LOCAL fish vendors in Lata are suggesting the Temotu Provincial Government and its Fisheries department provide a proper fish marketing facility.
The call was made as fish vendors feel that the present selling area is a risk as it is part of the Lata wharf and a cause for disturbance when ships conduct loading and unloading on the wharf.
The other two buildings that were already built are used for marketing were mainly market vendors selling, cooked foods, vegetables, root crops and other varities are using.
This has been a great concern from fishermen around santa cruz island and the outer islands.
Mary, a fish vendor from a village near Lata town argued that it has been an unresolved problem which the Temotu provincial government (TPG) should put to consider.
Andy a representave from Neo fish vendors suggests that, “ if the Temotu Provincial Government (TPG) looks at our interests they would provide funds to construct a proper permanent concrete slab and roofing to shelter us fish vendors who are providing business at the Lata fish market”.
“Those fish vendors use canvas layed on the ground to do their selling which is not really good enough.
So many times they have to slash prices just to get rid of their catch, beacuse therer is no proper storage facilities for them to store their catch. This is a major challenge faced by Temotu fishermen.
A fisherman from Neo adds that “Lata Market its just like an additional home to us;this is our second home and the only place for us fish vendors, this is where we generate our daily income for the survival of our families”.
Most of the fisherman are from Nende island and some from nearby islands, who fish as far close to the Reef island with most around Tinakula fishing grounds.
Fishermen from Neo usually set out to fish very early in the morning about 4:00am and came back to sell their catch at lata market around 3:00pm. They spend the whole day at sea.
Nagoibo villagers on Isabel predict that within a generation, their village will be eaten up by the sea if action is not taken to mitigate the effects of sea level rise. PHOTO ALFRED PAGEPITU
BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
The coastal community of Nagoibo on Santa Isabel Province in Solomon Islands is one of the most vulnerable places in the country to the impacts of climate change. It is threatened by rising sea levels and experts say massive mangrove planting could protect their village from the devastating impact of erosion, wave surges and floods.
Until recently, villagers are beginning to see the importance of mangroves and are engaging in mangrove planting initiative.
The mangrove planting initiative by the community comes at a time that many Pacific Island Communities are turning to mangrove reforestation to mitigate some of the effects of sea level rise.
Mangroves being planted at Isabel
The importance of mangroves to the eco-system was emphasized by University of the South Pacific School (USP) of Marine lecturer, Dr Stuart Kininmonth based in Suva, Fiji, who described mangroves as the interface between the land and marine environment. The School of Marine has been leading mangrove planting initiative in communities around Fiji.
While communities in Fiji have been benefiting from research-based institutions such as USP assisting communities in mangrove planting and rehabilitation initiatives, communities such as Nagoibo are not waiting for government or outside assistance to kick start their defence against the rising tide.
Nagoibo village, on the West Bugotu District of Isabel Province is one of the communities inundated by rising sea levels.
The village is located on the coast, near a low-lying coastal strip of land boarded on the landward side by creeks, swamps and hills.
People depend on nature for survival. But when the ecosystem is in danger, they are the ones who fear their homes being flooded and they worry about the inability to sustain their livelihoods into the future.
Long-time resident of Nagoibo village, 90-year-old Kadesh Kohe said that one of the most visible effects of sea level rise on Isabel is shoreline erosion.
90 year old Kadesh Kohe says mangrove planting is the only option to stem the continouos devastation to their shoreline
She said their community is experiencing the environmental threats due to sea level rise, which causes more extreme changes that continue to affect their Village.
“Waves and current never stop moving in, it continues to crawl into our village. As waves reach further in our shore, it kills huge trees that hold the ground along the shoreline including coconut trees.
While she has been around for many years, Mrs Kohe predicts that by the next generation they will lose their beautiful village to the sea, if necessary action is not taken.
She mentioned mangrove planting as the only workable solution they can think of to lessen the effects of rising sea-levels.
Nagoibo shoreline slowly being eaten up by the seaMangroves provide shelter for many coastal communities in the Solomon Islands from the sea
“We have no option but to plant more mangrove and trees to stand this force of nature,” she said.
Village chief, Charles Eteto also sounded the alarm adding that Nagoibo will not have any future if the current impacts are not challenged.
He said a village-based mangrove planting programme has been worked on the coastline, to help stem the flow of salt water inland.
“I believe mangroves can help lessen the impacts of tropical cyclones and bad weather which are becoming a normal occurrence in the region.
Chief Charles Eteto pointing to the dangers posed to his community by rising sea levels
“Once these occurrences happen, there is bound to be infrastructure damage and risk to human lives and as such there is importance that we use mangroves as deterrence to these phenomena’s,” he added.
The importance of mangrove to the eco-system is important, this is a fact amplified by Dr. Stuart Kininmonth Senior lecturer at the University of the South Pacific (USP) School of Marine, who described mangroves as an interface between the land and the marine environment.
He said there is a need to protect the mangrove eco-system around the world.
He stressed that mangrove planting has been very successful, especially in Fiji, partly because it’s a very low-skill so it means you can get young school children to older people to basically plant mangroves and as long as it’s done in the right location, with the right species and the right time, its normally very successful.
“The biggest issue though is it raises awareness on why people should continue with mangrove planting, why the need to maintain and keep them going.,” Dr. Kininmonth added.
He however, added that mangroves are not being spared the effects of climate change as mangroves have inexplicably died for no real apparent reason.
Climate change has also destroyed the mangrove habitat at Nagoibo
“It seems that most of the problems are to do with temperature which then affects salinity and then it’s about the mangroves dealing with the changing environment and so the increase in temperature means the mangroves then have to do a range of different activities with their leaves which allows them to do respirations and photosynthesis and that allows them to grow or not to grow.
“So, climate change is going to have an impact on mangroves, partly to temperature, partly to rainfall changes and also sea level changes which will be the biggest short-term problems,” Dr Kininmonth added.
In the Solomon Islands, mangroves are managed under customary tenure systems, with resource owners and/or chiefs making decisions with regards to the use and management of the mangrove forests. According to a 2013, World Fish report, the government supports a community-based management approach to mangrove rehabilitation in the country.
Communities such as Nagoibo are looking towards the mangrove to help mitigate some of changing patterns they have seen with the rising tide of late.
“We only need government support in terms of expert advice to help us in our efforts to save our village, Chief Eteto remarked as he looks over the horizon.
* This feature story was produced with support from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) under its Asia-Pacific Project 2020.
Leader of Opposition Mathew Wale. Picture Supplied
Wale warns Mining path to follow Logging misfortunes
By Alfred Pagepitu
THE Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale has warned that the shift by former logging companies into the mining sector will perpetuate the exploitative economy that impoverishes the large majority of Solomon Islanders who are increasingly marginalized
Mr Wale was speaking in his debate on the 2021 Appropriation Bill in Parliament yesterday.
He stressed that in-country mineral processing was included in the government’s redirection policy, however no programme or funding was made available to advance this policy.
He said the manner in which tenements have been allocated betray three things:
“Firstly, there are former loggers who have migrated to mining and are holding licenses. We can take from this that the practice of merely extracting resources and shipping them overseas will continue.
“Just as in logging, it will be difficult to see processing with such operators.
“Further, the corruption with transfer pricing will continue as with logging. This represents bad choices. Secondly, processing requires economies of scale to be viable.
He said by allocating small tenements to many small companies, the government has shot itself in the foot and precluded the possibility of processing in-country.
“This questions the government’s sincerity in its redirection policy statement.
Mr Wale further points out that the quality of the investors holding tenements leaves much to be desired.
He mentioned that all these factors combine to betray that fact that the mining industry will become like the logging industry – a get-rich-quick industry for foreigners.
“This industry will perpetuate the exploitative economy that impoverishes the large majority of Solomon Islanders who are increasingly marginalized. There are just too many poor choices being made in this. Should we blame our founding fathers for this?
On the long run, the Mining sector from 2016-2020 contributes an average of 0.1 percent of the total government expenditure.
Mr Wale stressed that this sector contains some low hanging fruit, given the current economic situation and the need for government to make revenue gains.
Mr Wale also spoke of the need to have a geoscience lab (Geochem. & petrological lab) fully funded.
This he said is key to the government assessing the true quantity and value of ore shipped overseas.
“It is also critical to determining the right international market price applicable to the grade of ore,” he added. …More on his budget speech in our next edition
Guadalcanal Premier, Francis Sade has thrown support behind Malaita Premier's move to take the RCDF issue to court.
THE Premier of Guadalcanal Province, Francis Sade has thrown support behind the recent public statement of Malaita Premier challenging the Rural Constituency Development Fund (RCDF) scheme in court.
The support was relayed in a meeting called between the two leaders yesterday by the Guadalcanal Premier.
He welcomed and strongly supported the recent public statement by Premier Suidani of Malaita province to take the RCDF Scheme to court.
“Hon colleague my government has been discussing the matter with the same view you have had. Thank you for taking the lead and that I and my government are in full support of this important move.
“I am also reaching out to our other colleague premiers to support this important call. So far many have shown support”.
The Guadalcanal leader emphasised that “As elected leaders of our peoples, this is what we are elected to do. Ensuring that schemes including the RCDF that are operated in this country are done within the bounds of our constitution and other relevant laws.
“We can no longer watch and pretend all is good. That kind of thinking and behavior has no place in modern Solomon Islands”.
Sade assured Mr. Suidani that they are all in this business and that the two premiers have agreed on a framework to start pulling resources together for this court action.
THE Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police National Security and Correctional Service Karen Galokale has revealed that work on re-levelling of remuneration of officers under the ministry has recommenced for the first quarter of this year.
She made this statement before the Public Accounts Committee last week.
She said they have started the review and are planning to implement it last year, but due to COVID and the Ministry being involved in the operation supporting the Ministry of Health, the review did not eventuate.
“But we’ve recommencing again in this first quarter, in terms of funding it will be a challenge but we want to at least have a complete submission on the new levels for police officers”, Ms Galokale said.
PS Galokale said the review will improve the current levels of police officers, meaning the package for renumeration will be improved.
Galokale also acknowledged the Health workers for raising their issue last year and thus her Ministry has taken on board in their review on the renumeration of the Police officers and the CSSI officers.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Aoke Langalanga also said during the PAC that is important for the government to pay officers well.
“We have come through terrible experiences when we are not paying the two agencies well”, Wale added.
Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi and Dr. Paul Orotaloa smiling with the signing document
A Mental Health Service Agreement was signed between the Correctional Service of Solomon Islands and the National Mental Division (NMD) of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
According to Dr Paul Orotaloa the CSSI medical clinic and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has agreed to broaden the MOU beyond the inmates with mental illness or mental disorder.
He said the MOU now includes a section on mental patients in the Rove Central Correctional Centre (RCCC) who are brought to a health facility and a section on the management of public safety issues in health facilities.
“The MOU sets out the principles to guide how staff from RCCC Health clinic and Ministry of Health and Medical Services will work together when responding to and delivering care and treatment to inmates accessing these services”. Dr. Orotaloa said.
He said it provides a framework that focusses on interagency and collaboration cooperation to deliver care to inmate’s with mental illness in a safe environment.
The MOU promotes a flexible, solution focused approach to decision-making to provide for the wellbeing and safety of the inmates and the safety of staff involved in their care.
Meanwhile Commissioner Manelusi acknowledge the ministry of Health and Medical Services for supporting and building relationship with CSSI and also thank the CSSI Clinic in charge Mr. Hansford Afia for coordinating and facilitated this ceremony successfully.
Holy Cross Cathedral Parish Youth Paid tribute to the Infant found infront of the Holy Cross cathedral Lawn
YOUTHS from the Holy Cross Cathedral Parish have paid tribute to an infant found in front of the Cathedral on Monday.
According to Police report, the infant is estimated to be about six to eight months old.
Child Protection Officer for Catholic Archdiocese Leotina said, “The church teaches the Sanctity of Life, ALL LIFE MATTERS from the womb to the tomb”.
“Therefore this action is unacceptable but the reason behind it is unknown and we send sympathy and prayers”, Ms Leotina said.
She said the past years, children have been the victim of either, rape, abuse and worse, abortion.
“Let us build a safer environment for all children and let us protect the unborn”, she said.
The site where the dead infant was found
“As Christians we should help and support each other and start looking at solving the problem rather than gossiping or assuming the causes” she said.
“Parents, Teachers, Priests, Pastors and Leaders should teach their children and youths about the importance of life because All Life Matters”. She said.
His Grace Archbishop Christopher Cardone OP also told Catholic Communication on Tuesday 6th April said,
“When I got the news I thought this involved one of our youths but thankfully not”,
However “Any youth or young woman who has pregnancy but is not willing to care or is not able to look after the baby they can come to Holy Cross and share their situation with our DMI Sisters or any of the priests here, Holy Cross is Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week”, He said.
“The Catholic is willing to look after or look for any willing family who would adopt the unwanted child”. He ended.
For some of the youths, this event is meaningful and touching that even the rain does not stop them from showing up.
A youth rep Ms Margreth Nerry who led the prayer, also shared her thoughts on this.
“A child have been neglected and was tossed like it’s nothing”
“A God given Life”,
“This is a lesson for all youths and young women to be careful and respect ourselves when it comes to relationship”. She said.
The youths put a cross, flowers and said prayers for the soul of infant and all unwanted infants in the country.
POLICE Commissioner Mostyn Mangau says that police have not yet identified the mother of the infant found at the Holy cross area on April 5 2021.
Responding to a question asked during the recent press conference on whether or not police have arrested the mother of the deceased infant, Mangau said police are yet to locate and arrest the mother, but investigations are still ongoing.
Police this week attended to an incident relating to the body of the female infant found in the Holy Cross Cathedral area.
The matter was reported to police and officers at the Central Police Station and a team from Police Forensics attended the scene and took photographs and conducted an inquiry.
“The body of the infant was later transported to the National Referral Hospital morgue for medical examination, “Police said
Police said the infant was estimated to be about six to eight months old.
Police continue to call on people living in and around the Holy Cross Cathedral area who may have any information about the matter to come forward and assist police with the investigation.
THE case of a retired female police inspector charged for one count of indecent act and one count of consumption of liquor will appear in court on Monday for a pre-trial conference.
This is the case that occurred at Temotu in 2018.
The Prosecution alleged that the incident occurred on October 12 2018 at the Luesalemba School during its Graduation ceremony.
The accused was drinking alcohol with the complainant and others on that said date, later that day between 7pm – 8pm, the victim was too drunk and was lying on his back facing up at one of his wantok.
The accused upon seeing the complainant falling asleep, got up moved to where the complainant was lying lifted her skirt and sat down ontop of the complainant’s private part and moved her buttock. While doing the act, she was then approached by someone and they pulled her out from the complainant.
Paul Fanasia of the Office of the Public Prosecution’s office appeared for the crown yesterday.
A drilling machine and inflatable rubber water tank for fluid circulation process. The newly purchased machines were trialled by drilling 4 bore holes which were successful. Since beginning of this year, about 10 holes were completed
THE Government through the Water Resources Division at the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) has resumed the vital Drilling Services Programme.
The previous Programme was closed during the height of the ethnic tension when all drilling machineries and accessories were stolen or destroyed.
A statement from MMERE said that since 2017 through its Water Sector Development Programme under a Development Budget Support made preparatory work such as procurement of machineries, training of staff drillers, ground water assessment trainings through carrying resistivity surveys to determine ground water existence, etc.
“This is a very important programme because it deals with a very basic necessity. Water is plentiful in our country; however, it is not readily made available. Women and children especially have to walk some distances to fetch water for household uses in the rural areas. This is not very good” the statement said.
“Water Resources Division therefore is making the efforts to contribute to try and address the issue through its drilling programme.”
The statement briefly highlighted that water is available through various sources.
Fresh Water can be sourced from open sources such as rivers, streams and lakes. Rain is also another common source. Ground water is another important source. Whilst the Rural Water Supply (or R-Wash) Program under the Ministry of Health and Medical Services primarily deals with accessing water from open sources, the Water Resources Division focuses on the ground water source which is an important source to tap into since not all our townships, villages and communities have rivers and streams.
The actual drilling of bore holes started in August 2020. The newly purchased were trialled by drilling 4 bore holes. Since beginning of this year, about 10 holes were completed. The depth of the boreholes ranges from 15 to 80 meters.
The statement further explains that drilling exercise comes at a cost. Therefore, the Government is charging certain fees for providing the services.
“MMERE felt that despite the charges, the high quality of drilling services provided justifies the fees for the service. Spending money on such a commodity such as water is well worth it.”
MMERE also cautioned that resident or business houses who intend to engage drilling services must seek advice from responsible authorities first to ensure drilling services provided is worth the money spent.
“There are some private drilling service providers available in the country and as the Ministry responsible for water resources management as well as having expertise in groundwater development we wish to suggest to the general public to seek appropriate advice on groundwater development and drilling services prior to engaging drilling services.”
