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Airport project to engage up to 100 local workers

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Prime Minister Sogavare flanked by local and overseas workers during his site visit on Friday 16 April

THE construction phase of the Honiara International Airport expansion project is employing 100 local workers alongside forty overseas supervisors.

The local workers will further benefit from skills and knowledge transfer from the ongoing collaboration with expat workers during and after the project, which will be a bonus for the country.

The Government of Japan funds the multi-million dollar project through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and is implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA), Gyros and Kitano Construction Corporation.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was impressed with the construction progress so far when he visited the site on Friday 16 April.

Regardless of the difficulties created by covid-19 in 2020, activities including the management and procurement processes at the site continued with the recent return of Japanese supervisors to Honiara to restart their duties.

The main components of the project include construction of a new international departure terminal, construction of a new taxiway and apron, refurbishment of existing infrastructure and installation of new flood control mechanisms and lighting.

Construction work is expected to complete prior to the start of the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara.

Last week, the Government of Japan has formalized a further SB$26.5 million for the project to fill the financial gap created by the delay in construction from November 2019 to the end of last year due to covid-19 constraints.

Japanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Morimoto Yasuhiro said Honiara International Airport is a historical site and very special to Japanese.

“However, it is not the reason but the Government of Japan has engaged in the development of the airport in the past and will continue to collaborate with the Solomon Islands Government to improve this historical and very important infrastructure which contributes to improve airport safety and to accommodate future aviation demands,” he said.

The project, according to Mr Yasuhiro, will have direct impact on the development of Solomon Islands through enhanced connectivity within the country, region and the world.

The Japanese Envoy is confident that the infrastructure will allow the Honiara International Airport to become a competitive airport in the region based on its location and upgraded status with new facilities.

“I am confident that this project will be delivered well ahead of the 2023 Pacific Games and with the improvements, Solomon Islands will be able to manage the increased arrivals and departures during the games,” Yasuhiro said.

The project now costs an estimated $347 million including the additional $26.5 million Japan announced last week.

China fund machinery for agriculture here

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CHINA last Friday signed an agreement to provide funding assistance for agriculture machinery.

Chinese Ambassador Li Ming, Jeremiah Manele, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and Senley Filualea, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, attended the ceremony.

Ambassador Li said that China has provided assistance to rural areas of all nine provinces.

The pending arrival of agricultural machinery including tractors and ploughs will help improve local farmers’ capability-building in agriculture production.

The Chinese Embassy is also working with Ministry of Agriculture of Solomon Islands to bring in Chinese agricultural technical team as early as possible, which will help improve SI farmers’ agricultural technology and enrich their experience.

“China and Solomon Islands are both developing countries, and faced with common challenges such as COVID-19 pandemic, sustainable development, and climate change,” Ambassador Li said.

“As the largest grain producer and consumer of the world, China attaches great importance to tackle climate change, and pursues an environmental friendly agriculture industry to reduce greenhouse emission and mitigate impact of climate change while ensuring food security,” he added.

“China will continue to honor its commitments to friendly relationship with Solomon Islands and look forward to more in-depth cooperation.”

Manele expressed appreciation to the Chinese Government for funding assistance on agriculture machinery.

He said the agricultural machinery will help enhance the capability of agriculture sector in Solomon Islands.

“And the machinery will be provided to the Agricultural Development Project in Guadalcanal and Malaita under the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) of World Trade Organization,” Manele said.

EDITORIAL- Lessons from the MSIP saga

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PUBLIC reaction to the removal of the Miss Solomon Islands title from Gladys Habu over the weekend went out of hand on social media.

It resulted in personal attacks and hatred against the Miss Solomon Island Pageant (MSIP) committee, who made the decision.

The MSIP committee stripped the title off Habu on claims she’s been using it to secure personal commercial contracts and that she is no longer cooperating with MSIP.

Habu flatly denied the claims.

She insisted that all her engagements as Miss Solomon Islands were conducted in good faith and trust.

She added she was never given the opportunity to meet or discuss with the Pageant Committee issues of concern.

The reactions that followed these exchanges went through the roof.

Mostly, it was from those who viewed the MSIP decision as unfair and done out of jealousy.

It was not unusual for people to react that way.

After all, Habu, like those before her, was a well-loved queen.

She is a highly intelligent young woman who has won many hearts and minds since she got the title in 2019.

So the widespread support she got was expected.

These well-intended show of support however, were overshadowed by the amount of attacks and abuse spewed on the public forums by many of the commentators.

Personal attacks and abuse should never be part of any debate or discussions on issues of public interests.

We also believe this matter could have been better handled by the MSIP committee.

We’ve noted that there’s no face-face consultation between the MSIP and Habu before the decision to remove the title was made.

Had this been done, the outcome would be different.

Be that as it may, it would be good to see the two parties coming together and settle their differences.

Even if MSIP stands by its decision and Habu accepting to move on, the importance of reconciliation cannot be further stated.

This must be done so that everyone could look forward to the next event when the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

Sad as it may, the matter provides lessons that organisers should learn from for the good of future events.

Biosecurity conducts integrated Pest and Disease management awareness.

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Biosecurity officers, JICA rep and Ministry of Forestry officers with community member participants during the awareness-training.

BIOSECURITY officers of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) conducted a one-day awareness training on integrated pest and disease management for Komuniboli community members in East Guadalcanal on 15th April 2021.

Focused on pest control, specifically on Giant African Snail (GAS), the training was conducted upon request by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with the aim to address attack of GAS on its (JICA) Agroforestry project site there, raise awareness for community farmers on invasive pest and aware them on signs of (new possible) pests.

Jean Manepora’a, who was part of the awareness team said the awareness-training was a success with the establishment of a biological control agent for GAS by their team at the village/community.

“There was an MOU signed between BSI and JICA under its (JICA) project on Capacity Development for Sustainable Forest Resources Management in Solomon Islands.


Biosecurity officer, Gideon Suda do a presentation on what is Biosecurity regulated pest and diseases which include GAS, CRB, fruit-flies and citrus canker.

“The MOU is to permit BSI to carry out awareness and trainings on regulated pests like Giant African Snail (GAS) and Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) at its project sites of Agroforestry which are established at Komuniboli in East Guadalcanal and Falake community in Malaita province.

“Now, that we have done with the first one, a similar training under the same project is anticipated for Falake community members in West Kwara’ae, Malaita province in due course.”

Manepora’a said it was encouraging to see the whole community came out in numbers and help out with the establishment of four blocks of biological control trial sites, with New Guinea Flat Worm (platydemus Manokwari) being used for the biocontrol of GAS.

“The awareness-training really equipped the community members as they acquired practical knowledge and techniques on the management of pest and diseases.


A group of participants discussed the impacts of pest and diseases on environment related to adverse impact to native flora and fauna.

“Establishment of the biocontrol agent at the site/community is a project that BSI firmed with Komuniboli community under JICA’s agroforestry project as part of a collaborative efforts to control the spread of GAS within the vicinity.”

Biosecurity officers involved in the awareness are; George Harunari, Gideon Suda, Jean Manepora’a and Samson Kauli.

GAS, Lissachatina fulica, previously known as Achtinidia fulica, arrived in Solomon Islands in 2006.

It was first reported at Ranadi, Honiara and is believed to have arrived in the country on logging equipments that had been landed without biosecurity clearance.

MAL through its Biosecurity department has carried out active campaigns to eradicate it but after that proved impossible, to reduce its impact and contain it to the outbreak area.

To date it is now confirmed that the CRB has spread to some parts of the provinces except for Choiseul province and the worst infected provinces are Malaita, Guadalcanal, Makira (mostly Ulawa), Central Province especially Russell Islands and Ngella and Rennell and Bellona and Malaita Outer Islands (MOI).

–MAL

Health welcomes latest Solomon Forestry Association support

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From L-R). MHMS DSHC Dr Gregory Jilini, Dr Zimlon B, Sister Daly, SFA President Johnny Sy, Island Enterprise Manager, Head of NRH Medical Laboratory Alfred Dofai and MHMS Advisor Dr Yogesh Choudhri

THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) says it remains grateful towards the continuous support of the Solomon Forest Association (SFA) to both operational and development aspirations of the ministry.

This is not the first, SFA has in the past-donated medical consumables including for COVID-19 operations and many more.

Yesterday, health welcomes yet again another significant donation of cheque payment worth $152,059 made by SFA to Island Enterprise to complete remaining outstanding payment for a two-container size medical laboratory for Good Samaritan Hospital, Guadalcanal Province.

In handing over the cheque, President of SFA, Johnny Sy said that the association has been informed of the work that is currently underway at Good Samaritan and thus decided to help.

“We understand that the ministry is working hard in terms of the current COVID-19 response and roll out of COVID-19 vaccines, thus there is no  doubt that resources let alone financial resources will also be stretched.

“With this, SFA has decided to support the work with the Laboratory at the Good Samaritan Hospital,” Sy said.

MHMS Deputy Secretary for Health Services Dr Gregory Jilini who witnessed the handing over, explained that medical laboratories perform a very crucial function to assist in the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of diseases

“So basically for the 39,000 people within the catchment area of the Good Samaritan Hospital, the new medical laboratory would essentially mean no more waiting for their blood samples to be transported to the National Referral Hospital for analysis along-side many other blood analysis of in and out patients at the referral hospital,” Jilini said.

“Once the lab becomes functional, all blood tests will be conducted at Good Samaritan Hospital and results swiftly communicated to the doctor who can then advise on treatment,” he added.

“A significant development that is in progress and will now be made possible sooner than expected with the donation received today.”

Dr Jilini added the contribution will also gear towards overall goal of the ministry in its Role Delineation Plan to upgrade its facilities across the country to meet the required quality and standards to achieve Universal Health Coverage whereby Solomon Islanders can have access to health services they need, when and where they need them without any financial hardship”.

—MHMS

Women’s regional meeting attracts 1,000 participants

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Ben Bilua
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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.

GUALE HEATS

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Ofani Eremae
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Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, Rollen Seleso

Premier Sade calls for Minister Seleso’s removal

By OFANI EREMAE

GUADALCANAL Premier Francis Sade has called for the immediate removal of Provincial Government minister Rolland Seleso.

He claimed Seleso is playing “delaying tactics” with the disbursement of service grant to his government.

“I call on the prime minister to either sack or reshuffle his provincial government minister,” Sade told reporters yesterday.

“This man does not have vision and qualities to be a national leader,” he added.

“In fact he was demanding that I apologise to the Government before they can release the service grant to my province.”

Sade said these information were relayed to him by his officials.

But Seleso last night denied the claim outright.

“How could the premier come up with such claim?” Seleso asked.

“I have no right to delay or stop service grants to Guadalcanal or any of the provinces,” he said.

“The service grants will be released at their right time.

“The 2021 budget has just been passed this week.

“When all the paper works are done, the ministry will pay out service grants to all the provinces.”

Sade also accused Seleso of being part of moves to lodge a second motion of no-confidence against his leadership.

Sade defeated a no-confidence vote members of the non-executive tabled against him last month.

At that time, he claimed certain Guadalcanal MPs backed by loggers were behind the motion.

“Another motion of no-confidence against my leadership is on its way,” Sade said yesterday.

“This is according to the minister for provincial government,” he claimed.

“The minister has been telling members of my executive who are ward members within his constituency to leave my government.

“This is unbelievable when you consider he is the minister responsible for provincial government.

“But they are free to bring on the motion of no confidence.”

However, responding to this, Seleso said:

“This is another wild claim.

“It is not my role to cause instability within Guadalcanal or any of our provinces.

“My job is to bring stability, not instability.

“Sade needs to calm down and work together with the seven MPs from Guadalcanal inside the national government.

“I have no intention of working against Sade’s leadership.”

Seleso added, Sade has no right to call for his removal.

“This is a matter best left for the prime minister to decide on, not a premier,” Seleso said.

Meanwhile, Sade claimed since he came into power, certain MPs from Guadalcanal have displayed dislike for his leadership.

“I don’t know why they are not happy with my leadership.

“These national leaders should know those of us leading Guadalcanal came in to serve our people, not ourselves.

“In fact we have been cleaning up the mess some of these leaders have created and left during their time in the provincial government.”

He added, his Government fully supports National Government policies.

“No, we are not anti-government. We support national government policies.

“But that does not stop us from speaking up when we see things are not right with policy implementation.”

Sade also defended his stand with Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani to challenge the legality of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

“My stand with Suidani is not to go against government policy.

“We are basically challenging the legality of CDF, to see whether it’s right under law and the constitution for MPs to administer and dish out public funds,” he said.

Wale raises ‘pros & cons’ of Govt policies.

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Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

OPPOSITION Leader, Matthew Wale has raised the pros and the cons of the Government’s policies.

Speaking in response to the Speech of the Throne in Parliament on Wednesday, Wale said there are some positives about government’s overall policy disposition.

“Firstly, one can see there is a waking up to the need to have fewer priorities.

“Secondly, there is recognition that adequate funding is a necessity to ensure priorities have any realistic hope of being achieved,” he said.

Wale said thirdly, government is more sensitive to its own capacity to execute and therefore the need to review its delivery mechanisms and to seek strategic partnerships with non-state actors.

“As I said these are positives and must be encouraged.

“However, there is much room for improvement in all these positives,” he said.

Wale said the priorities would seem to him still too many in the current difficult economic situation, given the squeeze on government revenues.

He said the result is that although there is better clarity on government priorities, the funding levels are still inadequate for purpose.

“I grant that there have been increases in budget allocations to government priorities, compared to previous years,” he said.

“But in this matter, it is not a comparison to prior years that is important,” he said.

Wale said the two factors critical to delivery of the policy objectives are whether there is adequate funding and capacity to execute.

“A look at the 2021 budget reveals a sharing out of the cake, not a strategic outlook.

“This was my main critique of government policy as contained in the 2021 budget, and it is still relevant to this debate.

“Fewer priorities will achieve clearer focus,” he said.

Wale said fewer priorities enable adequate funding to be allocated which would lead to better delivery and execution.

“And the delivery/execution objective requires government to seek the most efficient, effective and economically catalytic partnerships,” he said.

Guadalcanal MPs: Sade is threat to the province

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GUADALCANAL Members of Parliament with the ruling DCGA government have expressed their disappointment with the manner in which Guadalcanal Premier Francis Sade is behaving lately.

In this week’s Island Sun newspaper, Premier Sade issued a warning to the national government.

He said that all national projects happening within Guadalcanal will be disrupted and jeopardized by his sub-national government.

He stated the national government “will face tough challenges to deal with Guadalcanal Province on any development the national government are planning to do in Guadalcanal”.

Some of the national projects he intends to block are the Tina Hydro project, the JICA funded road expansion, the JICA international airport expansion, the Pacific Games 2023, Police outpost constructions, Former Taiwanese Farm relocation, Lunga Water Treatment Plant, Mamara development, Alligator Creek Market, Gold Ridge Mining, PCDF funded projects and all other line-ministry projects on Guadalcanal.

In a statement, Guadalcanal MPs questioned the credibility and sanity or the state of mind of Premier Sade as of late.

They questioned his credibility and sanity under section 15.(1) (a)&(c) of the Provincial Government Act 1997.

The provisions reads that ‘a person shall be disqualified from membership of a provincial assembly if the person-(a) is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state and (c) is certified to be insane or otherwise adjudged to be of unsound mind under Solomon Islands law’. 

They said to make such threat is counterproductive to development of Guadalcanal Province and Solomon Islands as a whole. When Guadalcanal develops, the rest of Solomon Islands develop.

They said the MOU between Guadalcanal Province and Ministries of Finance and Mines regarding the Tina Hydro, which the premier referred to is an administrative matter.

“The Provincial Secretary of Guadalcanal Province should be following up on such matters,” they said.

The Guadalcanal Members of Parliament demanded Premier Sade to convene the Joint Coordinating Committee Meeting (JCCM).

“The JCCM platform is the avenue the Premier and his Executive can advance issues, matters and developmental aspirations of Guadalcanal Province.

“Premier Sade has failed the province in that regard and chooses to use the media to senselessly attack us GP MPs.

“How can we know what Premier Sade and his executive want for the province when they are not communicating with us?

“For him to mirror his failure on us Members of Parliament is unprofessional and childish.

“Premier Sade needs to man up and call the JCCM,” they Guadalcanal MPs said.

Finally the Guadalcanal MPs said they will not be engaging in future media exchanges and expect the convening of the JCCM as stipulated under the Provincial Government Act 1997.

Photos that would remind the world one day – Climate change exhibition

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Jennifer Kusapa
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From left to right winners of the competition from the Solomon Islands, Daniel Kakadi,Jospeh Haga and Edward Manuga

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A climate change photography exhibition was held at the Unity Square aimed at exhibiting photographs of winners of the Pacific Climate Photography Competition.

Winners of the competition from the Solomon Islands are Daniel Kakadi, Edward Manuga and Jospeh Haga. They were awarded with prizes at the event yesterday.

The exhibition was held as part of commemorating Earth Day which falls on April 22, 2021 and as part of celebrating the British High Commission in Solomon Islands and Nauru climate change photography exhibition.  

Joseph Haga explains his winning photo to Dr Jones British High Commissioner and Kate Saunders

There were 60 photographs exhibited for viewing.  

British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Dr Brian Jones says the photographs show unity in fighting climate issues regionally and internationally.

He says this year will be the year where the nations of the world show whether they are willing and able to tackle climate change, and keep it to a scale that can be managed or not.

Daniel Kakadi receiving his price from PS Mataki whilst Dr Jones looks on.

“If we can get countries to agree to reduce to zero their emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, and make finance available to those countries which need help to do that or adapt to the impacts they are already seeing of a warming climate, then we might just get back on track, but we will all have to make enormous changes, we will have to stop using coal, oil and gas completely, no more oil-fired power stations, petrol cars, or gas cookers. All these will have to go over the next thirty years

“It’s a big challenge, and it will only happen if everyone is ready to do whatever they need to support that change,” Jones says.

Jones also said Unity Square hosted the photo exhibition due to the need for unity from all levels and all walks of life.

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Environment, Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology Dr Melchior Mataki, addressing yesterday’s event, said human beings cause climate change directly and indirectly.

“And it is us humans who are responsible to tackle this issue. We must all united stand to combat climate change starting from village level to the national government,” said Mataki

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