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Gov’t intends to vaccinate over 18 by end of year

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WHILE COVID-19 vaccination is not mandatory, the Government intends to vaccinate every citizen over 18 years and older by the end of 2021.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said on Monday that since vaccine supplies are arriving in small quantities, the Government must be strategic and selective in identifying those that needs to be included in the first round of vaccination.

The Health Authorities and the Oversight Committee have advised that people most at risk from possible exposure to COVID-19 will be among the first to be vaccinated.

Those in the number one category are the front-liners and members of the frontline ministries, border agencies, SOEs and private sector entities whose work expose them to COVID-19 risks.

The focus in this category will initially be on those employees whose daily work exposes them to COVID-19 and others in the frontline ministries, agencies, SOEs and the private sector.

Those in the second category are people in communities along the western border in Choiseul, Western and Malaita Outer Island provinces.

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in PNG and in particular in Bougainville, makes vaccination along the western border a top priority.

COVID-19 vaccination along the border zone aims to cover everybody from 18 years and above. However, if vaccine supply is inadequate to cover everyone during this phase, the older age groups will be prioritized.

Those in the third category are people above 50 years of age who have some existing diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, chronic respiratory diseases including those with or had recovered from Tuberculosis and Asthma.

This category of people can be more seriously affected if they catch COVID-19 infection and must be given added protection.

In addition, national Leaders are included in the first rollout of the vaccines. This is to demonstrate to the public the level of confidence by leaders on COVID-19 vaccines. It also ensures additional protection is provided to leaders.

People under these categories will be advised of which vaccination stations they can go to for vaccinations when the vaccination programme rolls out begins.

At this stage, family members of front-liners are not included in the first round of COVID-19 vaccination due to the limited availability of vaccines available. They will all be covered in later shipment of vaccines.

The Ministry of Health is now developing a detailed vaccination rollout plan for the 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine. They will also develop similar implementation plans for the Sinopharm vaccine.

Training is conducted this week for vaccine administrators to administer the vaccine by early next week if it arrives this Friday.

Major infrastructure boost for Auki township

Written by
Samie Waikori
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The newly completed fencing project around Auki Central Market in Auki. The project was funded by Australian government through UN Women Market for Change Project

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MALAITA’S provincial capital, Auki has received major infrastructure developments through assistance by the International Development Association under the World Bank’s CAUSE project.

Since the establishment of the Community Access and Urban Services Enhancement (CAUSE) project under the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) Auki, a number of infrastructure and facelift have been made to schools, and communities in and around the Auki township.

CAUSE project has been working under two components since its coming to Auki and both continues to contribute towards cleanliness and infrastructure facelift of Auki town.

The recently completed Auki Magistrate footpath.

Under component (I) of the project, residents in Auki were trained and employed to clean the streets of Auki town and along the main roads leading to suburbs within the township.

For component (I), fair distribution of recruitment was made to residents in Auki where people have a chance to get monthly employment under the project.

A footpath at Town End SDA Primary school

Under the first component of the project, there is support to the Auki Town Council (ATC) on rubbish collection as well as providing employment to people.

The component two of CAUSE project under Auki (PIU) is on infrastructure and a lot of infrastructure projects had been implemented on surrounding communities of Auki, schools, clinic and in the township itself.

The project started with a bridge at Kwaibala and a Jacob’s ladder more than 100 metres in length at Fulikaomae village on the outskirts of the township.

Kwaibala bridge
Fulikaomae Jacob’s ladder

A concrete pavement was made at the Auki Rural Clinic that contributed much to the upgrade of the health centre and a number of infrastructure projects for Kilu’ufi hospital made under the covid-19 programme are yet to be done.

A bridge and a footpath were also built at Town End SDA primary school as well as a footpath at Alota’a CHS near Auki town.

There is also a footpath constructed near the premier’s residence, leading to the assembly chamber, and the most recently completed project was the Auki Magistrate footpath leading to the provincial offices.

In a recent interview with Resident and Works Supervisor of CAUSE for Auki PIU, Joe Uiamanu Ruriti said there are a number of infrastructure projects proposed and implementation will be expected soon.

Construction of Auki Magistrate footpath: PICTURES SAMMIE WAIKORI

He said the CAUSE project under its two components will continue to work with MPG, schools, clinics and communities as long as the project is in Auki.

Apart from CAUSE, there was number of stakeholders who also continue to invest in infrastructure development of Auki.

On Thursday last week, the public of Auki witnessed the handing over of improvement projects to the Auki Central Market which was funded by the Australian government through the UN Women Market For Change project.

There are also a number of buildings currently under construction that will soon be completed.

The current boost of infrastructure in Auki town will not only contribute towards the town’s facelift, but also the social-economic development of the province.

DD HOLIDAY INN MAKES COMEBACK

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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DD Holiday Inn owner John Deve

By EDDIE OSIFELO

LOCAL tourism operators in the country were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic when Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare declared a State of Public Emergency in March 2020.

Their businesses which heavily relied on visitors came to a halt following the closure of international borders and working-class people in Honiara got laid off and returned to their villages.

One local operator who felt the pinch of the pandemic on his tourism business is the owner of DD Holiday Inn, John Deve.

The Inn is locating at Mbuburu, Lengakiki, West Honiara.

Deve is a former Police officer and comes from Malaita and Marau on East Guadalcanal.

His wife is from Malaita province as well.

His business offered catering, conference and accommodation services which consists of 11 rooms inventory.

Guests and people who attended conferences at the Inn always spoke highly of their catering services which include local diets.

However, for nearly a year, guests and people who normally participate in conferences at the Inn have missed the local diets provided by Deve’s family due to COVID-19.

“There were no enquiries made by guest for catering, conferences and accommodation.

“My workers have left to their villages and never came back,” he said.

Deve said the COVID-19 has really impacted his tourism business which resulted in his family temporarily closing the business and venturing into selling of betel nuts and backyard ‘sup sup’ garden.

He said vendors normally come to his home to buy betel-nuts that were pulled down around his backyard.

“Sometimes a woman vendor bought a 10-kilogram bag of betel nuts for $1000.

“This money keeps my family going during the covid-19,” he said.

Deve said he has not received any assistance from the Government under the Economic Stimulus Package.

“I plea to the government to support local tourism operators during this COVID-19 because they are heavily affected financially due to no guests,” he said.

Aftermath of COVID-19

However, things started to change last month for DD Holiday Inn as inquiries for conferences and caterings came in.

Deve said last month, three organisations have held conferences at the Inn.

He said the demand for catering was picking up with organisations that organised workshops engaging his family.

“We promote healthy diet in our catering, mainly local food.

“I got feedbacks from expatriates and locals that admired the local diets,” he said.

Consequently, Deve has to drop the prizes for catering from $250 per day to $75.

Further to that, Deve said there are still no guests for the 11 rooms in the Inn despite the prizes being dropped to nearly half.

He said the prize set by Tourism Department was $880 per day for self-content room and $770 for single room.

Deve said due to the COVID-19, the prize for self-content room is $550 per day and $450 per day for single room.

He is hoping that guests will start enquiring for any room bookings in the coming months.

Launch of website

DD Holiday Inn was on the right track in its operation when it launched its website last year before the pandemic became an issue in the country.

People can access the website address on:  www.ddholidayinn.wordpress.com

A private Information Technology (IT) company, Arietech was engaged as the web designer.

Deve said the launching of the website was the culmination of many years of struggle as a indigenous businessman.

He said it was a long journey in life which he sees as blessing.

“I have been to few businesses, but when I come to the tourism industry, I think this is the best business to continue for my children into their future,” he said.

Deve said the website is important to market products like catering, conferences and rooms in the accommodation.

He first started a petrol business at his village in Marau after leaving high school in 1990.

He started his business with $100 because a 44-gallon petrol drum costs $97.

Deve said his petrol businesses ended during the ethnic tension from 1998-2002 after militants destroyed his depot

As such, he turned to taxi, selling fish, running a trade shop at Kukum highway and second-hand clothing but things did not work out for him.

Deve turned to accommodation in 2010 and decided to venture into tourism with advice from Francis Deve.

Despite the impact of COVID-19 that brought his business to a standstill for nearly a year, Deve is optimistic of better days ahead.

He concludes that the tourism business is good for locals because it is not destructive to nature and environment.

PCYC TAKES SAILING LEAD

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SISA junior sailors hoist their certificates during the presentation on Saturday night at the PCYC.

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

Honiara based Point Cruz Yacht Club (PCYC) junior sailing program has taken the lead in the sport for its revival following the launch and certificate award of its yearly program over the weekend.

A total of 27 junior sailors with their instructors were recognized and awarded with certificates.

The kids are certified for basic level, intermediate level and advance level of optimist class boat training – and will continue this year every Saturdays at the PCYC beachfront.

PCYC junior sailing coach Geoffrey Baragamu says that the training has been improved for the kids and also sailing instructors.

“These training have taken to new heights to reach the regional standard compared to past years,” Baragamu said.

PCYC sailing instructors also completed their safety boat handling training last year with two more courses this year – safety boat operation and first aid training.

The PCYC junior sailing initiative is supported by Bauro & Associates, National Fisheries Development (NFD), MP Construction and PCYC.

The national government through the National Sport Council (NSC), Sol2023 National Hosting Authority (NHA) and National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) has pledge support for the water sport towards the Pacific Games 2023.

EDITORIAL- WE ARE HERE GIZO

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We are back in Gizo!

THE Island Sun wishes to let the public of Western Province know that we’ve reopened our Gizo Bureau as of this week.

This was after we’ve briefly closed down the office early last year due to logistical and staffing issues.

But we are pleased to announce that we’ve sorted things out and one of our senior reporters, Ben Bilua, has taken up residence in Gizo as of this week.

Ben will be responsible for covering Gizo and the rest of Western Province.

He can be reached on: 60982, 7464413 or [email protected]

Gizo, and Western Province for that matter, has always been a strategic location for any organization to operate from.

This is why we are excited to return to beautiful Gizo. It’s a location that has so much to officer this nation in terms of news and commerce.

In fact Gizo is a growing provincial capital with vibrant economic activities.

And with the commercial hub of Noro – widely referred to as Tuna Town – just across the lagoon, there’ll be always news coming from that region.

To the Government of Western Province, we wish to say this:

  • We’ll be in Gizo to work with you, not against you.
  • We will pay whatever taxes are required of us as a business entity.
  • We will remain independent in our reporting and ensure our news coverage is balanced and trustworthy.
  • We will give a voice – not only to the provincial government, but also to the ordinary people of Western Province.
  • We will provide a medium of exchange to the different voices and views of the people of Western Province.

Allow us to also say this.

Journalism, as has been always said, is a two-way street. It is between you and us.

In other words, our Gizo-based reporter cannot do it alone. He will always rely on the public there to report on the news.

So if you have a story to tell, call in at our office there or simply dial the numbers provided above and share your views.

For our Gizo-based advertisers, feel free to come in anytime of the day to discuss your advertising needs.

We thank the Government and people of Western Province for welcoming us back.

We look forward to working closely with everyone in Western Province.

FIBA MELANESIAN CUP POSTPONED

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National basketball point guard Augustine Basia in action against Fiji in the FIBA Melanesian Cup in 2017 hosted in PNG. Photo FIBA

SIBF to meet with NSC

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

Solomon Islands Basketball Federation (SIBF) will have time to refocus on the national basketball team’s participation at the FIBA Melanesian Cup 2021 since its postponement to April 2022.

The postponement was confirmed by hosts Basketball Fiji and FIBA.

According to reports received SIBF are meeting with the National Sports Council (NSC) for its registration formalities and funding support before charting out its plans of activities this year – which include competitions.

“After further deliberation and discussion with Basketball Fiji, we have decided to postpone the FIBA Melanesia Cup to 2022, with health and safety being the top priority for the decision,” said David Crocker, FIBA Oceania’s Executive Director. “The postponement will also give involved countries ample time to prepare for the competition.”

“The number one priority remains the health and safety of all players, coaches, and officials, and FIBA has agreed with Basketball Fiji to postpone the competition to April 2022,” FIBA reports.

SIBF now will have ample time to prepare since the formation of a new executive in 2020, and a formal statement will be released after the NSC meet in regards.

The quadrennial event among Melanesian nations inaugurated in 2017 was originally due to tip-off at the newly renovated Vodafone Arena in Suva this May.

The FIBA Melanesia Cup is a sub-regional qualification phase for the Pacific Games, which serves as the official qualifier to the FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers. The countries grouped in the region are Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

Solomon Islands have competed in the FIBA Melanesian Cup in 2017 finishing fourth.

STILL TO REGISTER

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NSC Chairman Joe Sika speaking during the PCYC launch and presentation on Saturday

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

The National Sports Council (NSC) is still to get any response from six National sports federations on their registration with the government’s entity.

NSC Chairman Joe Sika revealed to SunSPORTS yesterday in a statement that they are calling on NFs to promptly come forward.

“We still have not received any response from the NFs and we are calling on their local bodies to come forward and register with NSC,” Sika stated.

The Chairman also revealed that the council had yet to finalize all the NFs registration documents submitted – a total of 28 federations.

“We’re currently meeting NFs on one on one basis regarding their submission to us.

Federations register and affiliate with the council is significant to qualify for funding support from the government in preparation for the 2023 Pacific Games.

NSC recently stated that they will work with National Federations who do not meet certain criteria to ensure they overcome those and get registered.

NSC is also partnering with the Sol2023 National Hosting Authority (NHA) and the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) to identify NFs capacities, what are their shortcomings, gaps in equipment, technicalities vital information to prepare a road map of activities and plans.

The following NFs are;

 Boxing,

Judo

Rugby League

Netball

Table Tennis

Va’a

School fee survey release delayed

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE release of the school fee survey by the Ministry of Education will be delayed due to policy and legal implications.

This was confirmed by James Bosamata, deputy secretary to the Ministry of Education, Human Resources Development.

“We were not able to release the outcome of the survey because after we find out the results of the survey. We have some policy and legal implications in relationship to school fee issue.

“Because of those policy and legal implications, we have to satisfy the whole process,” said Bosamata.

He said for instance, on Tuesday last week this subject was deliberated on by the national education board. This is one clear example.

“It not a straight forward thing that we will come out with it straight away but there are policies and legal implications. Therefore, we have to go through the whole process and when the time to announce it comes it will be appeared accurately.

“We will continue to ask for your patience until we complete this process,” said Bosamata.

He adds that form six enrolment and internal assessment programmes are due on March 31.

“Please submit it to NEAD division at Ministry of Education.

“For schools that have forms four and five, the School Base Assessment that is SBA in short as of this year you will use new handbooks.

He said schools with forms four and five are urged not to administer any SBA assessment or project until new handbooks arereceived next month.

“Only for Home economic subject can start their project because it remains the same.” 

MHMS boosts presence in western border

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

MINISTRY of Health and Medical Services is stepping up its presence at the Western Border due to the worrying covid-19 situation in PNG and Bougainville.

Incident Controller to the Health ministry, Dr Gregory Jilini said they are now increasing their presence in the border to support other frontline agencies.

“Next week we are going to send a team of five from the headquarter to go and support other frontline agencies at the border.

“The team will include our surveillance officer, clinician, infection control and also risk communication. They will be embedded with the Police and other front-line agencies at the border.

“We need to step up our presence there because of the growing number of cases in Bougainville.

“I would like to appeal to our good people in Border to compile with Standard Operating Procedures. I think restriction of movement have been put in place so we must protect ourselves from covid-19,” said Jilini.

He said with the increasing number of cases in Bougainville, it’s important all avoid coming into contact with neighbours from Bougainville.

“If there are contacts it would be good to inform our team at the border and Health authorities so we can quickly quarantine the contacts and to roll our testing.

“We also liaising with our team from Western and Choiseul province to step up surveillance at border. The only way to monitor weather we have COVID-19 is first thing to monitor influenza like illnesses and we have our syndromic systems to monitor cases,” said Jilini.

Jimmie Rodgers, deputy chair to Oversight Committee and secretary to the Prime Minister said health staff will join Police on a monthly deployment.

“This supplement Western Province and Choiseul province and Malaita Outer Island Health services.

“This means we have for the first time a more complete border force,” he said.  

SIG scholarship results in April

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Education, James Bosamata

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

NAMES of successful applicants of the Solomon Islands Government online scholarship will be released next month, April.

James Bosamata, deputy secretary to Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, confirmed this in a talkback show on Sunday.

“Hopefully next month on April list of shortlisted candidates will be released. These shortlisted candidates will then receive emails requesting them to upload their medical and police clearance.

“At the moment they are on the selection process,” said Bosamata.

He said as far as SITESA (division within the education ministry which deals with scholarships) is concerned, the application due date has already passed. No hard copy of the scholarship is accepted.

Bosamata further explained that some queries about medical and police clearance have been received.

“If you are one of the applicants there is a portal on this system and it has admission field.

“Meaning in that space you are required upload your admission to the   portal field system if you have admission from any institution.

“But at the moment the system is yet to send back emails requestion for these two documents mentioned to shortlisted applicants above.

“At the moment the system is yet to reach that particular stage,” he said.

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