safety initiatives or compliance while select staff also took the time to share with all staff their stories from their Safety Story Telling session.

Yuwai said getting to 365 days without an accident is a very important milestone for SolBrew.

“We are very proud of this moment and while we celebrate, it is also a reminder for us that we must continue to live and breathe safety every day, at work and at home.”

Proud in culture, strong in spirit

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High Commissioner Dr Strahan with two indigenous staff of the Australian High Commission Third Secretary Political Marikki Watego (left) and First Secretary Health Kathleen Bombell.

Yuendumu Doors exhibition launched

HONIARA residents will be able to view a weeklong Australian Indigenous art exhibition launched today at the National Art Gallery by the Australian High Commissioner, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and the Permanent Secretary for Education and Human Resources Development.

The exhibition commemorates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s day, celebrated inAugust in Australia every year.

The Yuendumu Doors will be on display at the Art Gallery from Monday 2 August through to Friday 6 August.

The Yuendumu Doors constitute one of the most important cultural and artistic collections in Australia. Each artwork, painted more than 30 years ago by Walpiri elders at a remote desert school in Yuendumu in central Australia, represents stories of the Indigenous Australian Dreamtime.


Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Jeremiah Manale speaking at the launch of the exhibition.

The theme for Children’s Day this year, ‘Proud in culture, strong in spirit’, recognises the important contribution of culture, family and community in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Launching the exhibition, Australian High Commissioner Dr Lachlan Strahan said Australia is proud of the contribution of tens of thousands of years of Indigenous history to the contemporary identity of Australia.

“We are excited to share some of that history in celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day,” Strahan said.

“It’s quite fitting to exhibit the Yuendumu Doors art collection to mark Children’s Day,” he added.



Rose Sese, one of the Outstanding Women for Honiara and Guadalcanal who attended the launch of the exhibition.

“The 30 Yuendumu Doors were painted with important Dreamings, teaching the Yuendumu children about their ancestry and connection to country.

“Each door depicts a different Dreaming, using symbols which date back thousands of years to represent the people, animals and land that are so central to Warlpiri identity.

“ The doors are a way for Warlpiri people to connect their youth to their culture.”

Strahan said it was important for all people to nurture their own cultures at a time when globalisation and digital technology were flooding the world with certain dominating cultural influences.

“All of us must retain our own distinctive character, spirit and traditions, making sure that our young are actively involved in keeping them alive,” he said.

“At the same time, its equally important that we remain open and inclusive, sharing our cultures and building a greater understanding of each other.

“The Yuendumu doors exhibition plays a dual role, proudly expressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity and introducing a central aspect of Warlpiri culture to the people of Solomon Islands.”

Also speaking at the launch, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Jeremiah Manele acknowledged the rich diversity, culture and history that Australia and Solomon Islands share.


Chair of Young Women’s Parliamentary Group Regina Lepping looking at one of the art exhibits.

“I would like to acknowledge the rich diversity that exists within our two states, it has given us strength,” Manele said.

“Similar experiences are also shared by our children here in Solomon Islands,” he added.

“Culture has and continues to influence their lives.

“Culture carries the stories, knowledge and life skills from previous generations that will be passed on to the next.

“We welcome the contribution that culture has shaped our lives and that of our children, particularly the children of Aborigines and Torres Strait Island. We welcome contributions that these very same children make in ensuring the world thrives and remains safe and secure for future generations. Culture remains our identity and who we are.”

The launch was attended by various government dignitaries, diplomats, and business and community leaders.

The Australian High Commission looks forward to welcoming a number of school students and the wider public to visit the exhibition over the coming days.

Entry is free of charge and the general public are welcome to come and view the artwork.  

VIEWPOINT- Delta variant is no joke: get vaccinated

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TSI

Delta variant is no joke: get vaccinated

TRANSPARENCY Solomon Islands (TSI) would like to reiterate the call by the Prime Minister (PM) Manasseh Sogavare for citizens above the age of 18 years old to get the jab before it’s too late given the severity of the Delta strain.

It has been widely reported, the delta variant is more contagious than the other virus strains.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his nationwide address two weeks ago said the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your communities from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated.

With no hesitation, TSI is reiterating on the call for citizens to visit the nearest venue where vaccination is being rolled out, whether you in the province or Honiara, please do take the jab before it is too late to save yourself.

Global deaths from covid-19 stands at 4.22 million with 198 million cases so far.

United States recorded the highest death with more than 600,000 deaths followed by Brazil 556,000 deaths and the Delta variant ravaged India with 424,000 deaths.

With the rise of cases in the neighboring Fiji so as deaths from the imported delta variant from India, Solomon Islands must not take the covid-19 lightly as the delta strain is absolutely a different version of covid-19 cases that were previously treated, quarantined and contained on our shores.

As of April, this year, the second wave of covid-19 outbreak in Fiji has reached 30,400 cases with 238 deaths in a space of two months.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) the closest neighbor to our western border record 17,717 cases with 192 deaths. This shows how serious the delta variant is.

There is no time to delay taking the jab as we are on a brink of going into the same tragedy that Fiji is now experiencing with covid-19 delta variant.

Two frontline nurses were reported died because of failure to take the vaccine, according to Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Health Dr. James Fong.

The latest news in Fiji digging mass graves and cremation of death bodies every day sends a strong message across the pacific nations that the delta variant is not a joke.

The continuous fear among many of our citizens due to rumors and misleading information about the side effects of the vaccine must be discourage and those responsible for spreading fears should be dealt with under the regulation within the State of Public Emergency (SOPE).

There are many things that we can be doubtful of, but not for this delta strain that is now killing hundreds of thousands globally.

Getting vaccinated will go a long way in preventing the spread and transmission of covid-19 in the country.

If we are concern about the lives of our children and those with existing medical conditions then it is important that we take the jab to ensure that we can prevent community transmission that will affect our families, getting vaccinated can save lives and contain any possible community outbreak.

For those with pre-existing medical conditions please do seek advice from medical officials for advices before taking the vaccine.

This is also important for pregnant women to seek advice from doctors and nurses.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is yet to give any further advice on whether children and those under age of 18 should be vaccinated but our health authority will be informed of it.

The recent deaths of six people over the weekend in Fiji include a 11 months old baby has prompted the health authority there to say that it rarely happens for children to die but it also indicates that the situation has reach a point that is beyond control.

This is the sort of situation that we do not want Solomon Islands to go through, thus TSI support the call by our Prime Minister for everyone above the age of 18 to take the jab in order to save our families and the country.

TSI applaud our vigilant frontliners and the government for the combined national effort in managing and maintaining a covid-19 free status.

From the Minister of Health’s nationwide address on 2nd August 2021, it is welcoming news that new travel restrictions are now in place for countries reporting community transmission of the delta variant.

Whilst transmission via flights have been quite successful it is concerning to learn that incoming foreign vessels continue to be pose high risk of importing covid-19 into the country.

 TSI calls on the responsible authorities – the government and the Oversight Committee to ensure that all incoming foreign commercial vessels must all dock at the wharf instead of docking at private jetties, to avoid stretching our limited resources whilst at the same time, ensuring that all incoming personals do not disembark at their own will and mingle with communities as it has been previously reported.

Furthermore, Transparency Solomon Islands in its campaign for Transparency and Accountability for the COVID 19 SOE responses called for auditing of the funds spent under the name covid-19 SOE and for these to be tabled before the Parliament for debate.

The funding injections in response to COVID 19 ignited public debate in mainstream media including social media since last year. Serious allegations of fraud and nepotism in the award of contract jobs were raised.

The revelation by the acting Permanent Secretary Jimmy Nuake that $13 million was spent for renovation work alone at the quarantine centers is not only alarming but needs auditing.

 Some of these places were not used for quarantine purposes, despite the millions spent.

Some failed to meet the specifications required for Covid 19 quarantine facility requirements. 

The work done was very poor and does not reflect well on the contractors themselves.

For the millions paid out to the contractor this is not value for money.

Some of the quarantine centers where these millions were spent are King George VI dormitories, Ex-Telekom hostel and the National Referral Hospital (NRH).

It is not only an issue of value for money but one of bad planning and poor supervision on the part of those responsible and the Oversight Committee.

Finally, Transparency Solomon Islands and taxpayers of Solomon Islands demand accountability and transparency in the use of these $13 million.

Exposing and holding those milking the government to account under the guise of covid-19 is a must.

They need to be held responsible for their actions.

The allegation that some of the people awarded these contracts did not have any qualification nor the experience to undertake these construction jobs needs to be verified.

Audit must extend to funds spend on catering, security and allowances, including the repatriation package given to Members of Parliament.

Make public the findings as well as tabling it in Parliament.  This will build confidence back in the government much needed at this time of the pandemic.

Since the declaration of the State of Public Emergency (SoPE) in March last year huge funding injections by our government and those from our development partners for the purpose of covid-19 prevention must be properly accounted for.

DOSES EXPIRE SOON

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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AstraZeneca vaccine. Photo by NDTV.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Close to 13 thousand doses of vaccines currently in stock in the country will expire soon.

This was confirmed by Dr Yogesh Choudhri Senior Advisor for Ministry of Health and Medical Services in the latest Covid-19 update during a radio talk back show yesterday.

“In terms of the 112 thousand doses that we have, close to 13 thousand doses will be expired in mid-October. The rest of doses will be expiring in November,” Choudhri said.

“So, we will be rolling out the doses sooner the later in the provinces,” he said.

He said, the Ministry has plans in place to roll out the vaccines before the expiry dates comes.

“They are pretty sure to use all the vaccines before the expiry dates to minimize the wastage of vaccine.

“But if the vaccines expire, we will not be using them. We will discard them,” Choudhri said.

He said for AstraZeneca vaccine the expiry dates are within three to four months. Unlike for Sinopharm its expiry date is on March 2023.

Pfizer vaccine coming soon

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands have been given approval to receive 100 thousand doses of Pfizer vaccine says Dr Yogesh Choudhri Senior Advisor to Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

Choudhri confirmed this yesterday during the COVID-19 vaccine radio talk back show that the COVAX facility had sent an offer to Solomon Islands that they will be able to supply Pfizer vaccine.

“We also have been given approval to receive 100 thousand doses of Pfizer vaccine however the date for the vaccine shipment is not yet confirmed.

“In principle we have conveyed our approval to get Pfizer vaccine but necessary paper work have to first be submitted to National Medicine and Therapeutic Committee for approval before we start to use the Pfizer vaccines in Solomon Islands,” he said.

Choudhri said at this present time the country is using AstraZeneca, Sinopharm and likelihood of Pfizer vaccine that will be coming in the country.

He adds if there is an offer for Johnson and Johnson coming they will be accepting that because it’s a single dose vaccine and that will reduce the country’s operational cost.

“So, we are opened to that so, let the offer comes we will be talking to our donor and COVAX facility about that,” Choudhri said.

He stated that no vaccines are 100 percent protective. The vaccines have different efficacies. But more important these vaccines have been proven to prevent severe disease Hospitalisation and death and are all proven to be safe.

Pregnant women advised to consult doctors before vaccination

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Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

PREGNANT Women can get vaccinated, but first they must consult doctors to know and understand the vaccine risks and benefits before taking it.

This was echoed by Dr Simon Burggraaf World Health Organisation, Honiara office Immunisation Specialist.

He stressed both Sinopharm and AstraZeneca COVID-19 are good for pregnant mothers.

“For both vaccines we have not seen any negative sign effects in the data for pregnant women. We have not recommended that they can get vaccinated yet but we don’t also recommend that they can’t get vaccinated.

“All we are saying is come see and talk to your doctors, ask about the benefits and the risks are and if you are good with both the risk and benefits then you can take the vaccine.

“Having seen the impacts of delta variant, women should consider the vaccine benefits and weigh up their options,” Burggraaf said.

He adds it is sad to see some situation like in Fiji where the delta variant of COVID-19 is spreading and had impacted the unvaccinated pregnant woman who has died.

“Because of such situations we are concerned for pregnant women for them to come forward to talk with their Doctors about the vaccine and the risks and the benefits. And if they can make decisions they can get vaccinated,” Burggraaf said.

He stated WHO is recommending pregnant women in high risk areas can vaccinate with any vaccine .They have not seen any side effect so far yet that said vaccines are unsafe for pregnant women.

Burggraaf further adds both Pfizer and Moderner COVID-19 vaccines have been approved by number of stringent regulatory authorities for pregnant mother to receive.

He said regarding the 12 – 18 year old adolescent there is no vaccine recommended for them receive in Solomon Islands.

“We are not recommending yet for this younger population to get vaccinated until we have bigger coverage of all the population,” Burggraaf said.

Central Kwara’ae youths complete Inter denomination fellowship

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Youths during the Youths Inter-Denominational Fellowship program at Busurata School in the highlands of Central Kwara’ae… Photo supplied.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

A three days Youths Inter-Denominational Fellowship for youths in the Central Kwara’ae constituency was successfully completed at the Busurata School on Sunday.

The theme of the youth fellowship is “Young people are call to serve God” and the program was organized by community leaders as part of their leadership to serve youths in communities within Central Kwara’ae.

According to Malaita News, the fellowship program was officially opened with a parade from old mount Alasa’a Bible College.

Team leader of the program, Mr Paul Kabolo said the purpose of the program is to engage youths in worship programs and teachings that will encourage them to discover themselves in the Lord.

“It is time that we must come together and worship our God.

“We must teach our youths to worship God freely and not dwell on those denominations that will create barriers for us Christians,” Kabolo said.

He said activities during the three days program are mostly on religious messages as well as other important educational talks for the young people.

Kabolo said the program was first of its kind for youths from different denominations within the area to come together and be part of a youth Inter-denominational fellowship.

Youths attended program came from Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM), South Sea Evangelical Church (SSEC), and Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) communities within highlands of Central Kwara’ae.

Huge turnout in this year’s Guadalcanal Second Appointed Day celebration

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Brian Lezutuni
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BY JARED KOLI

In Marau

The 37th Guadalcanal Second Appointed Day celebration at Marau in East Guadalcanal draw a huge turnout of people around Guadalcanal as well as visitors from Honiara and sister provinces to witness one of the biggest Guadalcanal Day celebrations.

Manikalaku substation where the four-day long event is held attracts around 2000 people coming together to witness and take part in the events.

Guadalcanal Premier Francis Sade said he was happy to see people in the Tasimauri region come out in great numbers to be part of the event.

Choviri dancers entertaining the crowd yesterday

This is something that most of these people did not have the privilege to witness over the past years, according to GPG. 

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, his spouse and the National Government delegation also arrived in Marau to honor the celebrations.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare upon arrival yesterday was escorted to the shores of beautiful Marau Sound by Deputy premier Lazarus Rina

Upon his arrival, the Prime Minister paid a visit to the failed Marau mini hospital and met with a team of the province’s health workers as well as greet and chat with the sick.

The prime minister took a walk in the mini hospital and was briefed by the Nurse in charge of the current status and the work that health workers are carrying out at the mini hospital.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare greets and chat with the sick inside the Marau mini hospital

He was then shown the area earmarked for the new Guadalcanal township project at Marau by a team from the Guadalcanal Provincial Government.

Guadalcanal Deputy Premier Lazarus Rina said this year’s theme, “Inclusiveness and Sustainability: Harnessing Opportunities through Township, Culture, and Tourism Development” means that no one is left out.

Traditional king and queen show

“…but for us to enhance our opportunities on the township we will be having, as well as culture and tourism development,” Mr Rina said.

Prime Minister Sogavare also hosted a dinner at Tavanipupu Private Island Resort.

Black Wine Band, Sharzy and 2-Four-1 bands are also here to spice up the programme with entertainment.

No mass SINU termination as claimed: Tanangada

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Lanelle Tanangada former Minister for MEHRD

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTER of Education and Human Resources, Lanelle Tanangada has denied any mass termination of Solomon Islands National University staff.

Tanangada stated this in response to a question asked by Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale in Parliament yesterday.

About 123 academic staff and 107 support services staff are affected by the exercise.

This include 34 in Faculty of Education and Humanities, 29 in Faculty of Science and Technology, 17 in Faculty of Business and Tourism, 18 in Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science is 17 and Distant Flexible Learning is eight.

About 70 percent of these staffs are former staffs of the then Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE).

Almost 90 percent of them have a basic degree in teaching streams while large numbers in the TVET areas have only certificates.

The administrative departments were dominated by staff with diplomas and certificates.

She said there is no mass termination at SINU as claimed by media.

“What I understand based on advice being given by SINU management is notices have been issued to staffs whose contracts have ended and a recruitment exercise has been conducted to fill in the positions,” Tanangada explained.

“This is a normal university activity that administration conducts at the expiry of contracts of staff,” she added,

Furthermore, Tanangada explained that at the inception of SINU in 2013, it adopted a recruitment policy that required all staff recruited by SINU to be on a three-year contract.

She said previously staff were on continuing appointment, meaning it has an open-ended time frame.

Moreover, Tanangada said as SINU Council resolution dated June 22, 2015, all positions must be advertised in the open market before the contracts expired.

She said the rationale was to recruit staff that meet SINU minimum qualifications requirement known as MQR to teach at the university and upgrade to a level and quality of the programme that is taught at the university.

“Similarly positions in administrations and logistics support services at SINU are also advertised as to well-educated and competent persons.

“Up until now and owning to a variety of reasons such as allowing for a period of transitions, the recruitment policy was never previously adhered to and comply with,” she said.

Tanangada said following a period over eight years now as per SINU Council resolution, dated March 29, 2021, the management has now considered it most appropriate to execute the recruitment policy smoothly and seamlessly for purposes of upgrading the quality of the programmes offered at SINU and attracting competent administrative support staffs.

Tanangada said interviewing of applicants are currently ongoing and expect all positions in academic and non-academic to be filled at the start of second semester on August 8.

Parliament has adjourned for September 13, 2021.

Sisiolo clarifies delay in appointing new AG

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PS of the Ministry of Public Service, Mr Nego Sisiolo

CLAIMS in the Island Sun Newspaper on July 29 assuming the Government is politically delaying the appointment of the new Auditor General is misleading.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, Nego Sisiolo explained that the endorsed candidate is the most suitable and highly qualified person for the position and relevant Ministries are seeking additional funding to meet the incoming Auditor General’s salary and other remunerations.

“The need for a remunerations additional budget came about because the endorsed applicant negotiated with SIG-OAG, MPS, MoFT and OPMC a counter package up to a level that commensurate his qualifications, experience and skills,” Sisiolo said.

He said the SIG parties deliberated on the candidate’s counter offer in light of the following factors:

  • The position of the Auditor General is a highly technical profession that has rigorous qualification criteria on its own. Hence, the profession can be equated to professionals in the legal and medical sectors;
  • The endorsed candidate has a wealth of experience in this field and a qualified local chartered public accountant;
  • The endorsed candidate is the only applicant that applied for the post and therefore SIG as the employer do not want to drop him;
  • The endorsed candidate may lose its personal business activities/interest once appointed to the said post.

Consequently, the SIG parties decided to take-on the counter offer by the candidate by collaborating to locate payroll savings that can be reallocated for the AG emolument, which has now been identified.

In the process, the Ministry of Public Service also collaborated with the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to provide a Business Case (BC) as justification for supplementation to existing terms and condition. The Business Case is essentially to use to brief the Prime Minister who has power to decide on the terms and conditions for constitutional offices.    

On Tues 27 July 2021, the Deputy Auditor General (DAG) briefed the acting Secretary to Cabinet on the business case that provides the rationale for the supplementation to existing terms and conditions.

It is expected that the Secretary to Cabinet will advise the Prime Minister for his decision soon.

Subject to the PM’s decision on the supplementation requested, the next immediate course of action will be to collaborate with OPMC to draw-up a service contract for signing before the Governor General appoints the endorsed candidate. 

“I therefore would like to clarify that from SIG-MPS perspective, the delay is nothing to do with politics,” Sisiolo said.

“On the contrary, the delay is to do with time needed for the Ministry of Public Service to negotiate and collaborate with other SIG ministries and offices to build a good case for government’s consideration and secure the supplementation budget to meet the counter-offer package negotiated and requested by the endorsed applicant.” 

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