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MAL supports T.W Enterprise Noni farm with agricultural equipment

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Left to right: Deputy Director (supervising) Lily Wame, Bernard Garo Chairman for Northwest Guadalcanal Noni Farmers Association (NWGNFA), MAL Deputy Secretary Technical (DST) Michael Ho’ota, T.W Noni farm manager and owner, Tamra Wale receives the donation from DST Ho’ota, Deputy Director of Research Department Martin Jaiki, Director of Extension Department Andrew Melanolu and Chief Field

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) through its Extension Department has supported T.W Enterprise Noni farm with essential agricultural equipments.

T.W Noni farm is located at the former Livestock Development Authority (LDA) area in the outskirt of East Honiara.

The donation was delivered by MAL Extension team during a Noni field day held at the farm for Noni farmers from East Guadalcanal, Central Guadalcanal and Honiara suburb to share their experiences, sharpen skills and learn firsthand facts about noni crop/tree on 12th July.

Chief Field Officer, Roy Timothy said the support was part of MAL Sustainable Economic Growth and Export Strengthening (SEGES) programme, focusing on SEGES output three (3) that is to promote Noni Research, production and processing in the selected Provinces.

He said the ministry through its Extension Department happy to support farmers to thrive in their farming production to support their livelihood.

Timothy said although the support may perceived as small but he believes it will contribute towards development work of the farm.

Meanwhile, T.W Noni farm manger and owner, Tamra Wale expressed gratitude to MAL for the donation.

She said the equipments is an advantage to the farm and she will make sure farm workers utilise them to improve farm production.

She then thanked MAL for its continuous assistance towards farmers throughout the country to make sure they support their livelihoods through farming.

Tools delivered include secauters, poll prunners, loppers, bush knives, brush knives, chainsaw, wheel barrow, watering can, spade, seedling trays, ladder and polybags.

The farming equipments are procured by MAL from Island enterprise and ITA hardware in Honiara.

The four main objectives of the SEGES programme is to;

  • Make sure farmers, associations, producers, buyers and exporters are empowered to increase productivity and to increase revenue earnings.
  • Enhanced copra productivity through rehabilitation and support to CRB activities
  • Enhance Cocoa Productivity through Rehabilitation and Genetic improvements
  • Support Kava developments to increase productivity in all the Provinces

SINU BACK IN ACTION

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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New enrolment process starts

BY JARED KOLI

THE Solomon Islands National University (SINU) has begun actioning a resolution passed recently in which students can now enrol according to the number of units they can afford.  

The university announced in its official Facebook page yesterday that fees will no longer be charged on the entire programme basis as previously done.

“As we begin enrolment for Semester 2, please take note that fees will no longer be charged on the entire programme basis as previously done,” it said.

Fees will be now charged per unit and students can enrol according to the number of units the students can afford.

However, the university reminded students that all outstanding fees must be completely paid off before students are allowed to enrol for Semester 2.

It says pre-enrolment for new students began on 14 July and continues until 23rd July 2021.

Enrolment will start on Monday 26 July to Friday 6 August 2021 and late enrolment from Monday 9 August to Friday 13 August 2021.

Semester 2 will commence on Monday 9 August 2021.

The university explains that pre-enrolment is for new students since continuing students may need their grades prior to enrolment, adding enrolment for all students begins 26th July.

This is part of a new resolution passed by the University Senate and Senior Management Committee on 10 June, 2021.

The approach will change the way SINU enrolls students, which was previously based on programmes according to the University Senate and Senior Management Committee.

“Previously, we enroll students based on their programs; each programs have fixed number of units to be taken each semester by the students.

“For instance, Diploma of Nursing programme have five units for students to take in a semester in order to graduate in three years. The fee per semester is $9,000, which is a fixed fee.

“From next semester, students will only enroll on units they can afford to pay. Therefore, a nursing student can enroll with only two units and it will cost him/her only $3600, however, he or she will not graduate in three years, it might take a bit longer,” The University Senate and Senior Management Committee explained to Island Sun last month.

The new resolutions passed then are;

  1. Permit students with outstanding fees to sit for their Semester 1 – 2021 final exams.
  2. The results will be withheld until all fees are fully paid.
  3. Distance Flexible Learning (DFL) students must pay their fees in full before sitting their exams.
  4. Effective Semester 2 – 2021, the enrollments will only be considered and endorsed upon the payment of outstanding fees.
  5. Effective Semester 2 – 2021. The enrolments will be based on paid units.

Gov’t urged to protect our local construction industry

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OPPOSITION leader Matthew Wale calls on the Government and the SPG 2023 Hosting authority to give local construction companies a fair go in the awarding of national and the 2023 SPG infrastructure construction projects.

He raised this in light of concerns expressed in relation to the upcoming tender for the SIFF Academy project, which is tied to the recent increase in Chinese construction companies picking up key national projects.

“This is a worrying trend which I fear can cripple the local construction industry and make the country entirely dependent on foreign construction companies for our major infrastructure works if the government is not careful,” Wale said in a statement yesterday.

“Major infrastructure development projects come with golden opportunities for local employment and upskilling in management and technical expertise,” he added.

“These are qualities that do not come by easily hence when we have them in-country, our local construction companies must be given a level playing field to compete.”

Wale said current stringent tender requirements added with malpractice and political interference may well be part of the impediments that continue to deny our local construction companies having a go at major projects.

 “The future of the country will by and large ride on major national projects and so the Government must ensure that local companies are provided with an environment to be equipped in every way possible to be able to shoulder our future infrastructure development needs.”

He said responsible authorities must also note that Chinese construction companies will always bid below any threshold set as they can afford to do this given the state support they have, adding that it will be grossly unfair on local companies therefore if quotations are used as the main yardstick to determine winners of contracts. 

“I therefore call on the government to give priority to the need to invest in our local construction industry and to ensure that some of the big SPG 2023 construction projects are awarded to local companies.”

‘Vaccinate before it’s too late’

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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare

COVID-19 is a deadly killer, make no mistake about it.

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

In a Government statement, Prime Minister Sogavare said the vaccines we are using are effective against the Delta Variant of COVID-19 that is driving the new surge of infections around the world.

He said the vaccines have proven to reduce hospitalization by 92 percent and reduce chances of infection by almost 70 percent.

“Non-vaccinated people have no protection at all. Therefore, in-order for us to protect our youths and children below 18 years of age, everyone above 18 years of age must be vaccinated,” he said.

The Prime Minister also highlighted that the target population for the nationwide vaccination strategy is 414,500 and these are citizens 18 years and over.

“If the whole 414,500 adults in our country are vaccinated, this constitutes about 64% of our population which would offer some level of protection to the other 36 percent of our population that cannot be vaccinated,” he said.

Prime Minister Sogavare said citizens that cannot be vaccinated rely on those that can be vaccinated for their protection and for their lives.

“If we do not vaccinate, we put at risk not only our lives and the lives of our families, but we put at risk the lives of another 235,000 plus Solomon Islanders that cannot be vaccinated because they are under 18 years of age,” he said.

The Prime Minister urged all citizens 18 years and over to take the COVID-19 vaccination seriously.

“Do not wait until there is an outbreak – do it now. Visit the vaccination centres right now or go to the vaccination centres when our vaccination teams come to your areas,” he said.

Prime Minister Sogavare said citizens should not wait for community transmission to occur before they get vaccinated.

“Do not wait for a loved one to pass away from COVID-19 before you decide. If that happens, it is already too late to stop the spread and already too late to vaccinate,” he said.

COVID body to probe breach of SOPE

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE Covid-19 Oversight Committee responsible will investigate the breach of the State of Public Emergency.

This was in relation to the release of information about the current COVID-19 positive case detected aboard MV Vimaru Pearl, a cargo vessel.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his Monday national address said the release of information about this case did not follow the proper process.

“The Oversight Committee is investigating this, so that it does not occur again in the future,” he said.

Sogavare said the case is registered under the category of ship last week.

Moreover, Sogavare stressed the positive case was picked up because of the COVID-19 testing protocol implemented by the Oversight Committee that required two post arrival tests on each crew member of a logging vessel that came from a high-risk country, which must both be negative.

He said vessels that come from low-risk countries require only one post arrival test for each crew member, which must be negative.

Gov’t happy to see Suidani recovering

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Premier of Malaita province Daniel Suidani

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Government through the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) is happy to see Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani recovers from his brain treatment in Taiwan recently.

In an email sent to the paper yesterday, MPGIS said it is glad that Suidani is now fine and the ministry is looking forward for his full recovery and return to perform his duties

Also the MPGIS Minister, Rollence Seleso who granted approval for Suidani’s overseas treatment is happy that the premier has recovered.

However, MPGIS said it does not have any issues with Suidani anymore after he refused the Government’s offer to be treated in Australia.

“Suidani’s ongoing media publicity has no effect as the Government is focusing attention on addressing more pressing issues facing the country during this difficult time,” MPGIS said in a statement.

According to ABC, Suidani arrived in Australia from Taiwan this week and is now completing hotel quarantine in Brisbane, before he can return home.

In an interview with ABC, Suidani said a trip to Taiwan for medical treatment had nothing to do with politics and was purely the result of a life-saving humanitarian gesture.

He said the decision to go to Taiwan for treatment was not politically motivated.

“In terms of my coming to Taiwan, first of all it was recommended by the National Referral Hospital in Solomon Islands,” he said.

For the last two years, Suidani been an outspoken critic of the Solomon Islands government’s decision to switch its diplomatic recognition from Taiwan, to China.

His provincial government has refused to accept China as a diplomatic partner or allow it be involved in any infrastructure projects.

When he developed serious health problems recently, Premier Suidani claimed the national government refused to help fund medical treatment in Australia, forcing him to turn to online fundraising.

“We managed to get a Go-Fund me, and other friends from overseas heard, and so happens that the message got to one of the professors in India, in which I thank him very much for his help in getting the information to the president of Taiwan,” he told ABC.

Suidani is expected back in the country soon and will continue his leadership for his remaining two years in power.

Prosecutor yet to get photo album for case

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PROSECUTION is yet to obtain the photo album from the Forensic department regarding s murder incident that occurred in February 2020.

Public prosecutor Margaret Suifa’asia told the court that all other disclosures were already obtained and served to the defence lawyer.

However, she said only the photo album is still outstanding.

Suifa’asia said that they have contacted the Forensic officer about the photo album but will continue follow-up on that outstanding document.

Meanwhile, she said pre-trial document have been filed to the defence.

This is the case of a woman alleged to have cause the death of her partner at the Island Nightclub in Henderson area, East of Honiara, February last year.

The 33-year-old accused Janet Savugi is charged with one count of murder.

Prosecution alleged that she was not happy with her partner when she saw him talking to another female.

Due to her disagreement, she allegedly punched the deceased on his right and as result of that punch the deceased fell back onto the floor unconscious.

The deceased was assisted by the Island nightclub securities and then was transported to his home after he regained his consciousness.

Following the incident, it was alleged the deceased felt unwell.

On February 17 the deceased was rushed to the National Referral Hospital but died later.

Police probe Boneghe theft incident

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POLICE are investing a case of theft committed on a foreign national at the Boneghe beach, West Guadalcanal, on July 11.

Initial reports said the victim went to Boneghe beach for scuba diving.

She parked her vehicle at the beach and went diving. Upon returning to her vehicle, she discovered it was open and her money missing.

Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Guadalcanal Province, Superintendent Edwin Sevoa said the matter was reported to the Henderson police station and an investigation was carried out.

PPC Sevoa said Police have recorded several incidents which happened at the Boneghe beach already.

“I call on citizens and foreigners to take extra care when going out for a dive or picnic on the beaches,” Sevoa said.

“Have someone look after your properties before you go swimming or diving in the sea to avoid such incidents,” he added.

“Investigations into this matter is continuing.

“I appeal to members of the communities at Boneghe who may have any information about the incident to come forward and report it to the police.

“Please assist our investigators to get those responsible to face justice,” Sevoa said.

No fund to bring witnesses, rape trial vacated

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) yesterday applied to the High Court to vacate the hearing into the case of a man charged with rape.

This was because the DPP and the police did not have the funds to transport witnesses to Honiara for the hearing.

“We are waiting on the Ministry of Finance to release funds do our court mandates, unfortunately we are not able to proceed with the trial and my application is to vacate this trial either later this year or next year,” Director of Public Prosecution Rachael Olutimayin said.

She added both her office and the police do not have the funds to bring the witnesses over to Honiara.

Olutimayin told the court since the trial is to be vacated, they have no issues with the accused being out on bail while waiting for his trial.

Defence lawyer Ben Alasia said that he does not have any issues with the application.

Justice Maelyn Bird then adjourned the case to August 20 for mention and released the accused on bail on conditional bail.

The rape incident occurred in March 2017 at Tanagai, west of Honiara.

Man who abused child jailed for four months

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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In-court

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A MAN who indecently assaulted a six-year-old child early this year in Honiara was sent to four months in prison, yesterday.

This was after the accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons due to his close connection to the child’s family, pleaded guilty before Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison.

Sending the accused to jail, Magistrate Hillison said:

“Sexual violence and offending is prevalent in the country at a startling rate.

“The courts must not be complacent but to apply the law consistently and fairly at all times to protect everyone from all walks of life from sexual exploitation.”

Hollison pointed out that the amendments to the Penal Code [Cap 26] in 2016 by Parliament through the enactment of the Penal Code Sexual Offences Amendment Act 2016, is a legislative response to the general perception.

“The courts had been issuing very lenient sentences on sexual offences as echoed by various stakeholders and substantiated by data collected by government agencies, such as the Law Reform Commission which was also judicially noted by the appellate courts.

“It is my judicial role to align my sentences to the core objectives of the Penal Code Sexual Offences Amendment Act 2016 in order.

“This is to provide greater protection against sexual violence and exploitation, especially for the vulnerable children such as the victim who is only 6 years old,” Hollison said.

In his sentencing submission, lawyer for the accused asked the court to consider his client’s health status as a mentally unstable person.

Hollison initially imposed a 10-month jail term, but suspended six months for 24 months – meaning the defendant would only serve four months in jail.

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