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Health calls on targets ‘come and get jabbed’

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Correctional Officers who earlier took their Covid-19 jabs

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

The ministry of health is calling target individuals to come forward and get vaccinated.

This call is aimed at frontliners in Honiara and other people connected to this line of work.

Health permanent secretary Pauline McNeil echoed this in the recent Oversight Committee radio talkback show on covid-19 updates in the country.

“I would like to call on those who have not yet vaccinated to come forward and get your jab,” she said.

McNeil stressed the ministry of health will continue roll out the vaccination programme until the fully utilise the seven thousand allocated AstraZeneca does for Honiara.

She said hopefully vaccination rollout will be completed this Friday, April 30, 2021.

“I encourage the remaining front-liners to please go and take your covid-19 vaccines this week before the end of this week,” said McNeil.

She said 7,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine have been allocated for Honiara to be administered, so, far only 4,289 patents have been vaccinated in the first roll out this gives 61 percent of people have received their jabbed.

McNeil said those to be vaccinated are frontliners, those who are above 40 years of age, public figure, 18 years old above, parliament members, public figures, members of the diplomats, former Governor General, Church leaders and community leaders, sporting groups and others.

Airline can soar high, says new chairman

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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New SOLAIR chair confident of overcoming challenges

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Airlines newly appointed Chairman, Frank Wickham is confident the airline will continue to fly through these difficult times and soar high when the skies are clearer.

Wickham in a press conference yesterday said the national carrier has experienced the impact of COVID-19 that has affected its operations and revenue generation.

He said Solomon Airlines is flying over turbulence skies.

“We have been through similar challenge in the past during the ethnic tension and have built some resilience and perseverance.

“But the scope and scale of the challenge for us now is quite significant,” he said.

Wickham said their flight path remains clear to see through this turbulence period of COVID-19 restrictions and would be in a position to do better when the skies are clear and travel restrictions are lifted in our region.

He recalled that between 2012 and 2016, Solomon Airlines Ltd has been making and accumulating loses.

“However, the Airline posted a profit in 2017 and 2018 and it is a testament to the hard work of the Chief Executive Officer, management and staff and does indicate under normal operating environment the airline can be viable and profitable.

“2020 saw a big hit in the Airlines finances, firstly through the impairment of the A320 jet which resulted in loses when we arranged for the sale and then off course the significant downturn of passengers numbers both internationally and domestically,” he said.

Wickham said the Airline has built up 2020 for good year not knowing that COVID-19 was around the corner.

H said there was already an order in place to get a new twin outer and the finances was strong ready to propel the Airline into another good year.

“However, the unfortunate event with the A320 repayments and downfall of passengers numbers has posed a big drop in our cash flow and also in our book numbers.

“The Airline board and management are working hard to improve the company’s finances, to ensure our operating costs and creditors are paid and services returned,” he said.

Wickham said they do not deny the facts that this a very very difficult financial year for the Airline.

“But Iam confident and I hope the country shareholder can see that fairing with other Airlines in the Pacific region, Solomon Airlines has done very very well.

“We are still flying a commercial international restricted route, our domestic services continue,” he said.

Wickham said their challenge now is to raise revenue and maximise revenue so they can see themselves through these very very difficult times.

Wickham replaced Austin Holmes as Chairman. Robert Bochman of Bred Bank is the Vice Chairman.

The Directors are Anthony Makabo, Josefa Tuamoto and Bob Pollard.

Two positions in the Board are still to be filled.

Airline needs govt support, good strategy

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Solomon Airlines airbus

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Airlines still needs government support and good strategy to achieve a sustainable future.

Newly appointed Chairman, Frank Wickham told the media in a press conference yesterday that he is strongly confident of a sustainable future given:

  1. strong government support;
  2. strong management reviews of our current situations and
  3. coming up with a strategy that will maximise our revenues and make us a nimbler organisation by way of cost efficiency.

“We have a major consultancy report that the government has commissioned and has just presented and we will be using the findings of the report to fine tune our strategy going forward and also our operations.

“Going forward also, we like to see a more robust strategic and cooperate plan, capacity development for our Solomon Islanders in all aspect of operations, restructuring when necessary and to also maximise potential partnerships with other airlines in the region,” he said.

Wickham said the Government as the biggest shareholder has given $5 million as grant under the Economic Stimulus Package and a Concessional loan of $53 million.

He said the loan is for the purchase of a new twin Outer and additional relieve funds to support the airlines cash flow.

Furthermore, Wickham said over the past years up until 2019, the international route has been more profitable than the domestic route contrary to what is made public by various sources.

He said the passenger’s numbers domestically are greater but international route is more profitable and they hope once the dark clouds are over should return to some semblance of normalcy with better international passengers’ numbers.

Wickham said they are revisiting the domestic fare structure to see how we can make the fare work better for the Airlines.

He said there are some routes that are profitable and most are loss making routes.

“And this is also the area that we hope the nation and shareholders will appreciate that we are subsidizing many routes in this country.

“Even some routes that have airports that with run ways that create a lot of expenses for our airlines because they are poorly maintained and create the high maintenance and repair costs for our planes,” he said.

“So, with that back drop, we like to see that there is appreciation from Solomon Islanders and we know that Government recognises it and hence continues to support us through this difficult time,” he added.

Police continues hunt for suspect

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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The scene of the crime: PHOTO CHARLES KADAMANA

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE in Auki say they are still on the look-out for the suspect in the killing of a 44-year-old female Chinese national on April 13 this year.

A police officer spoken to yesterday told this paper that last week they went to Kwaibaita area, East Kwaio, following advice from their informer but was unsuccessful to locate the suspect.

He said they are still listening out for any information from the communities and also from their informer relating to the whereabout of the alleged suspect.

The officer said that police continue to call on the suspect to surrender himself, as continuing being in hiding will not do him any good but will be a burden on him.

“Therefore, he should surrender himself and let the law decide his innocence,” Auki police said.

This is regarding the suspect in the killing incident which occurred this year on the morning of April 13 at the White Angel building.

The allegation said the Chinese woman left her house in the Ranadi area, east Honiara to drop off her twin sons at school in the morning and then went down to her shop inside the White Angel Building in Point Cruz to open it as normal.

While the shopkeepers were waiting outside for the deceased to open the shop, the husband of the deceased arrived and sought assistance from a nearby shop to open their shop as the doors were locked from inside. However, that was unsuccessful and police were alerted in which the Police Fire Service came to their assistance and opened the shop and that is when the husband discovered his wife lying on the floor with blood all over her body.

Crime prevention roll out in Makira

Written by
Press Release
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Oneibia by-law launching group photo

THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has continued roll-out of its Crime Prevention Strategy on Makira/Ulawa province from 19- 23rd April.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Makira-Ulawa Province Superintendent Peter Sitai said their team had visited communities at Oneibia, Heranigau, Anuta, Tawarao, Tawaraha, Hada bay and Omaraoru.

 He said these communities are in ward five and six on West Makira constituency.”

PPC Sitai stressed that the team had managed to conduct crime prevention related trainings on S.A.R.A (Scanning, Analyze, Response and Assessment) problem solving model, urbanisation, by-law launching, community by-law awareness and Clashes of cultures and its impacts in Solomon Islands.”

 “The trainings have been so fruitful and about 100 plus participants representing different community sectors have attended,” Mr Sitai remarked.

 Speaking during the closing ceremony at Oneibia Community, a women leader emotionally expressed her most appreciation about the police inputs into helping her community with law and order.

She said as a mother, the strategy is a milestone and the way forward to maintain peace and unity in the community.

He said Makira-Ulawa Province has more than 50 Crime Preventions Committees (CPC’s) formed and similar trainings will be conducted in the coming months.”

“I appeal to all communities in Makira Ulawa Province to come out in good numbers and participate during the awareness and trainings sessions.

“Police do not have all the resources needed, therefore I call for understanding and support,” PPC Sitai said.

—RSIPF

Rennell murder case set for committal hearing

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE committal hearing into the case of a man who was charged by police regarding the death of a 28-year-old boy at a village in Rennell will be made today before Principal Magistrate Fatimah Taeburi.

He had already entered a guilty plea in the last occasion and today’s court session is for counsels to make submissions to commit the matter to the High Court for sentencing.

Ashley Ghapuika of Rennell Island, Rennell Bellona province was charged for the murder of a man at Avatai village in West Rennell on February 15, 2021.

The allegation said that the deceased and his uncle were in their kitchen at Avatai Village in west Rennell trying to light a roll of cigarette.

It was when the deceased was trying to light his smoke, when the suspect entered the door of the kitchen with a long bush knife and walked straight to where the deceased was standing and allegedly cut the deceased once on the back of his neck.

It is believed the deceased was not able to defend himself due to the sudden attack. The suspect later went outside from the kitchen and he walked away with his bush knife full of blood.

The deceased was rushed to the Tigoa mini-Hospital in West Rennell in a vehicle but was confirmed dead by the nurse in charge.

Father on trial over alleged rape of daughter

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE hearing of evidence into the case of a father accused of raping his daughter at a school in Isabel is continuing at the High Court.

The trial started yesterday with the prosecution calling their first witness, the victim of the case to the stand.

The hearing was conducted virtually at the High Court.

Public Prosecutor Patricia Tabepuda during the opening of the trial said the issue for trial is whether there was consent involved during the commitment of the offence.

“Therefore, the crown must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the victim is forced into having sexual intercourse with her father,” Tabepuda said.

The girl told the court that her father forced her to have sex with him, even-though she refused.

She said the first incident occurred on 25 August2016 when she went to her father’s house to have some food.

She said that is when her father forced her to have sex with him.

She also told the court that she was raped twice by her father in that year.

Prosecution alleged that the man did have sexual intercourse with her daughter twice in 2016 on different dates.

The trial before Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer continues today.

Poor husbandry practices behind death of 21 pigs at Aola: MAL

Written by
Press Release
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The team provides animal health services with castration as depicted in this picture.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) through its Livestock Department has ruled out any African Swine Fever (ASF) incursion in the country but confirmed death of 21 pigs at Aola communities in East Central Guadalcanal was related to poor pig husbandry and management practices by farmers.

This was after a six-member team from the ministry’s Livestock Department and Biosecurity Department attended and investigated reports of pigs and piglets being sick and die-off from some farmers at the region on April 17, 2021.

Deputy Director of Livestock and Veterinary Services of MAL, Hearley Atupule who headed the team said the swift response was taken as part of the ministry’s alertness and preparedness to contain any possible incursion of ASF in the country.

“ASF is not present in Solomon Islands at the moment, but there are reported cases recorded in Papua New Guinea (PNG) which is a great concern to us and we must not take it lightly but always stay cautious and take required measures to ensure the country’s pig industry is protected from the virus-related disease,” Atupule said.

“ASF is not a risk to human health,” he added.

Atupule said his team attended and investigated the reported cases and established that the infections and deaths were caused by animal welfare, through poor husbandry and management associated to poor housing, feeding and water, animal health issues and lack of knowledge by farmers in handling and raising of their animals to support their livelihood.

“The cause of sickness and some death were resulted from high level of both internal and external parasites affecting the animals (pigs).

“These are also associated with poor feeding and the conditions where the animals were confined in.

“The smaller animals were also susceptible to extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain, wind and high humidity, thus the piglets were getting pneumonia, slow growth, diarrhoea and other health issues, that may cause their illness and eventually resulted to the deaths.

“We also gathered information that apart from four farmers interviewed, there were also other farmers who experienced the same incidence.

“The signs and symptoms that were reflected by the farmers and evidences that we saw from the animals examined and diagnosed does not support the presence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the region or community.

“Therefore our response team collectively declared and ruled out the incursion of African Swine Fever (ASF) from the cases that were reported,” Atupule explained.

The team also provided general animal health services to the farmers there which include; anthelmintic and antibiotics drugs injections, castration and removal of needle teeth to young piglets.

An awareness talk on the ASF and the importance of Biosecurity including the current ban on importation of pork into the country was also delivered to the community farmers by the team.

MAL through its livestock department is sketching plans to organise a training for farmers in the region in due course.

However, as part of MAL’s commitment to certain ASF not enters the country, the government through the ministry of agriculture banned pork products except for few approved importers importing meat into the country from Australia only with strict importation rules.

According to World Organisation for Animal Health, African swine fever (ASF) is a severe viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs and is responsible for serious production and economic losses.

“This transboundary animal disease (TAD) can be spread by live or dead pigs, domestic or wild, and pork products.

“Furthermore, transmission can also occur via contaminated feed and fomites (non-living objects) such as shoes, clothes, vehicles, knives, equipment etc., due to the high environmental resistance of ASF virus.

“There is no approved vaccine against ASF (unlike classical swine fever (‘Hog Cholera’) which is caused by a different virus)

“Historically, outbreaks have been reported in Africa and parts of Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. More recently (since 2007) the disease has been reported in multiple countries across Africa, Asia and Europe, in both domestic and wild pigs,” the Organisation stated.

–MAL PRESS

Women’s regional meeting attracts more participants

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Honourable Mereseini Vuniwaqa, Fiji's Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation delivers her speech during the opening of the Triennial

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

OVER one thousand participants from the public and private sectors will take part in the 14th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and the 7th Meeting of Pacific Ministers for Women which kicks off today (27th April).

Speaking to journalists last week, Director of Human Rights and Social Development of the South Pacific Community, Miles Young said the Triennial conference will provide an opportunity for officials from the governments, civil society organisations, Councils of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) and academia to throw in ideas that will later presented during the Ministerial meeting for reviewing.

He said an adoption paper which will set a mechanism for women empowerment in the pacific will be endorsed during the Ministerial meeting.

Young explained that the Triennial conference is part of the Pacific Platform for Action on the Advancement of Women and Gender Equality which formed the basis for the region’s participation in the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing or the Beijing Platform for Action (BPA)

“2020 was a key date globally as it marks the 25th anniversary since the adoption of the BPA.

“This particular Triennial is important because we now hit that milestone and it’s an opportunity for us to look at what we have achieved since then,” he said.

However, Young said the task to achievement gender stability in the region is challenging and that more work needs to be done.

“I think we all agreed that for the region, there’s lots of work that needs to be done. We need to be honest and open about it. That when you look at where we are looking at indicators relative to the rest of the world, I think a lot of work needs to be done and I think we need to go into this particular conference with that knowledge,” he said.

The 14th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and the 7th Meeting of Pacific Ministers for Women will be live-streamed via zoom across 11 national venues due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Officials and participants from French Polynesia will gather at Le Tahiti Hotel, those in Cook Islands will gather at The Rarotongan Beach Resort, in Marshall Islands, participants and official will gather at Marshall Islands Resort, for Samoa, official and participants will gather at Taumeasina Hotel, in Tonga, official and participants will gather at Fa’onelua Convention Centre, in Solomon Islands, participants and officials will gather at the Heritage Park Hotel, officials and participants from Vanuatu will be at The Grand Hotel Vanuatu, the national venue in Kiribati is at Utirerei Motel, in Nauru officials and participants will gather at Meneng Hotel, for Tuvalu, the officials and participants will be at Tuvalu Broadcasting Cooperation and Federated State of Micronesia, officials and participants will zoom in at SPC MRO Conference Room.

Officials from the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (Women’s Development Division) will represent Solomon Islands on the conference.

Pre-employment training for Tina Hydro villagers

Written by
Press Release
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AFTER months of preparation, the first group of 30 participants joined the Community Benefit Sharing team from the Tina River Hydropower Development Project Office and facilitators from Pasifiki HR for a weeklong Pre-Employment Training (PET) programme on Monday.

 The Human Resource initiative is a component of the Community Benefit Sharing Project designed to support the members of communities in the project area in accessing employment opportunities to be created by Tina River Hydropower Development Project.

The inaugural group, made up of 15 men and 15 women, were selected from a database of 700-plus people identified in the Project catchment communities as eligible participants to attend the Pre-employment training (PET) Programme.

  The weeklong training will be conducted by Pasifika HR who have developed the content and a course manual specifically in line with the Tina River Project employment requirements; covering topics such as social & environmental issues, seeking economic opportunities and project works & procedures.

The PET training is one of the pre-requisites required to be completed by people wanting to be considered for employment on the Project in the future. 

A course manual has been developed to guide the participants through various modules identified as essential training for any workers employed on the Project. Facilitators will train on areas such as workplace rules, health & safety, Solomon Island Labour law, grievance handling mechanism, understanding gender, time management and decision making. 

 “This is a great opportunity for people in the Tina River communities to be trained and equipped for potential future employment with the largest renewable energy project in Solomon Islands history,” said Francis Kapini, CBSP Coordinator from the Tina River Hydropower Project Office.

“Our aim is to have a trained local workforce who are able to contribute economically to their communities through gainful employment.” 

Participants will all receive a certificate of completion and training will continue until Friday at the New Hope Academy Kindergarten Hall next to Guadalcanal Province Headquarter at Bahai.

–TINA HYDRO MEDIA

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