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Dawea: university grounded on quality tertiary education.

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Arch Bishop Rt Reverend Dawea, PS Dr Franco and Premier Francis Sade unveiling the official logo of the university

Establishment of new university grounded on quality tertiary education

BY JARED KOLI

THE establishment of John Coleridge Patterson University (JCPU) is grounded on the need to provide quality tertiary education at the undergraduate level; and even at the postgraduate level.

Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACoM), The Most Reverend Leonard Dawea highlighted this during the dedication and laying of the foundation stone on the 167 hectors land in Central Guadalcanal, Saturday.

“We must provide quality tertiary education, at least at the undergraduate level, or even at the postgraduate level for our own people,” Dawea said.

“The vision to establish JCPU is by far, grounded on this need, and not on the desire for competition,” the Archbishop added.

He said with the general population having become much better educated, the needs are greater.

“Our people can no longer be shipped out to foreign countries and cultures to gain tertiary degrees at an enormous cost.”

Archbishop Dawea said the establishment of JCPU sought to complement the continuing learning academic excellence that Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and the University of the South Pacific (USP) are currently delivering to the nation and its people.

“However, with this establishment, the university will seek to maintain and instill Christian discipline and moral values in the overall university life, in order to grow ethical and principled leadership to be consistent with the foundational values of Solomon Islands and the Republic of Vanuatu,” he said. 

The dedication on Saturday officially marks the full control of the land by the church from the landowners, which will now allow them to start building the university.   

Dawea said the vision to establish a church university has long been with the church for almost two decades after a resolution to explore the idea of establishing a university was first discussed in the 12th General Synod in Honiara in November 2008.  

He said the plan was further discussed and reviewed three years later in 2011, in which the church has decided to make a commitment that could meaningfully translate the foundational philosophy of the Melanesian Mission that would draw on holistic approach to socio-economic, educational, religious and technical development.

The Archbishop said the church left obligated to provide such educational needs to maintain her historical legacy in providing quality educational opportunities to islanders since the Melanesian Mission was began in the early 1849.

Dawea said for many nations overseas, the separation of Church and government is clearly defined, the exact opposite is true of Solomon Islands, especially in the fields of education and development.

“The church was in the islands before any form of government was established, but after the governments were formed, there was a distinct partnership relationship between church and state,” he said.

Dawea stated it was the church that established the first teachers’ training college, the first school of nursing and the first theological college, all of them in the 19th or early 20th century.

But he said in the 21st century, with the general population having become much educated, the needs are greater.

Permanent Secretary of Education and Human Resources Development, Dr Franco Rodie said this is not the very first time that the ACoM has planted a seed in education.

Dr Rodie said the government will be supporting the new university.

Tukutaunga receives medical supplies

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Press Release
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Tukutaunga RHC Registered Nurse Monica Fonotusi standing with medical supplies.

Tukutaunga Rural Health Clinic, RHC, Tikopia in Temotu Province received medical supplies for the second quarter 2021 last week.

The medical supplies were transported via Patrol Boat and delivered when Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare visited Tikopia Island on Wednesday, June 9.

Temotu Provincial Health Authority Supervising Director Dr Morris Tealiki said due to transport difficulties, the supplies were not delivered on time.

“The medical supplies could not be sent on time because of transport difficulties facing the province especially Tikopia, Anuta and Vanikoro Islands,” said Tealiki.

Tealiki said the Temotu Provincial Health Authority in Lata always make sure that medical supplies to Tikopia and other Islands are sent through any first available transport.


Registered Nurse Monica Fonotusi, Tukutaunga RHC, Tikopia.

Tealiki hoped the medical drugs received will last for the remaining two quarters of this year.

“The amount of drugs received should cater to reach the month of November or December this year,” he said.

Meanwhile the one and only serving Registered Nurse working at Tukutaunga RHC Monica Fonotusi said it becomes a real problem especially when the medical drugs have ran out.

“When we ran out of medical drugs, we live on faith through our prayers by prayer groups on the Island and waited patiently for drugs to arrive before treating a patient,” Fonotusi expressed.

Fonotusi said transport difficulty is the main challenge faced by the Tikopians.

“Transport difficulty has really affected us and contributed much to the late supply of our medical supplies,” she said.

Fonotusi is grateful for the delivery of the medical supplies and thanked the Provincial and National Governments for the effort in supporting the medical services for the people on the island.

–GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION UNIT

Gizo welcomes proposed shredder facility for town

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Old friends meet again. Former City Clerk Charles Keli who is now Gizo City Clerk pose for a photo with his old time mate Chanel Iroi after the launching

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

GIZO Town Council (GTC) welcomes the government’s plan to build a Shredder Facility at the provincial capital.

In an interview with SunGizo, Gizo Town Clerk, Charles Kelly said his office is looking forward to the development.

He said his office is in contact with South Pacific Environmental Programme (SPREP) and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Meteorology and Disaster Management about the proposed development.

Kelly said discussion has shown positive progress that draft of the facility’s design will be carried out soon followed by tender process to find a suitable construction company to build the facility.

He said GTC has allocated land for the proposed development near the current Gizo rubbish dump.

“This is one of my exciting projects as it will provide lots of benefits to Gizo residents and also market vendors from surrounding communities,” Kelly said.

“I’m hoping to see this development eventuate so that we can take care of green rubbish generated by market vendors at Gizo Market,” he added.

He said Gizo market produces half a ton of green rubbish each day making it difficult for GTC to manage the rubbish at the moment.

Kelly said the proposed Shredder facility will address the increasing production of green rubbish at the Gizo Market.

“Not only that, the bonus of this facility will be extended to farmers so as scholars. We are planning to establish a research center and we will also turn the rubbish into manure and sell them to our farmers.

“Overall, this proposed development will target green rubbish management,” Kelly said.

Speaking during the launching of Plasticwise Gizo last month, Under Secretary Technical of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Chanel Oroi said MECDM has submitted a proposal to PacWaste Plus – a project funded by European Union through the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

He told those present that the application is based on the idea to establish a recycling center and an organic compost facility to address organic waste from Gizo Market.

“We will be further consulting your government (Western Province) and other stakeholders including Plasticwise Gizo in this proposal.

“I understand that discussion at the technical level with the provincial environment focal points has been underway.

“We will definitely bring this to the attention of the Provincial Executive Level and other stakeholders,” Iroi said.

EDITORIAL- Another CBSI warning is here

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CENTRAL Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) yesterday issued a warning about a fake,

new currency that is being promoted locally.

This so-called currency has been referred to us Sol York.

There’s not much information about the currency.

But what CBSI can say is this:

“CBSI advises that there is no such currency in existence in the Solomon Islands save the Solomon Islands Dollar.

“CBSI categorically denies any involvement or participation in the new currency scheme and strongly advises the general public, including the promoters, to refrain from spreading false information and rumors about the new currency scheme.

The only legal currency of Solomon Islands is the Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD) and CBSI has the sole authority by law, to issue currency which shall be legal tender in Solomon Islands as specified under the CBSI Act 2012.

“Any agency, corporate body or individual that attempts to produce, or issue currency apart from the Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD) is committing an offence under the CBSI Act 2012.

“It is advisable that any person who has fallen victim or has reliable information about the scheme, to come forward to report and launch a formal complaint with the Police, for investigation and prosecution.”

This is not the first time CBSI has issued warnings such as this.

It did previously on the various pyramid schemes that were introduced in the country. The most recent scheme to have robbed many people of their hard-earned cash before its collapse was One Link.

Warnings are the same.

Never get involved because promoters of such schemes were basically coming after your money.

Many people listened. Many others did not.

Today, those who refused to listen lived to regret their decision.

Now, someone has come up with a fake currency.

We don’t know much about this fake currency at this stage, and what it entails.

But it may be another scheme devised to rob people of their money.

The message is simple: keep away from it.

Don’t make the same mistake again of depositing your hard-earned cash if promoters of the fake currency come knocking on your door.

Women empowerment – surprise donation to Seif Ples

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Press Release
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A Cheque of 15 thousand dollars was handed over to the Deputy Center Manager for Seif Ples, Mrs.Falu Maesugea by the staff of SITCO

SEIF Ples is dedicated to women empowerment especially those who have survived gender-based violences and require help.

Seif Ples was established in 2014, under the Ministry of Police and Justice and the Ministry of Health and Medical services to provide comprehensive care for survivors of Gender based violence (GBV).

Women empowerment nowadays is seen as key to economic growth, political stability, and social transformation. World leaders, experts and scholars alike are giving their voice to this critical endeavor. 

Women empowerment in Solomon Islands continues to be a challenge which many are committing to overcoming in order to improve the welfare of women and the nation as a whole.

The services provided by Seif Ples to survivors of GBV include; medical attention, physiological first aid, accommodation and a SafeNet hotline free call 132.

Seif Ples works in parallel with the Cristian Care Center in east Guadalcanal to provide accommodation for the survivors.

Due to the need and demand for a shelter for the survivors of GBV in other main provinces, the Christian care center have opened a second center in the Malaita province early this year.

The care Centers have played a tremendous role not only in accommodating the survivors but in providing good counseling and spiritual and emotion healing to the them.

The safe net initiative is one of the unsung heroes that have provided safety and comfort to thousands of GBV survivors.

This network involves, the church, the police, medical, and a whole community of care giver volunteers.

 Organizations like Seif PLES depend a lot on the community, Government, and private sector for donations to fund their programmes.

They very recently got a surprise donation from a women group working for Solomon Island Tobacco Company (SITCo).

SITCO though its DEW Programme, which is an inhouse development program for women, donated 15k to the Seif Ples organization.

During the hand over, the woman representative of SITCO, stated that Seif Ples gives hope for the women who are victims of Domestic Violence and Abuse. “It is a safe haven for women who are in need of support and healing”. There are different forms of women empowerment and an approach adopted by Solomon Islands Tobacco Company (SITCO) is to empower women through women.

This is carried out under the umbrella, Discover & Expand your Wings (dubbed DEW) which is an initiative taken by SITCO women to participate in motivational discussions with some of Solomon Island’s most inspirational women including, Ethel Sigimanu, Ethel Francis, Dr Alice Pollard and many some local female inspirations as well as diplomatic women such as the NZ High Commissioner, Her Excellency; Georgina Roberts and the Australian Deputy High Commissioner, Sallyan Vincent.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

ROUGH TIME

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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USP main campus in Laucala, Fiji.

Solomon Islands scholars fear as Fiji hit hard by dangerous covid-19 variant

BY JARED KOLI

Studies and living expenses are becoming tougher for Solomon Islands students as coronavirus cases continue to climb in Fiji.

A student at the University of the South Pacific (USP), Laucala campus, told Island Sun the second wave of the virus affected them physically, mentally and worse, prices of food in supermarkets have skyrocketed.

New cases are recorded every day in Fiji with over 700 active cases now in isolation since the re-emergence of the virus in April 2021. Forty-seven new cases were reported on Friday, and 105 cases alone yesterday, the highest daily cases recorded so far.

In the same month, the country’s Permanent Secretary of Health Dr James Fong confirmed that the highly dangerous and more contagious Indian variant of the coronavirus was discovered to be the variant infecting Fijians.

A number of students expressed to Island Sun the current situation they are facing is difficult and one that needs the government to seriously look into.

“Compared to last year, now it is totally different, life is hard here, the government need to think seriously about it,” said Bentley Dililibata, a USP Bachelor of Commerce student under the Solomon Islands Government scholarship.

“Mentally, students find it hard to cope with school work. When you are busy trying to get down with studies, and next is the Fiji Government announce several newer cases,” he said.

Dilibata said things are becoming expensive as well, and call on the government to seriously think about the situation the students are in.

A student residing in the USP Student Halls, Eugene Qavibatu said now students need to show a pass at the gate before they are allowed to go out to the supermarket for shopping, which is only allowed for an hour.

“Only super markets are currently opening doors for people but things are becoming more expensive, for example a 10 kilogram of rice which usually cost FJD$17 now costs $19, fruits such as orange which used to cost FJD$2.70 is now $4 to $5,” Qavibatu said.

“Everyone is complaining, fifty dollars now will enable you to buy just a few things compared to before the outbreak of the pandemic here,” he adds.

Another student at USP who wished not to be named, said the situation is not safe anymore, and all students have to abide by the health and hygiene protocols and follow strict measures imposed by Fiji authorities.

“We have to stay at home and only go out to the supermarket for food and essentials. We are getting tired of staying at home but we have to abide to Government strict measures in order to protect us as well.

“Worse is prices of goods have increased dramatically,” the student adds.

The student said students that are studying under scholarships funded by Tonga, Tuvalu, New Zealand and others have received allowance to support them during these hard times.

“For us SIG sponsored students, some of us are living on noodle and taiyo (Soltuna canned tuna) to survive each day,” the student said.

This newspaper was informed that a SIG students Covid 19 Task Force Committee have submitted a request to the Government to consider allowance for students affected by the covid-19 re-emergence battling Fiji.

Queries sent to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development Dr Franco Rodie on the matter went unanswered over the weekend.

However, Island Sun was told that a Covid 19 Task Force Committee comprise of student leaders studying in Fiji institutions have submitted the request to the national government through the Education Attaché based in Suva, Fiji, Francis Tavava.

Similar request from Solomon Islands students in Papua New Guinea was also forwarded to the national government.

Fiji-based Solomon Islands Students Association President has asked this paper to follow up on the issue of Covid-19 allowance with the Education Attache in Suva for comments . Island Sun is following up on this issue.

In April 2020, when Fiji was hit by the first wave of Covid 19, SIG sponsored students studying in Fiji were given special Covid 19 assistance allowance. In May the same year, the assistance was also extended to private sponsored students.

According to a statement issued by Fiji Ministry of Health on Sunday Fiji recorded a total of 1118 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020. There have been 312 recoveries and 4 deaths due to COVID-19. A total of 6 COVID-19 positive patients have died from pre-existing non-COVID-19 related illnesses.

APID takes legal action to reinstate West Rennell land.

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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0
Garden sites at West Rennell are dug up by Bauxite Mining companies. What left are holes filled with water.

BY JARED KOLI

Controversial miner, Asia Pacific Investment Development (APID) is taking legal action against the deregistration of West Rennell Land and is appealing to defend the cancellation of its Mining Licence.

On October 19, 2020, the Registrar of land titles de-registered APID from West Rennell land Parcel No. 298-005-1 as the titleholder after much debate on the issue.

“… the deregistration of West Rennell Land Parcel Number 298-005-1, we would like to clarify that the matter is already before the court. APID’s Legal Counsel is currently working to get this Title reinstated soon its name through the legal process.

“Similarly, another appeal process is underway to defend the cancellation of the Mining Licence,” the company in a statement to Island Sun over the weekend, said.

It says the cancellation of its mining licence by the Minister of Mines only further complicated the current difficult situation already faced by the mining operation in west Rennell.

Responding to a front-page story by this newspaper on Tuesday last week, the logging turned mining company says any new mining application over West Rennell is illegal and cannot proceed or be processed until such time the issue of the cancellation of its mining licence is determined by the court.

On Tuesday last week, Director of Mines Nicholas Biliki said a new mining company, Nickel Exploration Solomon Islands (NESI) Limited lodged a new Prospecting Licence application for bauxite mining in Rennell Island.

NESI has come out publicly on this issue in a statement to Island Sun on Friday, June 11, confirming it had lodged two applications for prospecting on Rennell Island.

“Those applications have been lodged to the Director of Mines and are presently pending before the Board. The applications comply with the requirements of the Mines and Minerals Act and are to be assessed according to law,” it said in the statement.

NESI said it is a separate legal entity to APID who was the former holder of a mining lease on Rennell Island.

“APID’s mining lease has been cancelled. NESI’s applications were lodged after that cancellation occurred. Notwithstanding the cancellation of the mining lease, under the Mines and Mineral Act, the holder of the mining lease is still obliged to attend to any outstanding remediation works,” it said.

The statement adds NESI is supportive of the performance of rehabilitation works to remediate past extractive activities on Rennell Island.

It says none of its directors are the directors or former directors of APID, the former lease holder.

NESI said it has four directors, two of its directors are Patrick Wong and Fred Tang of Bintan Mining SI (BMSI) Limited.

“Mr Wong and Mr Tang both have valuable experience in mining. However, neither Mr Wong nor Mr Tang are shareholders of NESI. NESI has foreign investment approval and the financial support of its parent company, who has agreed to provide it with adequate financial resources to carry out effective prospecting operations,” the statement said.

Following recent media disclosure of NESI’s application, Erick Tema, a member of the West Rennell Land and Resources Owners Association came out to denounce any forms of mining operation in West Rennell.

Mr Tema told SIBC last week that NESI comprises of the same people with (BMSI) Limited that changed and registered its name again as NESI.

“The land is ours; we have reclaimed it from APID and will never let it again to foreigners,” Tema said.

However, NESI’s statement said their applications do not relate to the land which is registered to Erick Tema and family.

“Mr Tema has been a long-time supporter of mining on Rennell Island and has previously supported the mining endevours of Worldlink Resources Ltd and then later, Winning Resources, both of whom were foreign owned and controlled and have had their tenements cancelled,” it said.

The statement purported that Tema had recently supported another mining company named Florida Mine Investment Company Limited to undertake mining on the land which is registered to him and his family on Rennell Island.

Mines Director Biliki last week said he was not sure about their particular land of interest in Rennell that NESI is applying for the Prospecting Licence but said the application is for Rennell.

Biliki said the Mines and Mineral Board will meet soon to look into the new application and decide on it.

“Depending on a due diligence process undertaken now, the application will be deliberated on maybe in the third quarter board meeting which is three months away,” Biliki said.

Rennell Island, a largest raised coral atoll in the world is rich in bauxite but over the years, logging and mining operations have torn the rocky atoll apart, placing people’s livelihoods at stake. Local Environment Activist, Lawrence Makili earlier told Radio Australia that the government should not allow any more mining on Rennell, and all mining applications should be frozen.

NHPL covid test soon

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) will soon perform covid-19 testing for individuals who wish to fly out of the country.

This was confirmed by Vincent Suriga, laboratory science officer, NPHL, during a ground breaking ceremony of NPHL new office space last week.

 “National Public Health Laboratory is ready to run COVID-19 tests for those who will be flying out of Solomon Islands. The only delay we have at the moment is the positing of covid-19 testing equipment’s to meet covid-19 testing guidelines and protocols.”

He said the NPHL has a GeneXpert machine that will be used to carry out the test. The machines have four chambers but only two chambers are working at the moment.

He also said World Health Organisation (WHO) will fund a qPCR machine, its room is already made available at the NPHL.

“The only work left to do is positioning and arranging inside of the Laboratory to suite COVID-19 testing protocols before testing for covid-19 for those who wish to fly out overseas,” he said.

He stressed the laboratory will only conduct covid-19 test for those who will be flying out of the country. For incoming passengers they will be tested at the National Referral Hospital molecular lab.

Minister for Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana also said the “GeneXpert machine is now ready, the cabinets installed, the reagents are already here  but it is positioning all the testing apparatus otherwise the NPHL is ready and equipped to start do the covid-19 testing it is only the matter of when”.

Mutual cooperation is vital for new university

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Arch-Bishop-Leonard-Dawea-dedicating-the-laying-of-the-foundation-stone-of-the-proposed-John-Coleridge-Patteson-University

BY JARED KOLI

The establishment of the John Coleridge Patterson University (JCPU) needs mutual cooperation with stakeholders.  

Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACoM) The Most Reverend Leonard Dawea said mutual cooperation and partnership with genuine stakeholders such as the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Government, overseas traditional partners, Guadalcanal provincial government, churches and local communities in such a national project is vital.

Archbishop Dawea said cooperation and partnership are effective conduits to development and success in any project undertakings.  

“Nothing can be difficult for a collaborative and supportive hands of friendly community that are always available to help,” he said.

The Archbishop said establishing a university is not an easy undertaking. It needs clear strategic outlook and positive mindset to pursue the project forward for accomplishment.

“But more so, I would like to think that the mutual cooperation and partnership with genuine stakeholders is vital.”

Dawea thanked responsible government ministers along with Guadalcanal Premier, chiefs and local communities who were present to witness the historic landmark ceremony on Saturday, marking the commencement of JCPU project at Kosu land in central Guadalcanal.

 He also pays a special tribute to former trustees of the land, and the landowning tribes who have been working together with the church and offered the land to be purchased for the establishment of JCPU.

Public advice on hygiene as diarrhoea cases soar

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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0

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

PUBLIC are being strongly advised to continue practising health measures due to increasing number of diarrhoea cases recorded lately.

This call was made yesterday by the Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Pauline McNeil in a radio talkback show on covid-19 update.

“Rotavirus is common amongst the children under the age of five. Hence, we want to again reach out to public to strongly advise you to continue to practise some health measures especially on regular hand wash after toilet, when preparing food you have your hands cleaned with running water with soap and also continue to ensure you boil your drinking water and properly cover your foods,” McNeil said.

She called on parents who have children with an age range between 10 and 14 weeks to receive rotavirus vaccine from the nearest health facility to be inoculated.

McNeil said the rotavirus vaccine was launched last year.

She reiterated that the Ministry of Health and Medical Service last week gave out an advisory alert in relation to the increasing cases of diarrhoea which was reported in Gizo, Western Province, Good Samaritan Hospital, Lata hospital and National Referral Hospital.

McNeil said the cases are being closely monitored.

She said out of the cases, six deaths have occurred, five were reported in Gizo and one in Guadalcanal.

“With the report on behalf pf the ministry I want to convey our sympathy to parents and who have lost their children last week,” McNeil said.

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