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.”
Group discussion session on differences between Gender and Sex. Photo credit: Angelina Halumae, UNDP Solomon Islands
SINCE March 19, the UN Development Programme in Solomon Islands, in cooperation with the Government of Solomon Islands and the International Labor Organization (ILO), is delivering a one-month training leadership in peacebuilding programme for youths in the Weather Coast within the Empowering Youth as Agents for Peace and Social Cohesion in the Solomon Islands Project’s framework.
More than 100 young community leaders aged 16-24 years from five youth caucuses participated in a complex training programme on leadership, peacebuilding, effective governance and gender equality. Among the main training’s goals are to empower youth to become peacebuilders and leaders in their communities and boost youth participation rate in decision-making to ensure everyone’s voices heard and counted.
Since the Solomon Islands Government committed to prioritize youth rights and address youth aspirations and well-being, UNDP Solomon Islands, through the Youth Empowerment Project, aims to engage young people across the country in peacebuilding efforts and increase their inclusion in the social and economic life of their communities.
The Youth Caucus from Purepure (East Weather Coast of Guadalcanal Province) listening the facilitator’s presentation on gender stereotypes and peacebuilding
UNDP Solomon Islands Project Manager Vardon Hoca noted the importance of youth empowerment through such leadership programmes: “Education, cultural diversity, gender equality and youth empowerment have a central role in building a resilient, competitive and sustainable Solomon Islands’ future. Following this training programme, we tried to swiftly present the first set of initiatives addressing key competencies for lifelong learning, peaceful co-existence, and fostering common values and inclusive education.”
The programme goal is to empower its participants to assume a leading role in improving peaceful communication between the different groups and open a window for dialogue in society. It is expected that the participants lead this initiative and disseminate their experiences in their communities by sharing them with the other youth networks and active youth organizations.
Participants are presenting their ideas on how to empower youth and engage them in peacebuilding decision-making processes
“Young people can be important drivers and agents of change in the development of their community, province, and most importantly, our country as a whole. In order to bridge the communication gap between generations, people must start listening to each other. Hence, programmes like this must involve youth to make the decision-making process more inclusive,” said one of the participants from Nagho caucus.
With the 2030 Agenda as a guiding thread, UNDP works to advance young people’s civic and political life, economic empowerment, and role as peace- and resilience-builders.
The training programme which will last till the end of April, 2021 is being conducted by the Empowering Youth as Agents for Peace and Social Cohesion in the Solomon Islands Project and implemented by UNDP Solomon Islands with the financial support of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.
Continue- Public Servants IPAM participants achieving their IPAM course certificates. Below- National Statistics Officers who participate in the IPAM Training achieving their certificate.
The Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) congratulates Public servants in various ministries including staff of the National Statistics Office (NSO) for participating in the IPAM workshops held earlier this year on February and March 2021.
IPAM on Wednesday 7th April held a graduation ceremony for the public servants.
A total of 130 Public servants participated in IPAM workshops this year with four of them from the National Statistics Office who took part in the customer service and knowing about the public service trainings.
IPAM through the Ministry of the public Service has facilitated these workshops as a center for National productivity for the Public servants from various ministries in the country.
The Training workshops offered are, Knowing your Public service, Customer Services, Microsoft power Point and PMP. These accredited trainings target the training needs of the public service and they are offered to enhance the skills and the competence of public officers in delivering public services and to encourage public officers build their career pathways.
Chairman of the Public Service Mr Milner Tozaka, in his speech to the participants, emphasised the importance of the training and the need for training.
“Training is an important aspect of human resources development, an avenue as well as a tool that one can develop a particular skill or acquire a particular information to help oneself to do a particular thing”, he said.
“And the need for such training in an IPAM workshop is for everyone irrespective of skills and qualification.
Front row- Center- Right- Chairman of the IPAM- Mr Milner Tozaka and center left- Director of IPAM Mr Solomon Manea, and all the Public servants who participated in the IPAM Training.Leni Taisia receiving her certificate present by IPAM Director.
Mr Tozaka mentioned that training is essential as the working environment is changing; this helps increase the knowledge on a particular subject and increasing competency of employees in an organisation.
The participants expressed their appreciation.
Florence Walekwate from NSO said attending the Customer service workshop broadened her knowledge on how to interact with customers when approaching customer or public through face to face or through answering a simple official phone call.
“Customer service approaches is for all public servants and not only for receptionists.
Left to right- Florence Walekwate and right Esther Paraerae, Receiving their IPAM certificates on knowing your public service.
It’s a very important character that public servants should know how to apply in daily official work”, she said.
In addition, Norman Suunorua a participant from the Ministry of Commerce who attended the ‘knowing your Public Service’ training said it was an eye opener gaining knowledge from the course.
“Now I understand that all the line ministries have procedures under the Government law which bind them under the law of the country linked with the parliament.”
POLICE have arrested a man for the alleged murder of a 25-year-old male at Halavo village, Central Islands Province on Monday.
The arrest was made by Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) stationed at the Tulagi Police Station.
Operation Manager Central Province, Inspector George Mouli said an initial report on the incident states that the deceased and the suspect had an argument.
He said as the argument heated up both suspect and deceased struggled and as a result the suspect grabbed a knife and cut the victim on the left side of his head and stabbed him on the right side of his stomach.
Inspector Mouli says, “The matter was reported at the Tulagi Police Station and officers attended the report and arrested the suspect and placed him in the cell.
He further said the deceased was transported to the Tulagi Mini Hospital and later referred to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) but pronounced dead on the way to Honiara.
“My condolences to the family of the deceased for the tragic loss of one of their loved one,” Inspector Mouli said.
The suspect has been dealt with and charged with murder contrary to section 200 of the Penal Code. He has been remanded at the Rove Correctional Centre in Honiara to appear in Court at a later date.
Inspector Mouli adds, “I call on relatives of both the suspect and deceased in the incident to refrain from any retaliation and allow police to investigate the matter.
“I appeal to people of Halavo Village who may have any information about the incident to come forward and supply the information to investigators at the Tulagi Police Station.”
POLICE are still searching for the mother of an infant, whose body was found early this week at the Holy Cross area in Honiara.
Apparently, the woman or girl left the baby at the church compound after her delivery.
Unfortunately, the baby was already dead when she was found.
At this stage, it’s not known whether the mother deliberately killed the infant or gave birth to a dead baby.
That is still subject to police and medical investigation.
This is not the first case of its kind.
In fact, similar cases have been discovered recently at various locations in Honiara.
Cases like this are a reflection of the moral decay of today’s society.
A situation where human lives no longer matter.
As is often the case, the quickest reaction is to turn around and condemn the mother.
Little did we realise that this is just a tip of a much deeper societal issue in our country today.
Issues such as unemployment, family breakdown, high school drop-out, hard economic situation and lack of respect for each other are some of the contributing factors.
But here’s the thing.
Girls, if you ended up pregnant, seek help.
You have aunties, women support groups, priests and pastors and other trusted friends you can share your stories with.
Don’t suffer alone.
There is always help out there.
Killing or neglecting the baby you carry should never be an option.
Even if your world is falling apart, never resort to killing a human soul.
You will live to regret it for the rest of your life if you do that.
The Holy Cross infant case is now a police matter.
The mother of the baby is out there in the community. Police are looking for her.
She should do the right thing.
Come forward, get help and surrender to police.
That’s the right course of action to take at this time.
Doing that will also allow you to seek much needed medical care!
Communities in Solomon Islands are worried that lack of effective monitoring mechanisms and safe environmental practices by stakeholders are preventing authorities from understanding the full extent of environmental damage brought about by the rampant logging industry in the country.
The logging industry in the Solomon Islands is a huge revenue earner for the country, it is also a curse to the environment.
In 2019, the State of the Environment Report released by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology found that unsustainable forestry harvesting rates are at 12-14 times the established sustainable level.
Among the most notable logging destruction highlighted in the report includes forestry depletion and its knock-on negative effects on biodiversity, pollution of water bodies including rivers, streams and coastal waters remain recalcitrant for the past 27 years
The concern over environmental damages and the ineffectiveness of monitoring mechanisms was raised by communities on Isabel province, the longest island in the Solomon Islands archipelago, an island that features forest cover that has drawn a lot of companies vying to take control of the resources that are available.
Many of these companies are illegally getting license to operate on customary land through bypassing business license from provincial authorities.
Another logging camp at Lelegia village, Bugotu District, Isabel Province in the Solomon Islands.
For most communities in the Solomon Islands, very little has come by since gaining independence in terms of development, hence, availing land to logging companies as a way out of the meagre economic situation they are in seemed a worthy enough incentive.
Yet, not much has been done to ensure communities are protected and informed of the environmental impacts such operations pose to the ecosystem.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Dr Melchior Mataki in a recent interview with local journalists’ points out that the forestry sector, especially logging is carried out almost unfettered with clear disregard for environmental safeguards.
Logging has also damaged streams on Isabel provinces used for cooking and drinking.Logging roads running through once pristine rainforests.
He said there is the lack of priority given to environmental management by stakeholders involved in natural resource extraction.
He said there is a need to significantly invest in the environment sector to strengthen safeguards, and enforcement and compliance.
“Safeguards whether enacted under laws or captured in relevant policies and administrative processes need to be enforced and complied with, without fear or favour and supported with requisite level of resources,” he stressed.
Mangroves and other trees are being cut to make way for logging development.
And landowners like Charles Tabiru are worried that prolonged absence of an effective monitoring system to safeguard the environment could lead to irreversible damage to the environment, especially to coral reefs, mangroves, rivers and biodiversity in whole.
Mr Tabiru from Talise village, on West Bugotu, Isabel Province points out that the problem lies with the Solomon Islands Ministry of Environment and Conservation and the Ministry of Forestry.
“I want to know if there are plans the government to monitor damage to the environment due to logging in my province and in nearby communities.
“As a local resident, we do not have the capacity in terms of really monitoring all those logging operations in very remote locations,” Tabiru said.
“Our rivers are not safe for drinking. When we experience heavy rainfalls, most of our rivers are polluted and this poses health risk due to our reliance on it for drinking and cooking.”
Talise landowner, Charles Tabiru pointing to a site used for drinking that was damaged due to logging activities.
He also mentioned that contaminated water run-off from a logging camp close to nearby Lelegia village could possibly be the link to a recent health crisis where people got sick drinking from water sources near the village.
Lelegia village mother Olivia Bako said years of logging activities within their area has had negative impacts on the village , some of the impacts has seen water sources drying up or becoming murky and not suitable to drink.
She said women in the area used to collect seashells from the mangrove area close to a logging camp close to Leleghia village.
“Our mangroves were untouched and abundant for many years.
“Back then, some of us would follow the cascading streams uphill during afternoon hours and come back with mud shells (dovili) and mangrove fruits for dinner,” Olivia recalled.
“It is a big concern for us now that the mangroves have gone because it is the place where we found food.
“We used to go there to find food, but not anymore.
A food source for hundreds of years, mangroves are being damaged due to the effects of logging.
“On Isabel, a matrilineal society, women are highly regarded as the custodian of land. Their role in society is important, but with the logging industry, it is men who are making decisions and getting royalty benefits from the proceeds.
“Even if the logging goes out, we will not be able to use that area anymore. Our fishing ground here is destroyed. This is a big problem for us mothers,” Olivia said.
A senior officer from the Ministry of Environment confirmed that there has been a lot of environmental impact caused by logging within West Bugotu and Isabel Province in particular.
He asked not to be named in this report over fears that he would lose his job.
A logging camp at Nagoibo, Isabel Province.
“The monitoring and compliance of the logging industry is in the hands of our Ministry and the environment Division of the Isabel Provincial government. I must honestly state that monitoring has been minimal over the years,” he said.
“As of last year, we created a division in the department to take care of environmental compliance of the logging industry in the country, nothing has happened.”
But Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, said the Ministry has been challenged every year financially to carry out its monitoring and compliance and enforcement responsibilities because of consistent low budget allocation towards his office by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.
Mataki also said there is the lack of priority given to environmental management by stakeholders involved in natural resource extraction.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Dr Melchior Mataki
He said this is evident in the conduct and environmental performances of extractive industries.
“The attitude is often supported by government authorities both national and provincial and leaders, who actively support such undertakings.
He stressed that the pursuit of economic profit supersedes ‘environmental profit’ and this is directly supported by the prevailing political economy and amplified by the economic concept that assigns environmental outcomes of an economic activity as externalities.
According to an academic publication called “Dynamics of Logging in Solomon Islands: The Need for Restoration and Conservation Alternatives”, Solomon Islands academic, Dr. Eric Katovai teamed up with overseas researchers to look at the effects of logging in the Solomon Islands.
The report mentioned that poor monitoring of logging activities in Solomon Islands has resulted in excessive logging subtly carried out over several decades
“Forest authorities have insufficient funds and human resources to conduct effective monitoring.
“Furthermore, remote areas are often difficult to access due to lack of transportation, and therefore are frequently neglected by authorities. Yet these areas contain some of the largest timber stocks in the country.
“Resource owners may work alongside loggers by providing support to the logging operations, and their lack of knowledge of logging codes-of-practice may limit their ability to identify illegal practices.”
* This feature story was produced with support from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) under its Asia-Pacific Project 2020.
A young photojournalist, Mr. Lachlan Eddie, is utilizing his skills in photography to drive change in his community. He is an emerging photographer with a passion to work with people in every work of life. His five years in the photography industry have been shedding light on the voiceless, especially young people, women, and children.
He is being recognized in the media industry as an imminent photojournalist working with the Solomon Star Newspaper Company. He also joined the One More Shot team of photographers in the Solomon Islands to raise funds for a sick person with cancer who later went to diagnose in Fiji.
Lachlan lives by the common motto: Pictures tell a thousand words. Through that, he is determined social change can happen through photography, and it is an avenue the country needs to support young people with.
He said, “The changes I want to see in this country is, we need to support our filmmakers, writers, photographers and content creators in advancing their dreams and skills in terms of building a huge hub for youths.”
“Currently the country has Dream Cast Hub but it is too small to accommodate more aspiring youths who want to be involved in writing, photography, videography, content creator and many more.”
“These bunches of visual artists have contributed much in some changes in our communities and societies as well as the country as a whole,” he said with a smile.
Lachlan started his photography skills after buying a Haus phone at Noro Telecom. He used the Haus phone to capture photos and posted them on his Facebook account. From there the love for photography developed.
He said, “I follow my Uncles, Navo Philip, Jayson Philip, and others to renovate some staff house and warehouse at Rinngi. When we got money from our contract, I manage to buy a Haus phone at Noro Telekom. After that, I started to capture some pictures and uploaded them to my Facebook account. From there my love for photography started to develop.”
“The interest in photography skills continues to rise. I shoot landscapes and portray photos, and posted on social media. As people commented on my photos it impresses me to continue to capture more pictures and continue to upload.”
“One day I send a friend request to a person from Norway but living in Australia. He is a professional photographer. His name is Kristian Melgard. He married Rossy from PNG.
We were close friends, and then one day, my friend Kristian after seing all my photo uploads on Facebook, he asks me. Lachlan, you seem interested in photography. “Would you like to study photography online?
Then I replied to him yes. Later Kristian registered my name and paid my fee to study photography online with the Shaw Academy, an online photography class.
Not only that, but his friend Kristian also bought him a Nikon D90 Camera and Sigma 17-50mm lens which boosted his passion for photography to sour to new heights.
Reaching this far, Lachlan commended his mother for the dedication, determination, and belief that rested on him. She is the one behind him to find his dreams in photography and graduated in Media and Journalist.
He said, “I was raised by a single mother and have grown up living my childhood life at Ughele village with my mother. I got the name “Lachlan” from a white man called Lachlan Shyves who came to Ughele in the western province, and live with the Chief of Ughele called Willie Lianga.”
My mum was a house girl for chief Lianga and his wife late Dyrin. My mum got married to my stepdad so I live with my grandfather Eddie Hoe who is a farmer and fisherman. He supports our family by selling his produce from his garden and fishing.
Lachlan is excited that despite the difficulties encountered during his entire childhood, he continues to receive support from his mother, grandfather, and close relatives.
Lachlan aims to be a lawyer. However, plans were changed when he dropped out from form six at Beulah Provincial School and no financial assistance to study law at the University of the South Pacific.
Thus, he decided to change his career pathway and went to study journalism and media at Solomon Islands National University. After completing the course, he went back to his home village to support his mother.
In 2017 he went back to Honiara, searching for a job in his qualification in journalism and media.
Currently, Lachlan work as a photojournalist with the Solomon Star Newspaper Company supporting the newsroom team. While with the newsroom team, he was fortunate to learn from Charles Kadamana.
“I learned some tips from Charles on how to shoot photos for the newspaper. It was my first time to know that newspaper pictures are different. Newspaper pictures tell a story and catch people’s attention.”
“Newspaper pictures are to attract the reader to buy the paper and as a photographer, you must select good pictures for a front page. Kadamana left Solomon Star. Solomon Star Manager wants me to take up the photography work replacing Charles Kadamana. It was a big challenge for me.”
“I am still young and new to the photographer department where Kadamana has left to me. Working in a Newspaper Company is not an easy task because you have to meet deadlines. But I slowly adapted to the work because some Solomon Star journalist supports me to do my work.”
“There is more room for improvement. I want to thank God for his ultimate support towards my work. He is our Lord and he deserves to be praised,” he said.
Besides working as a photojournalist, Lachlan created a personal Facebook page early this year. He called his Facebook page Matazonga Photography. Mata means-Eye Zonga-Accuracy. So Matazonga means Eye Accuracy.
If you an aspiring photographer, Lachlan encourages you to keep shooting and shooting and also teach yourselves from lots of photography tutorial in YouTube.
Looking to the future, Lachlan plans to own a photoshoot studio and ID Photo studio. His major challenge currently is, machine to print photo ID.
Plans for my photography In the future I want to run a photoshoot studio and ID Photo studio because some people ask me to shoot their ID photo but I don’t have a machine to print the photo ID.
