Home Blog Page 902

‘Access’ and life

Written by
Irwin Angiki
-
0
(Left to right) Stella Waioha, Nelson Lamani and Naomi Tai discuss what's wrong with a covid-19 poster

Persons with disability teach us what the word means

BY IRWIN ANGIKI

You think you’ve had a rough day? Please know that persons with disability live their lives everyday ‘rougher’.

This is mainly because they do not access what abled persons have easily.

Accessibility is a word which is heard and used often but seldom, if not rarely, put into context.

Yesterday, a group of persons with disability along with stakeholders gave a glimpse of just what it means to have access and how it affects life every day.

Day-two of ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ workshop allowed participants with disability to share experiences and thoughts on how they each can access information.

Desmond (right) making a point during group discussions on a covid-19 poster

Something which abled persons usually take for granted such as a simple poster, for example, is a challenge for a person with disability.

Depending on the impairment type, the challenge varies.

In line with the purpose of the workshop, which is exploring ways aimed at ‘strengthening inclusion of persons with disabilities in Solomon Islands through communications and outreach’, several covid-19 awareness posters were discussed on how they have failed to allow persons with disability access the information they are supposed to impart.

Participants broke up into four groups, each with a different covid-19 poster, and each member contributed how he or she is finding difficulty in accessing the message intended by the poster.

Jone Raqauqau, UNDP media specialist and workshop facilitator, helping out with discussions

This simple exercise reflects how a simple poster poses as a challenge when the society fails to be inclusive in its programmes and educational activities.

Some of the challenges identified in the poster-discussions include: long and complicated word usage, animated pictures are generally incomprehensible, colours clash making it difficult to tell different pictures apart, information cramming, font sizes.

And, preferences include: use short simple words or ticks and crosses (do’s and don’ts), use real persons in pictures, arrange colours appropriately to allow easy distinction of pictures, each poster contains only two or three messages, larger font size the better.

An early afternoon field trip to the homes of four persons with disability vividly showed the utter hardship faced daily in trying to access transport, clinic or hospital for medical attention, school, water, security, hygiene and sanitation facilities.

Other findings include community indifference which give way to persons with disability facing bullying, ridicule and neglect.

Group-one visited Mavis at Banana Valley. The closest vehicle-road access is a 100-plus metre climb up a slope along a heavily gouged road, with crevasses more than a metre deep and a metre wide; result of heavy erosion. In some segments along the road there is only a feet-wide of walk-space for travellers, next to a deep gouge.

Francis Paul (right) presents discussion results in sign language as Stella Damutalau (sitting, left) interprets

Accessing water is a challenge for Mavis. Rain brings a mixture of relief and despair. Rain water is captured in storage containers, but runs empty fast. The community water source, which is some 200 metres down her home gets muddied and filled with debris when it rains. Furthermore, the steep decline to the borehole is slippery and risky.

Mavis speaks fluent sign language, however, apart from her husband, who also speaks the same, there is hardly anyone around in her community who speaks it. This means lonely days with no one to talk to when her husband goes to work in the morning.

Group-one with Mavis (third from right)

Group-two visited Ellena Kelly’s home above Tuvaruhu. Sharing their experience, group-two leader Naomi Tai said Ms Elena’s home is “faraway” from the nearest bus-stop. Where vehicles stop and the walking begins, Ms Tai shares they had to go up slopes, meeting muddy roads and rocky ones along the way.

This long walk leads to a final 60-metre climb up a steep bush road to the home.

Watching Elena climb up the steep slope on one leg supported by her crutches left other participants and the accompanying journalists lost for words.

“I was just filled with admiration, coupled with sadness and respect, watching Elena struggling up the steep slope,” says Sheryl Aumanu, reporter and presenter at SIBC.

Elena follows this path every day on her way to work kilometres away in Honiara and back.

And, with the long distance, she has to wake up earlier than most people in order to arrive at work on time. And, for her safety, she has to arrive home early, before 8pm, to avoid the risk of meeting any disrespectful persons along the road.

Back at home, access to hygiene and sanitation facilities is a task. When it rains, the pathway gets slippery, and Ellena sometimes falls, breaking their ceramic eating utensils on her way to wash them.

Ellena makes the steep climb to her home. Photo by Sheryl Aumanu

Having had a taste of Ellena’s daily experience, Ms Tai describes her as a “strong person”.

Group-three visited Fred Oge at his home in the Henderson area. Likewise, the road to the nearest public transport is a long and inconducive to persons with disability.

The home itself is not user-friendly for a person living with visual impairment.

Access to school and clinic is made challenging by the long road with its rugged conditions. Safety seems to be out of reach with the distance between his home and the nearest police station.

As for education, it is near meaningless since the nearest school does not offer education for a person who is blind. Water and sanitation are also a challenge.

Group-four visited Francis and Noella at the Mamanawata settlement, near the Mataniko river mouth. [Please see story on page 8]

The workshop continues today with day-three at the Heritage Park Hotel conference room.

It is being run by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs through the Public Solicitor’s Office and People with Disabilities Solomon Islands (PWDSI).

Logging ship cleared by Customs, not checked properly.

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
-
0
Some of the materials that were offloaded at Gallego Company log pond near Alligator on 27 May. Photo: Supplied

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A VESSEL ‘suspiciously’ off-loading cargo at a log-pond at Alligator Creek, east of Honiara, last Thursday was earlier cleared by Customs at Noro International Port.

That’s according to Comptroller of Customs and Excise, Jim Sutton.

Gallego Logging Company owns the log-pond and the vessel. It’s not clear whether the entire cargo belongs to them.

The decision to off-load the cargo at a log-pond was widely criticised, with many saying the action has put the country at greater security risks.

Sutton told Island Sun yesterday the covid-19 shipping committee gave the permission for the vessel to be cleared at Noro.

“They’ve paid all monies that are due to the Government,” the Customs boss explained.

He said the vessel then obtained permission to discharge its cargo at Bahomia sufferance port (Alligator log-pond).

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, McKinnie Dentana on Sunday told a radio talk-back show his officers, police, immigration and quarantine were on site during off-loading.

Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said when they were alerted to the off-loading, his officers visited the site and saw Customs officers there.

But one important division, Biosecurity, was not there.

Director of Biosecurity Francis Tsatsia told Island Sun they were not informed of the off-loading so none of his officers were there.

It’s understood among the cargoes were machines.

Tsatsia said:

“Sadly, the information where the vessel will be discharging the machine was not relayed to Biosecurity.

“Hence, I believe no Biosecurity officer was there to do the inspection.

“We are now following the reports to find out where the machines are.”

Meanwhile, Sutton said in light of this incident, they will now review their processes.

 “Effective immediately all such authorisations will now be assessed and issued in Honiara by a senior shipping officer,” Sutton said.

“At the moment Customs are looking into the whole sufferance wharves operations.

“There are several hundred in the country but some are now inactive.

“Under the Customs Act, Customs is the only authority to approve sufferance wharves.

“We also authorise importation and discharge of cargo and stipulated where that cargo is to be discharged.

“Customs also have full control over all vessels, aircraft and their cargoes arriving from overseas or departing to leave Solomon Islands.”

Yes, that letter is from us, says Ling

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0
MTMD-General-Manager-William-Ling

By EDDIE OSIFELO

METROPOLIS Pacific Pte Limited has confirmed the letter requesting $21.9 million for the payment of 30 houses sent to the Government came from them.

The letter, which was leaked on social media, was addressed to the Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, Frederick Kologeto on 17th May 2021.

In the letter the company is seeking Government to prepare a payment of $21.9 million for the first 30 completed houses proposed for the Public Servants Housing Scheme at Mamara, North West Guadalcanal.

The letter was also copied to number for Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and the Premier of Guadalcanal Province.

Members of the public have criticised the company’s credibility when the letter was leaked.

However, General Manager of Metropolis Pacific Pte Ltd, William Ling said the letter was to notify the government of the delivery date for the first batch of houses.

Ling said this communication was a typical notification that “we, the developers, shall have delivered on our promised first batch of brand-new urban houses within the stipulated time frame.”

He said the purchase of the homes in bulk by the government is by way of being an intermediary between developer and the civil servants, in order to meet the demand from this part of the population.

“The homes shall immediately be allocated to civil servants who wish to own their own home.

“The funds used to purchase these houses shall ultimately come from the civil servants by way of their own savings, provident funds or housing credit from banks and financial institutions, and not at taxpayers’ expense,” he said.

“Our commitment to a project of this magnitude and complexity demonstrate our dedication and belief in the improvement of the Solomon Islands economy, the expansion of its community, its potential for industry and tourism, further development, and future investment.

“We welcome feedback and kind criticism, and hope for ongoing support as our project takes off,” he said.

Ling said there are many positive outcomes that can only eventuate with continued momentum, willingness from international investors, cooperation from the Solomon Islands government, and patience from the public.

Earlier, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI), Riley Mesepitu clarified that the proposal to buy houses is still to be approved as the Government has set up a Taskforce headed by the Ministry of Public Service to review the Public Service Rental Scheme to compare financing options for the Housing scheme.

Mesepitu said the outcome of the review would be presented to cabinet in June for consideration before any decision can be made.

Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale has also called on the government to explain the claim by Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd for payment in relation to houses built under the Mamara Township Development Project.

Ling: $100M invested so far on Mamara project

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0
Work on the Mamara City project last year.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

METROPOLIS Pacific Pte Ltd claimed it has invested more than $100 million so far on the new Mamara New Capital City on North West Guadalcanal.

General Manager of Metropolis Pacific Pte Ltd, William Ling confirmed this to Island Sun yesterday.

Ling said so far, capital investment into the MAMARA project has exceeded SBD$100 million, which has gone towards the:

  1. construction of the project headquarters;
  2. the first 50 units of housing;
  3. the purchase of construction materials and machineries;
  4. 2400 square meters of factories and warehouses, and
  5. the foundation materials for 70 rooms in what will be Mamara Spring Hotel’s main building.

He said Metropolis Pacific Pte Ltd is a private company registered in Singapore.

“All funds are contributed by the Company’s shareholders from their own assets and funds invested and raised honestly from international capital markets such as Hong Kong and Singapore,” he said.

Furthermore, Ling said Metropolis Pacific Pte Ltd, fully invested in the development of the “MAMARA New City” project to promote the local economic development in Solomon Islands, through contributions to the construction industry, tourism industry, hardware and building materials, retail, and catering services.

He said since commencement, the MAMARA project has created local employment opportunities, with more than 120 local employees hired so far, including construction workers, security personnel, logistics workers, landscapers and cleaners.

Ling said the total number of overseas foreign employees employed under the project is currently at 66, who bring in the necessary skills in project management, engineering, technical work and logistics personnel.

He said these foreign employees came from many countries, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesian, mainland China and more.

Moreover, Ling said last year has seen numerous consultations, tasks and assessments done on the Mamara TasivarongoMavo area and the MAMARA project, including talks with local lawyers, surveyors, environmental assessors (including topographical surveys, environment impact reports, contract drafting and reviews) and leaders within the local community.

Doctor makes SOS call amid ‘diabetes crisis’

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
-
0
Dr Jones Gabu

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

A local prominent doctor is appealing to the government to set up non-communicable disease (NCD) clinics around the country.

This is in light of the exponential growth of NCD in the country, against very limited resources to deal with this problem.

Dr Jones Ghabu, consultant physician for Non-Communicable Diseases and Diabetic Centre, National Referral Hospital (NRH), said a clear evidence is the increasing rate of NCD admission at the NRH.

“My appeal to my beloved government of the day, please we need NCD clinics for all provinces in Solomon Islands.

“My Soldiers are well trained but we have no battleship or tanker to fight,” he said.

Ghabu said the truth and reality is that NRH is the only hospital with a standalone diabetic clinic in the whole country.

“CIP- Tulagi, Isabel-Buala and Temotu and Guadalcanal Provinces have no NCD clinics.

“I have trained their soldiers, they have no tankers or battle ship nor ammunition to fight.

“For Makira, Gizo Hospital and Helena Goldie Hospital-Munda and Temotu, I thank the REC (Eye Team) for sharing their building with us.

“Choiseul -Taro, Malaita-Kiluúfi and Renbel, all shared tables and desks with other public health programmes- no space to manage NCD programmes in this crisis,” he said.

Ghabu said this war is long overdue to be fought. It needs all hands-on deck.

“Now a days clinicians watch helplessly the sad reality of this deadly disease on daily practice and, we only wish this country come together with a slogan UMITUGEDA AGAINST NCD”, a shift in thinking and approach to prevent and control this deadly pandemic-NCD Crisis,” he said.

Land awareness on PARI land in Noro tomorrow

Written by
Admin
-
0

COMMISSIONER of Lands, Alan McNeil will be conducting a public meeting in Noro, Western province on Thursday at 2pm, specifically to do with Pari Development land.

PARI Development Company Ltd Managing Director, Donald Bato came out in the Island Sun newspaper last week claiming that the money the company collected from people living on its land is to support the company pay their General Property Rates fees to the Western Provincial Government.

The company in March this year had paid $123,464.20 to the Western provincial government. [Island Sun has sighted documents pertaining this]

Meanwhile, McNeil said he is interested to hear from the public what they have to say about that.

“I’m also keen to understand the extent of Pari Development’s land deals and to reassure members of the public residing on the land I took back from the company that I will not be evicting them, and instead I will work towards putting a report to the Land Board seeking to formally offer them land title, something Pari Development never did,” he said.

Explaining this last week, Bato said although PARI had every right to evict settlers off its lands in Noro, it did not for humanitarian reasons.

“We did not want to repeat what Samlimsan and KHY companies did to settlers on their land, which media had reported the companies of forcefully evicting and chasing out settlers. That is cruel and inhuman,” Bato explains.

He said instead they opted to offer the settlers time to, while continuing living on PARI land, look for where else to go.

But, Bato elaborates, while the settlers continue living on PARI land, it is only fair that they help the company pay the provincial land rent fees.

Hence, he said, PARI discussed with the settlers and all agreed on small amounts of contribution from each.

He reiterates an underlying point in this issue which is, PARI has plans to further develop its lands there, but for the very reasons explained above, it cannot at the moment.

Ling defends Mamara house design, quality

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0

By EDDIE OSIFELO

METROPOLIS Pacific Pte Ltd has defended the construction of new houses at the Mamara New City in North West Guadalcanal.

General Manager William Ling said the housing construction techniques adopted for the MAMARA houses are modern techniques originating from Australia and New Zealand, with capacities to withstand earthquakes of magnitude 12 and typhoons.

Ling said the materials were selected for their high-quality environmental protection, fire resistance, heat insulation, and termite prevention.

“In only two months, a new town complex with 50 fully-functional novel villas will be built on what was previously completely barren land.

“The speed of construction would be impossible to achieve without the hundreds of local employees who are working hard to bring a new standard of housing to Solomon Islands,” he said.

Ling said the houses currently underway are intended for civil servants and ordinary citizens.

“It has always been our intention to ease the housing shortage that has plagued Honiara for a long time.

“For civil servants who wish to purchase these houses, they need only put a down payment of 20%-30% of the house price, and after obtaining a mortgage loan from the bank or finance company, shall only spend half or two-thirds of their current rental outlay to serve the monthly mortgage repayment amount,” he said.

Ling said it is their own choice as to whether to continue to pay rental or to put a portion of their earnings into purchasing their own home

Furthermore, Ling said the current development plan comes after many years of planning, discussions, setbacks and adjustments, finally receiving approval at the 8th and 9th sessions of the annual Mamara Council Meeting.

“We have persevered through many obstacles, including the Covid pandemic in order to finally kickstart the Mamara project.

“It is only possible through the cooperation and support of the central government of Solomon Islands, the provincial government of Guadalcanal, and their people,” he added.

The Mamara project and the development of Mamara-Tasivarongo-Mavo land is based on Solomon Islands Law No. 145.

“While Metropolis Pacific Pte Ltd is the company that is party to an Agreement made under this law, Metropolis Mamara Development Limited is our wholly-owned subsidiary that has been incorporated and registered in Solomon Islands for the specific implementation of the Mamara project in terms of development and construction,” Ling said.

The original shareholders of Metropolis Pacific Pte Ltd (and thus, Metropolis Mamara Development Limited) occupy two seats as Council Members on the Mamara Council, out of the three Council seats assigned for the developers.

Ngedea back in court today

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
-
0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A man accused of lying and demanding money from a retired doctor will have his case heard in court again today.

This is the case of 45-year-old Sam Ngedea who was accused of obtaining more than $40,000 from a retired doctor in 2018 and 2019.

His case was listed to appear before Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison.

Prosecution charged the accused with 25 counts of false pretence and 21 counts of demanding with menace.

This is regarding the allegations between December 3, 2018 and July 20, 2019 where he lied to an elderly doctor and obtained more than $40,000.

Prosecution said the accused collected the monies from the victim on various occasions as compensation, accusing the victim trying to have sex with a woman he claimed was his mother.

Prosecution also alleged Ngedea during those times would appear using names such as George Ben, John Lake and Peter.

It was also alleged that the incident was made-up by the accused making prior arrangement with the woman to meet the victim on the case.

Steward Tonowane is appearing for the Crown while Lazarus Waroka from the Public Solicitor’s office is representing the accused.

Choiseul adapting to covid-19 regulations

Written by
Ben Bilua
-
0
Taro Island

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

COMMUNITIES in Choiseul Province are said to be slowly adapting to covid-19 regulations.

Deputy Provincial Secretary of Choiseul Province, Nelson Tanito said Choiseul Provincial Disaster Operation Committee (PDOC) is working closely with the national team to ensure the safety of communities.

He said community leaders have been briefed with the country’s covid-19 regulations and taken onboard responsibilities to support the national government.

Administration officer of Choiseul, Abel Kutukana said community leaders are cautioned of any new comers to their villages, especially those crossing from Shortland Islands to Choiseul.

“People in the communities now absorbed how fatal covid-19 is. People are afraid of the virus and now takes active measures to make sure their communities are safe,” he said.

A police officer spoken to said similar understanding now invading communities and household living close to the boarder.

“It was very difficult for us to control border crossing at the beginning of our operation as some people from Shortland Islands have close connection with people from Bougainville.

“These people have been enjoying close relationships, exchange of foods and normally came face to face with each other, so it was really difficult to put a stop this practice which has existed over the past years,” the officer said.

Police border review team meets in Gizo

Written by
Press Release
-
0

THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) review team met with Gizo Police and Provincial Disaster Operation Committee (PDOC) in Gizo, Western Province, this week.

The meeting as part of their review in relation to the COVID-19 operation that has been ongoing since April last year in the Shortland Islands.

A police statement said the meeting comprises of representative from respective sectors operated under the PDOC, these are Health, Education, National Disaster Committee, Save the Children, livelihood [Ministry of Agriculture], CSSI and RSIPF.

AC Pogeava speaks during the meeting in Gizo

Assistant Commissioner (AC) National Capital and Crime Prevention Simpson Pogeava says the review team has been to the western border between Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea (SI-PNG) to assess how the RSIPF operation has impacted the communities with in the western border and to develop the next approach.

“By so doing, it will strengthen police operation for the betterment of this country in terms of security in assisting the Ministry of Health Medical Services (MHMS) of this health crisis,” Pogeava said.

“During the operations minor review has been made based on the intelligence reports and recommendations provided by the Commanders on the ground,” he added.

PDOC and RSIPF during the meeting in Gizo

“However, our team were here for a full review that we have commenced for the past few days in Shortland Islands and Taro, Choiseul.

“Now we here in Gizo to meet with your team (PDOC) who is also one of the key stakeholders to the RSIPF COVID 19 Western Border Operations and have the oversight of the Western Province COVID 19 Response Operations.”

Pogeava thanked officers in Western Province policing as they are the ones overseeing the Shortland Islands and Choiseul Province for the support of deploying their officers to be part of the COVID-19 Operation at the border.

During a meeting with the PDOC in Gizo, Assistant Commissioner (AC) Evelyn Thugea says they want to hear comments, recommendations and honest feedback from the committee that will help the review team.

“Since we have been working together at the beginning of this operation your team has been on the ground observing what has been done concerning our contribution into this COVID-19 issue,” Thugea said.

“Critics will be more appropriate and important so we can step up to what the expectation of those concerned citizen here in the western border.”

Camp Managements Coordinator, Western Province Lizzy Wong during the meeting says they have their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) when it comes to certain level of COVID-19.

Review team with Police officers in Gizo

“When we go out to the community isolations, we highly need police presence to provide safety for us,” Wong said.

“It will bring confidence to women and children living around the quarantine and isolation sites,” she added.

“I want to thank police for their support in terms of logistic and security.

“And we are looking forward for their continues support and work together for more upcoming events regarding this COVID-19 operation.”

Pogeava in return acknowledged the presence of PDOC and the effort they have put in to continue activate their committee.

“This demonstrates how concern we are about the health wellbeing of our people here in Western Province.

“Thank you for the issues raised that will enable us to improve in our border operation and will continue to give support to each other.”

–POLICE MEDIA

1...901902903...1,662Page 902 of 1,662