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Police farewells retiring officer

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PPC Riolo presented certificate of appreciation to SSgt Fioga during the farewell ceremony

THE Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) has farewelled an officer from its Malaita Branch who retired last week.

The officer, Senior Sergeant Alfred Fioga was one of the retirees due for retirement in April 2021 and was farewelled by his work colleagues at the Malu’u Police Station in North Malaita.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Malaita Province, Chief Superintendent Stanley Riolo said it is a great honour to speak on behalf of the RSIPF Executive in farewelling and wishing “our retired officer all the best in the next chapter in his life.

“Today we recognise one officer who has served in the force with long standing distinction and pride over many years throughout the course of his career.

“He served for 35 years.”

Riolo said the officer was presented with a retirement certificate and plague in commemoration of his service to the force and people of Solomon Islands.

“When you look back at the history of this organisation it is built on the hard work, determination and the courage of officers like those who are retiring. On behalf of your RSIPF colleagues across the country and the people of Solomon Islands, we congratulate you and salute you for your service.”

In his speech, retired SSgt Fioga says, “I am grateful to be part of the RSIPF organisation. Though I am retiring from the police, I will continue to support RSIPF.

“I am now part of the outside community and we will work together with members of our communities to ensure we have peace in our country.”

–POLICE MEDIA

Red Cross marks blood donor day

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A Red Cross Youth Volunteer and Blood Donor Steve Toata, giving awareness and testimony on his experience as a voluntary blood donor.

Solomon Islands Red Cross Society marked the World Blood Donor Day on Monday, June 14 with the theme “Give Blood and Keep the World Beating” with a focus on youths.

The World Blood Donor Day is a day set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) to highlight the crucial role of voluntary blood donation in the health and care of people everywhere.

In Solomon Islands, the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society’s voluntary non-remunerated blood donation programme working in partnership with the Ministry of Health is an important programme.

“As is shown in the trend of voluntary blood donation data in 2020, the annual required amount of donated blood for those who are sick, undergoing theater operation or during emergencies is around 7,000 units of blood.

“Solomon Islands is yet to meet the full demand as annual voluntary blood donations only reach around 3,088, which is 3,000 less,” said Abana Kwalagau, a lab technician at the National Referral Hospital’s Blood Bank.

He also mentioned that with this trend, there is a risk of facing problems if it continues.

“We need 20 voluntary blood donors to give blood each day to be able to meet daily demand for blood. The trend we are having at the moment is not helpful, in that, if there is a situation such as a major disaster or health emergency that requires immediate supply of blood to address, the National Referral Hospital would not be able to cope.

“This is because we only have a small number of volunteer blood donors who can come forward to assist in donating blood to help others,” Mr Kwalagau added.

“Solomon Islands Red Cross, under its partnership with the Ministry of Health, continues to make awareness in schools, offices and communities for people to be aware of the importance of donating blood but to also call on them to come forward to actually donate,” says Sam Wa’aria, Solomon Islands Red Cross Society’s Voluntary Non-Remunerated Blood Donation Programme officer.

He also highlighted that while the National Society continues to make public awareness, there remains a lot more challenges to overcome.

One of the many challenges is the fear of the needle, which has a pain that goes away in less than a minute after it is inserted.

“We continue to make awareness in schools, offices and communities regarding what voluntary blood donation is and its importance in saving lives. This is regardless of the challenges we have met especially with those such as the fear of needle which is often overcome by voluntary blood donors after they have donated blood for the first time.”

The World Blood Donor Day was marked with an awareness at the Honiara City Council front car park area.

—SIRC PRESS

Jericho-2 gets awareness on waste management

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Jericho community give token of appreciation to faciliators by Joe atoa

THE community of Jericho 2, west Kola Ridge, Honiara, held a waste management awareness programme on Saturday, June 12.

The awareness was led by the Hawks Consultancy and Sirubai Voko Tribe Association, from 4pm – 9pm.

A total of 102 participants attended the programme consisting of 32 women, 28 men and 52 children.

Jericho youths during clearning up session _ by Joe Atoa

The activity was supported by small grant program under Globalgreen Grant with specific focus on empowering organised communities involved in environmental justice, climate change, food security and biodiversity.

Jericho 2 was fortunate to be a recipient of this small grant with a focus on environmental justice in relation to waste management. 

This is one of the pressing issue for urban communities especially in settlements where there is no road service to install or access Honiara City Council rubbish bins.

However, through this small grant project, the community managed to install its own public bins and hoping to get access to road so that rubbish can be disposed of at the right place.  

Mr Collin and Mr Kenneth Vuki were invited by the committee to implement an awareness activity under this project based on waste management, and sharing practical example from similar community groups.

Women participants during the awareness program

The women and girls from the community expressed their gratitude to the facilitators for sharing example from Plastic-wise Gizo which shows that plastic and ropes can be turned into economic items by making handcrafts.

The chairman of J2CDT Mr Steven Bunabo acknowledged the knowledge and experience shared by the facilitators which empowers community members to explore new creative and innovative ideas to utilise waste materials such as plastic, ropes and tins into something productive.

Joe Atoa highlighted that the community have learnt about new knowledge on waste management and how it can lead to a healthy environment and healthy living in regards to ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ of different wastes such as plastic and ropes.

Chairman Mr Steve Bunabo welcoming members to the presentation _ by Joe Atoa

A committee member, Mr Rex Oiramo highlighted that the community members are excited about the community engagement and the initiative that continues to progress from one stage to another. He added that a lot of new knowledge has been added to our people through awareness and participation of members in the current waste management activities that was funded by Globalgreen Grant. 

The community hopes to get the remaining activity done and will officially launch the newly formed association together with the current waste management project. The committee will send invitation to relevant stakeholders and donors to witness the community initiative later this year.

By Henry Kaniki

Solomon Water commissions new borehole

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SOLOMON Water recommissioned its White River borefield on Thursday 25 May 2021.

  This project, commenced in 2019 and included the rehabilitation of two boreholes and the pump station in White River, some of which were extensively damaged during the tension period.

 This project cost was over $7m and was fully funded by Solomon Water to ensure facilities are upgraded and meet growing customer needs.

The project was initiated to enable Solomon Water to produce more water for Honiara and in particular assist with production when the Kongulai and other water sources at Kombito and Rove were forced to shut due to dirt carried in the streams by heavy rain. 

Illegal logging and sawmilling in the Kohove and Konguali water catchments since 2019 has had a $30 m cash impact on Solomon Water and continues to affect costs and water safety for our customers.

During the commissioning ceremony the Minister for Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Bradley Tovosia said:

“The Government appreciates the huge investment that Solomon Water is undertaking to upgrade the Honiara Water Supply infrastructures and acknowledged the support of the development partners assistance from the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and European Union.”

Tovosia said that the national government is willing and ready to support Solomon Water in any of its strategic undertakings. 

Solomon Water Board Chairman Carson Korowa said:

“The completion of this project is another milestone for Solomon Water in ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of water to its customers.

“The completion of this project will see that the customers having more water during shut down of Kongulai.”

 He further acknowledged the community members and call on public to respect Solomon Water property.

Other major Solomon Water projects include Kongulai Water treatment plant, Honiara water supply reservoirs and trunk mains as well as projects in Tulagi, Munda, Gizo and Noro ready for construction in the next few months.

 Some projects will not be able to proceed at this stage however due to insufficient funding.

—Solomon Water

OUR KIDS’ SAFETY

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Student ‘seriously’ wounded in school, education ministry investigates

BY JARED KOLI

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources (MEHRD) will investigate a recent incident in which a grade-one student of St Nicholas primary was ‘seriously injured’.

This was after a parent of the student wrote to MEHRD Permanent Secretary (PS) raising disappointment, calling on MEHRD and Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) Education Authority to summon a special investigation on the incident.

According to the parent, his son and school mates were watering flower plants outside their classroom after class when the incident occurred.

“He and his schoolmates were watering flower plants outside their classroom after class on that day. He went to water sink near their class, saw a two-litre wine bottle in the water sink and used it as a scoop for watering their flowers.

“He refilled the wine bottle from the tap and on his return to the flower garden, just few meters from the tap, he fell down with the bottle beneath him, the bottle broke and cut his belly. He sustained severe injury on his belly, and was transported to the National Referral Hospital where was treated,” the parent said.

He then emailed MEHRD PS Dr Franco Rodie and raised the issue.

“I am seeking your authorization for a special inspection by a team within the MEHRD on St Nicholas School. I make this request as a concerned parent having learned of severe injuries of my son on Friday afternoon 4th, June 2021 within the school premises,” the parent said.

“Sir, I think the incident was a solemn concern to me and I seek if you could consider the safety of students at St Nicholas,” the email cited.

In response, Mr Rodie copied his responsible officers to explore the accident that caused harm to the student at St Nicholas School.

“The accident that your son was involved in at the school is regrettable. It seems there was no proper supervision on the part of the school management to ensure the safety of the students including your son. I am copying your email to Director of School Services and Deputy Secretary responsible for Education Authority and School Services for your noting and possible action based on the concerns you raised,” it cited.

In response to the PS, Director School Services copied the Director of School Review and Standards to visit and explore the incident at St Nicholas concerning the student’s harm.

According to the email thread sighted by Island Sun, St Nicholas School principal will be notified of the Ministry’s intervention to be made aware of MEHRD’s intent to explore to some extent how the accident occurred and what measures the school has in terms of safety of its students.

ACOM’s Education Authority’s Peter Pitia when called yesterday directed the paper to the School’s Secretary who was unable to be reached for comments. However, this paper is seeking comments on this matter with the school management. 

Lag in govt’s vaccination roll out for people with disability

Written by
Irwin Angiki
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Dr Divinal Ogaoga presenting on covid-19 to the PWD workshop on June 4

BY IRWIN ANGIKI

Government is not keeping track of the country’s persons with disability community in its vaccination drive.

This concern was raised during a four-day workshop in Honiara (from June 1-4) by participants living with disability.

Lack of available government data is another worrying factor.

The ministry of health and medical services (MHMS), which looks after people with disability (PWD) through its community-based rehabilitation (CBR) division, has not responded when sought for comments since last week via MHMS Media.

Dr Divinal Ogaoga, chairman to the MHMS covid-19 technical working group (TWG), was unsure when asked during the workshop of how many people with disability had been vaccinated since government began its vaccination roll-out in March this year.

A MHMS personnel attending the workshop was also unable to provide an answer.

To date, workers and members of the People With Disability Solomon Islands (PWDSI), the umbrella organisation for the country’s PWD community, are yet to be vaccinated. The same with other affiliated groups. This was revealed during the workshop.

This was in spite of government’s vaccination roll-out having run since March 24 this year, three months on.

Mr Ogaoga, presenting in the last day of the workshop (Friday, June 4) had reassured the PWD participants that a day could be set aside the following week for them to get vaccinated at the central field hospital.

Ogaoga urged PWDSI team to invite other PWD who were not at the workshop and are eligible.

Ms Naomi Tai, administration officer of PWDSI, speaking to the paper yesterday, confirmed there has been no vaccination for them since.

A workshop participant living with disability, who requested anonymity, had described government as having ‘no urgency or duty of care’ for the country’s PWD community.

“Any so-called support claimed by government given to us is yet to be felt, for we don’t receive it. The only support we have seen and felt are from NGOs and donors from overseas such as UNDP, Oxfam, and civil society organisations (CSOs).”

Regarding government’s current vaccination drive, the participant says: “We feel that we are an after-thought in government’s vaccination roll-out, despite government having announced publicly that people with disabilities are among the most vulnerable and should be among the first to be vaccinated.”

This gap was underscored early this year by Governor General Sir David Vunagi in his New Year’s National Address when he said persons with disability are “often forgotten”.

“[A] group of people always given little attention are the people with disabilities.

“We do not have a reliable data about this group but I feel that if gender and quality calls for attention from the government, churches, NGOs and has the family protection Act to advance the importance of respecting the rights of women and girls so must the people with disabilities.

“Every citizen should advocate for the rights and benefits of people with disabilities. They exist silently among us and the communities and they make no claims and demand for recognition.

“As a Christian country, how they live among us should be enough for us to recognise and advocate for them,” he said.

The workshop was held in Honiara from Tuesday, June 1, to Friday, June 4. It was run by the UNDP in partnership with PWDSI and Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs through the Public Solicitor’s Office.

Fake currency warning

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Central Bank of Solomon Islands. Photo by CBSI

MEMBERS of the public have been warned of a “fake new” currency called Sol York, which is currently being promoted by its promoters.

Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) issued the warning yesterday.

“CBSI advises that there is no such currency in existence in the Solomon Islands save the Solomon Islands Dollar,” a statement CBSI issued yesterday said.

“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 statement added.

“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.

“CBSI will continue to warn the public to be vigilant on where to invest their money, and to ensure that the legitimate currency of Solomon Islands is protected.”

Deo lying, claims Wanealafa

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

ONE faithful servant of the inactive East Bauro Enterprise has accused AIPF Director Dr Deogratias Harorimana of “lying in the media”.

This was after embattled foreign consultant Deo said AIPF has never dealt with such a client or its owners including East Baoro Enterprise.

Deo said “We do not know who this is.”

However, Heddie Wanealafa, who occupied East Baoro Enterprise Ltd’s 36-bed motel at Lengakiki, West Honiara, after the death of owner late Bernard Ghiro, said Deo is “lying”.

Wanealafa said he has been engaged by late Ghiro to collect outstanding rental debts of more than $2 million between 2010-2016 from Ministry of Police.

He claimed his relationship with late Ghiro was one of loyalty, which led to him occupying the motel with his family for the last eight years.

Wanealafa said Deo came into the picture when he approached late Ghiro’s son Junior to pay off an outstanding debt of $300,000 belonging to East Baoro Enterprise Ltd in the bank.

As a result, he said Deo allegedly sent some people to evict Wanealafa’s family from the motel in February.

Wanealafa responded by applying for a caveat on the property with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey.

He said he took the action because Deo did not make him aware of his moves and that Deo was not fully aware of the whole story behind the motel.

He said on April 12, Deo allegedly sent some private security to evict his family from the property.

Wanealafa said on May 5, Deo allegedly sent another person to ask him to leave the property, which he refused.

On May 11, police arrived at the motel and took Wanealafa to Central police station and remanded him for some hours.

He was released through a guarantee from CID Zachariah Salopuka.

Wanealafa said there were numerous exchanges of correspondences between him and late Ghiro’s son Junior over the property.

In one of the letters to Bernard Junior Ghiro on 23rd April 2021, Wanealafa said he never claim the property as “you informed Dr Deo to imply”.

“My residency and engagement on the property is squarely on the verbal agreement reached with the owner the later Bernard Ghiro and your family, which your family still respected.

“In my view, the proper approach, as an Administrator of Will, to be taken is to work with your surviving mother and other siblings, who you claimed to hold a Will of Administration on behalf to solve me of my attachment to your property, per the Agreement made between the property owner, the late Bernard Ghiro, to its effect that I had resided and engaged on the affairs of the property,” he said.

Wanealafa said you (Junior) better cooperate with your family and further honest with your so-called advisors in attending to my issues, as Dr Deo rightly stated…help assess if anyway we can help you while you wait for relocation.

He claimed that intimidatingly and randomly selling or disposing off of the late Bernard’s properties, without clearing his commitments – with other people – like you (Junior) did with Henderson and other removable properties, and even without the consent and for no benefit of and for your family, whom you claimed to hold the Will of Administration on behalf sets a fear of deceivingly ignore “my agreed engagement in the property with late Ghiro, his surviving wife, which you (Junior) and the family knew and having been respected full well”.

As such, Wanealafa said the motel is owned by the East Baoro Enterprises Ltd, which has been deregistered on the 1st May 2017; thus, any monetary dealings with its affairs, inclusive loans could be deemed “money laundering”.

Two clients declare their stand with Deo

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Dr Deo Harorimana

By EDDIE OSIFELO

TWO clients of AIPF SI Ltd have disassociated them from those who have been publishing allegations in their names under the banner of “victims” of the company.

TR Group and Perch Christian School stated this in a signed press release sent to the Island Sun yesterday.

Their responses are:

  1. We have been contacted on phone, on social media, and we were recruited/asked to a join a group of those we came to understand did not have business relationships with AIPF and Dr Deo. We were invited to attend unwelcome meetings; we have been encouraged to disclose private information and oftentimes, we were told to come up with stories. We have been referred to directly or indirectly by those posing as our representatives. As a result, we have decided to make this declaration to the public to clarify our position and defend AIPF and its Director Dr Deo.
  2. We strongly believe in the support provided to us by Deo. AIPF fees are known and they always discussed with us beforehand. We do not agree with the premise that they rush contracts. We have shared experience of taking time before reaching an agreed proposal. We may not be highly educated, but we understand the value of AIPF service to us. Dr Deo maybe a foreigner by papers, but he is a Solomon Islander by heart. He loves his country and the people. It therefore saddens us that he is being unfairly targeted this way. We want to let the public know that we stand together in solidarity and we support AIPF and Dr Deo.
  3. All of us have held a view that AIPF SI Ltd has complex expertise and capacity. We encourage prospective clients to ignore the negative forces we have heard about the media. If you are struggling to structure your business and turn around, you should approach AIPF SI Ltd. Discuss with them about their needs.
  4. We call on all those individuals to stop speaking in our names. If we ever have any issues, we know how to deal with it. Distorting facts to suits interests of individuals does not benefit our clients.
  5. We wish to thank our clients who continued to support us and our businesses during this pandemic.

Public urged on second Astra dose

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

INDIVIDUALS in Honiara due for their second dose of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine are being urged to get jabbed at the Central Field Hospital.

Pauline McNeil, permanent secretary to Ministry of Health and Medical Services, made this call on behalf of the ministry.

McNeil said the rollout of the second dose of AstraZeneca commenced on June 2, 2021.

“I reach out to people who are yet to receive their second dose of AstraZeneca to come get inoculated,” she said.

“Health ministry has noted at central field hospital only 1636 of 2656 individuals have already received their second dose since the commencement of the second dose earlier this month.”

She said in that case 1036 are yet to come forward to be inoculated

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