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UN women reaches out to Gizo market vendors

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UN Women- Market for Change Programme has reached out to Gizo Market Vendors with machineries to improve food productivity. Members of Gizo Market Vendors Association took ownership of a mini ploughing machine and a power tiller ploughing machine during a handover ceremony at Western Province's Agriculture Research Centre, Gizo, Western Province yesterday. (Pictured) Ms Granly Ravu tries out the machine. PHOTO BY BEN BILUA

BY BEN BILUA

Gizo

UN Women – Market for Change programme has reached out to Gizo Market vendors with machineries to improve food productivity.

Members of Gizo Market Vendors Association took ownership of a mini ploughing machine and a power tiller ploughing machine during a handover ceremony at Western Province’s Agriculture Research Centre, Gizo Western Province yesterday.

The handover was witnessed by delegates from Honiara including officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), UN Women Programme and officials from Western Province Agriculture division.

Technical Officer of MAL demonstrates how to start the machine

“The main objective of this programme is to help market vendors to improve food productivity. Main focus is on addressing threats to food security,” McDonnell Hiva, Chief Field officer of MAL said. 

He told vendors that the machineries are new and that more practice will unable perfect usage of the machines.

Hiva said the presence of vendors during the handing over demonstrate the importance of the project and its future.

McDonnell Hiva delivers his speech during the handover ceremony

“I want to highly emphasis that, more practice will make perfect. Furthermore, I urge you to establish effective network and communication so that these equipments bring equal benefit to all vendors,” he said.

Secretary of Gizo Market Vendors Association, Alecs Padakana welcomes the assistance saying that the machines will have an impact to vendors’ production.

Hands on training by MAL Officer

Further training is needed to help vendors to familiarize on how to use the machines.

“These are new machines and I’m of the view that we need more training to handle these things,” Padakana said.

One of the vendors, Granly Ravu said the machines are easy to handle and suitable for women.

“Women are the ones who spent more time in the garden and these machines are a great relief to our vendors.

“Our Vendors will no longer use their strength to plough the ground but instead the machines will to the job which is a good thing,” she said.

Gizo Market Vendors Association is an umbrella body representing vendors from the surrounding islands in Western Province and members acknowledged UN Women Program for the great assistance.

Easter gifts for babies

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The new born babies born around the Easter period at the National Referral Hospital were presented with gifts on Easter Monday.

The presentation of the gifts was made possible from a surprise visit by the students and staff of Woodford International School.

Speaking during the handing over of gifts, team leader, Jessey Koli, highlighted that this idea was initiated by the students and staff of team Mataniko.

Team Mataniko is one of the house teams of Woodford International School. Each year, the team decides on a project and the team members work towards achieving it through fundraising and donations.

“The project has to be community related, so whatever donations collected or funds raised is geared towards community service,” he stated.

“In fact what we have witnessed today is a fulfillment of last year’s project. We could not do it last year because of the Covid 19 restrictions. However, today it is a joy that these students and staff can come to present the gifts on behalf of their team members from Team Mataniko,” he added.

A student leader, Joshua Pryor, explained that the gift pack was a mixture of diapers, baby soap, baby oil and other baby necessity.

Students and staff of Woodford International School posing with the gifts. Photos supplied

“We are happy to be part of this, most especially to help a new born baby with this Easter package,” he said.

He further explained that none of this could have happened without the support of their parents as well.

And on that note thanked the parents for their continuous support towards Team Mataniko’s plans and projects.

Receiving the Easter package donations was the postnatal Nurse Manager, Gusto Roberts. She thanked the students and their teachers for their kind donation.

“We are so thankful and grateful indeed on behalf of the mothers and newborn babies who are going to benefit from your generosity,” she said.

“It is so unexpected to receive such gifts from students who are concerned about our mothers and babies and also to love and care for them during this Easter season.

“At this time, more than 2000 years ago, Jesus our master shows his love and care to die for us. Such love is indeed shown by your presence here today with the gifts you offer.”

After a brief handing over, thirty (30) Easter packs were distributed. Each new born baby received a pack. A special package was given to a baby that was born exactly on the time of the visit.

Ms Kate Ulufa’alu and Ms Nastassia Dara, two of the staffs who accompanied the students thanked the nurses and doctors of postnatal ward for giving the opportunity to visit the mothers and babies and bid all of them a happy Easter as we commemorate our risen Lord.

SDA youth-Pathfinder mission brings unity to Ngella community

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By Mikemachris Bentley

A weekend excursion by young people from the Lau valley SDA church has helped heal a long-standing division within a village on Ngella, Central Islands Province.

On Thursday, the Youth and Pathfinder missions of the Church travelled across the waters with the theme ‘reflecting God’s love’ to Vunuha village, an Anglican dominated community.

With the mission of reaching out to the small SDA church in the community, the turnout was unexpected as days of mistrust and division that exists between the two denomination was buried and both seeking ways to work together going into the future.

Pathfinders pose for a photo with an old lady during their visitation to the village elders

Village Chief and SDA minister, John Kara was all smiles as he reflected on the blessings that the Lau Valley SDA church youth and pathfinder mission has brought to them.

“This is the first time for our SDA and Anglican Communities here in Vunuha to unite and work openly together with each other to ensure our guests are feel welcomed into the community.

Members of the pathfinder platoon on their command

One of such gestures was during heavy rain on Saturday and the chiefs from the Anglican Community approached the campsites and invited all of them to come into their homes.

Chief Kara said the community in the past had only allowed the SDA church to set up in the village, but relations have not been cordial.

On news of the proposed visit, the Anglican community was approached and the visit was allowed.

The SDA community were grateful that despite the busy weekend with easter celebrations in the Anglican calendar, they are able to assist during the duration of the programme.

Minister John kara in front of New Vunuha SDA Church
Few girls from Vunuha in line with the pathfinders

Mr Kara said apart from mending relations, the trip had also been a learning point for him as the leader of the new Vunuha SDA church in the community.

“It is a spiritual and physical awakening as my community are able to participate with our brothers and sisters from the Lau Valley SDA church.

He said there are needs within the community and if there are lending hands it would go towards completing the work of God in this place.

Among the activities conducted by the youth and pathfinder missions were trainings on marching drills, camping skills, visitation to the sick and old people in the community and social games where the Vunuha kids came to enjoy.

1 Star & 2 Star Entertaining the crowd during their closing programe

He would like to acknowledge youth leader of Lau valley church, Edwin Mark, Pathfinder group leader, Hilton Bekepio, organizer of the trip, Ben Waitara and the administration office of the Lau valley church for allowing the group to travel across.

To seal the new found relationship, the Lau valley church donated some gifts to the community at Vunuha to show their commitment towards fostering the relationship.

A bird’s eye view of Vunuha village

Anglican Church member and Community chief, John Selwyn thanked the young people of Lau valley church for visiting their community.

“We look forward for a bigger programme than this where you can come and visit or we come to visit you.

Anglican community chief, John Selwyn welcomes the visit by the SDA Lau Valley group into his community

He made mention of the need to refurbish the old Anglican Church in their community and is looking for assistance, given the news that the Adventist men of Lau valley church have been involved in building churches in communities within Ngella and around the provinces.

TESTING 1, 2, 3

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Eddie Osifelo
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DCGA to table a $4 billion ‘superficial’ budget

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Democratic Coalition for Government Advancement is going to table a $4 billion ‘superficial’ budget in this sitting of Parliament.

The 2021 estimate of the budget is not based on 2020 actuals but on 2019’s.

A professional accountant, who wished not to be name, said there is a big flaw in the estimate of the budget.

“Why is the government using the 2019 actuals?

“This 2019 actuals is already stalled or no longer relevant,” accountant said.

The accountant said the government should not have any problem to generate the 2020 actual especially in this computerised world where payments at Ministry of Finance and Treasury is done digitally.

The accountant believes there are two possible reasons for the government to use the 2019 actuals:

  1. The 2020 actuals are still not finalised or summarised; and
  2. The expenses from last year have not been legalised.

Island Sun understands the Government tabled two Supplementary bills.

The government could not table the 2021 Appropriation Bill 2021 last December because of the covid-19.

As such, the accountant believes the government is likely to bring Supplementary Appropriation Bills in this financial year to cover the 2020 actuals.

In the meantime, Solomon Star investigation found a huge ‘mismatch’ in the budget that appears to exist between the Budget estimates and the Government’s Redirection Policy.

At the same time, Solomon Star claimed what has been suspected all along that figures presented in the budget were rubbery and “misleading”.

The revelation comes at a time when one major donor has reportedly distanced itself from claims that it (the donor) is supporting the government’s development funding.

“Nothing in the Redirection Policy is reflected in the allocations in the estimates in terms of funding the cost of the Redirection Policy. It is a huge mismatch between reality and assumptions,” those in the corridors of power told Solomon Star.

“The government is saying one thing but in reality is doing completely the opposite,” they said.

For example, the DCGA government recently introduced a comprehensive review officially known as the Redirection Policy which is intended to focus on the growth sector of the economy.

“But when you look at the Budget and the Redirection Policy, they have nothing in common. In other words, there is nothing in the Budget estimates to reflect the cost of the Redirection policy. There is a huge mismatch,” they said.

Solomon Star has obtained a Draft Copy of the 96-page Redirection Policy, which outlined key priorities in the different sectors, which the government has identified in its Redirection Policy.

It has divided key priorities into four (4) main sectors – the Fundamental, Social, Resources, and the Productive Sectors.

According to the Draft Redirection Policy, five Ministries have been identified for the Fundamental Reform Sector. They are the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination, Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, and the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

In the growth sector, it envisages increased investment in Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, and Tourism.

“The Rollout of the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) in supporting the agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and tourism is a manifestation of our drive to support (the) growth sector,” the Draft Redirection Policy said.

The government spent $306 million on the ESP, according to leaked Budget Summary papers, which Solomon Star has obtained.

According to the papers, the government expected a $12 million return this year on the ESP payout, a forecast described as “impossible” by economists.

“Even if you invest the entire ESP money buying stocks, it is impossible to get a $12 million return in just 12 months,” they said.

No court visit for Tikopia & Ontong Java, 16 years

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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Ontong Java and Tikopia have not had any court visit for the last 16 years.

Chief Magistrate Emma Garo revealed this during the Public Accounts Committee hearing last week.

She said they have not managed to visit the two outliers due to funding.

“We haven’t visited the Malaita Outer Islands, Sikaiana, Lordhowe, Tikopia and Anuta for almost 16 years now.

“It would be fair for them to say is the Justice system only for those in Honiara, we have not managed to do that because of lack of funding, so it’s a challenge for us to organise and visit these areas.”

Ms Garo said the Magistracy have visited almost all the centres throughout the country and in terms of its performance in 2020 all courts from Western, Makira, Auki and Honiara hit more than 100 percent disposal rate for all cases civil, criminal and customary land appeal court.

She said they have brought those courts to a manageable level and want the government to maintain the effective performing level of the court to avoid going back to backlog of cases, because the challenge faced is funding to maintain the courts.

Garo said in this year’s budget they have been allocated with only $915,711 for the court circuits and CLAC and compared to 2020 budget this year’s budget has been reduced to 142 percent of last year’s budget.

She also said that their budget for this year was around $2million, calculated by their office managers, however that budget was reduced and she also posed a question whether those who do the budget-cut know better than those office managers who are based in the field.

$55m pumped into DBSI in six months

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Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

GOVERNMENT has injected a total of $55 million in six months towards the Development Bank of Solomon Islands (DBSI).

Interim Chief Executive Officer, Tukana Bovoro told Public Accounts Committee in Parliament last week.

Bovoro said the total bank asserts (subject to finalisation of audit until December 31, 2020) is $79 million.

He said $54 million comprise of loan book and net assets of $49 million.

Bovoro said bulk of the loan is $48 million; that goes towards livelihood and investment.

He said this targets people to invest in small business to help them after retirement.

Further to that, Bovoro said about 37 applications were done for $11 million in the Small and Medium Enterprises.

Bovoro said the Bank expects to start making profits in 2023.

“We are just six months, we want grow steady.

“We still need capital,” he said.

Bovoro said the Bank can start a foreign exchange component but need experts and markets.

However, Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale has questioned the composition of the DBSI Board which has four political appointees in the government.

Wale said these people need to be removed to give way for competent and neutral people who have experienced in this industry.

The revitalization of DBSI is a priority of the National Government that has received bipartisan support because of the need for an institution to provide financial services that caters for the needs of all Solomon Islanders.

Government and serving members of parliament realize that the country as a whole has not progressed economically and socially as it could have because of the absence of financial institutions that will look at the needs of Solomon Islanders in a more holistic and at the same time financially viable manner.

Parliament passed the DBSI Act 2018, in November 2018, paving the way for the re-establishment of the DBSI.

Ngedea’s case returns to court

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Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of a man accused of lying to a retired doctor for money will appear again in court for mention.

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

He is faced with 25 counts of false pretence and 21 counts of demanding with menace.

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

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

Prosecution also alleged Ngedea during those times appeared using aliases such as George Ben, John Lake and Peter.

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

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

Easter market for women

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Alfred Pagepitu
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Magic hands members showcasing their products during the Easter market organized for women at the Pacific Casino Hotel yesterday. More than 40 women took advantage of the opportunity to promote and sell their local products. Photo: Alfred Pagepitu

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

FORTY-plus venders turned up at the Paradise Hall, Pacific Casino Hotel to set up their stalls and sell their produce.

The Easter market is all about different companies, business houses and local vendors coming together to sell their products.

Esther Dede, Food and Beverage Manager of the Pacific Casino Hotel told Island Sun yesterday the aim of hosting a one-day Easter market for Women is to promote domestic tourism in the country.

Ms Dede said that most women, especially vendors, local business operators are affected due to covid-19.


Millicent Barty selling the Solomon Islands made Romana Condiments at the Pacific Casino Hotel Paradise hall marketplace yesterday

“Thus, we are planning to organise an Easter market for women to showcase and sell their products together with other women.

“We love supporting our local businesses to set up our stalls to sell all our products together.

“I would like to thank those who join us and support us too to promote our local foods, carvings, Arts and crafts, clothes etc,” Dede said.

She said that with the support of the Hotel management to allow local vendors to sell their products at the venue. To host such events for women here at the hotel is a good place to do marketing. At least some earn a few extra monies to keep their business and family going.




Locally made Ngali nut products of SolAgro products being displayed during the Easter market at the Pacific Casino Hotel.

Dede said this is their first time to host such an event and hope to host bigger ones in the future with other women.

Ms Magaret Bilau says, “It was an opportunity to sell my products here for the first time with other women.

“We do not have a permanent place to sell our products so we usually do sales at home or side road.”

“I sell vegetables, fruits and tomatoes from my own garden.


.       Two members of JayJay’s Baby & Fashio

“We are housewives and as much as we can, we help our husbands to cater for our children.

“During this covid-19, I earned about $300 after all the items were sold out daily. This was compared before the covid-19.”

She thanked the organisers for hosting such an event through which local business women can come together and network through their passion for business.

Muaki: gov’t has no right to threaten public servants

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Alfred Pagepitu
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

THE Government’s statement on Covid-19 vaccination is unhelpful and an unfortunate threat to the employment of public servants.

That’s according to former Special Secretary to three prime ministers, Andrew Donua Muaki,

Muaki was reacting to earlier comments made by the government in which the Attorney General stated to the effect that public servants either get vaccinated or resign.

In an interview with Island Sun yesterday, Muaki said such comments not only amount to employer intimidation, but might be legally wrong and politically unwise for the government to do so.

“If the government cares to look up relevant regulations on the discipline of public servants, it would realise termination is only one of five penalties for breaches of public service rules, regulations or Code after a lengthy due process,” Muaki said.

“here is no power to summarily dismiss a public servant under the public service regulations,” he added.

“And I really doubt the courts will agree with the government that insubordination to take the Covid-19 vaccination is a good ground for termination of public servants.

“It appears to me insubordination should only attract less punishment short of termination.”

Muaki said forced resignation would be politically unpopular for the government.

He said the government would basically increased unemployment during a pandemic and the government would find it difficult to fill up vacancies left behind by those who either resigned or forced to terminate.

“Instead of addressing covid-19 vaccination issue, the government would spend time filling up vacancies.

“When governments throughout the world are trying to ensure their citizens stay employed during an international pandemic, here we have a government that tries to have an employment war with its own public servants over its vaccination efforts.

“Whoever advises the government to utter such non-sense needs to look into the mirror and get back to reality.”

He said threat of termination or forced resignations advanced by the government only goes to show the government does not appreciate the contribution of public servants.

“I know of many public servants who dedicate their service to our nation in the service of the government.

“Is the government now saying, ‘oh well your stella public service record is no good to us since you refuse to take Covid-19 vaccination’”? 

Muaki also takes a shot at the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Public Service.

“I must say I find the so-called directive from the PS of MPS, quoted in the local media, directing public servants to be vacinated as a very disturbing piece of directive,” Muaki said.

He said any directives or orders must have legal basis to begin with.

“After reading the so-called ‘directive’ from the PS/MPS, I asked myself this question: which legal authority was the learned PS used to direct every public servant to have Covid-19 vaccination?

“You can’t just issue directives or orders. Only dictators and tyrants issue decree without legal basis.

“The PS never quoted the source for his directive,” Muaki said.

He reminded the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Public Service to ensure he has authority to issue such Directives.

“My guess is that the learned PS might not have the authority to issue such directives in the first place,” he told Island Sun from his home in Brisbane, where he is currently undertaking graduate studies in cybersecurity.

Western Provincial Gov’t to revisit 2021 budget

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David Gina

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

WESTERN Provincial Government will go through its 2021 budget once again this week following advice from the National Government.

Sources familiar with the report said the executive will meet to re-scrutinize the budget due to some shortfalls.

The Executive has passed the $26, 536, 622 million budget after going through debate last week.

Budget figures show $20,718, 857.00) for recurrent costs while $5.8 million was for development expenditure.

Premier David Gina said in his budget speech his government is optimistic that the budget will have an impact on the development and service delivery of the province.

He urges provincial members to continue to perform their legislative mandates in deliberating on the important requirements for the continuous operations and progress of Western Province.

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