BY ELLISON.T.VAHI

THE Children’s Park Playground at the perfect time has been re-painted by the navy from USCG Cutter Munro.

The final touches to the playground were made yesterday when the Navy known as the Coast Guard Team re- painted the fencing that kept the public safe from the main road.

Although the playground is open to members of the public, there has been no eyes set on the ground to beautify it or make it a more welcoming, clean and safe playing ground for the children.

The Coast Guard Team worked tirelessly to re- beautify the fence around the Children’s Park.

The focus was on creating a playground that is catered for all ages and abilities.

“It’s great that we’re able to give the community access to a clean and attractively looking playground. It’s a fantastic addition to a wonderful park, something to be enjoyed by many”, a Coast Guard Team rep commented.

The playground at Children’s Park, Rove is a well-known playground for kids and families living in the city.

The USCG Cutter Munro is a ship of the United States Coast Guard named after Douglas Munro, the only Coast Guardsman to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Douglas Munro was killed outside of Point Cruz (Yacht club) during the Battle of Guadalcanal. He died saving the lives of his comrades.

The USCG Cutter Munro is currently in Honiara. A reception was held last night on board the ship for dignitaries, diplomats and invited guests to meet the US Coast Guards.

BY ELLISON.T.VAHI

WITHOUT proper planning and access to information, developments like mining will threaten the natural resources Solomon Islanders depend on.

While mining offers opportunities for economic development, without adequate management, it also poses direct and urgent threats to livelihoods, culture and social well-being.

With this at the forefront, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), had worked with community groups to hold workshops and provide information through a program called “What Is Mining?”

This has been designed to help Solomon Islanders understand the impact mining could have on their lives and their natural resources.

Partnering with community-based women’s groups in particular is to both ensure that women were a part of the conversation and to empower women to make their voices heard.

In collaboration with the Isabel Mothers’ Union, TNC have trained 40 community facilitators to raise awareness about the importance of well-informed and inclusive decisions around big issues such as mining.

To date, this work has reached over 12,000 people in remote communities, and their input is informing the national mining policy reform process.

The mining awareness work, led to the first-ever national mining forum. TNC facilitated the event that inspired the government, industry, the civil society sector, landowners and communities to work together to identify major opportunities and challenges around this industry.

Participants from Papua New Guinea and Australia have also share their stories.

Now TNC is engaging women by investing in strong leaders and diverse and inclusive work environments.

This approach will helps women create more prosperous and healthy futures for themselves, their children, their environment and their communities.

It will see women are able to support women from other provinces in their quest to also understand mining and be more involved, as the spirit of cooperation at the forum resulted in a recognized set of resolutions.

Twenty-six resolutions were declared and endorsed by more than 80 percent of participants.

One of the most important resolutions is: “Ensure women have a voice in all negotiations, decisions and in the management of benefits.” This is a resolution that the women were already implementing during the forum itself.

This work has resulted in the drafting of a new Minerals Policy for the Solomon Islands based on the resolutions agreed upon at the forum. In addition, an independent centre to advice communities on important decisions around their resources has been proposed.

With good planning and management and meaningful inputs from communities and women, the Solomon Islands has a fantastic opportunity to pave the way for a more sustainable minerals sector.

COMMISSIONER of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Matthew Varley calls on all men in Solomon Islands to join the campaign to end violence against women and girls and make a commitment not to tolerate it in our communities.

Speaking at the end of the float parade to mark the beginning of activities in the 16 Days of campaign against violence against women and girls held from Henderson Police Station in East Honiara to the White River Police Station in West Honiara today, Commissioner Varley says, “The issue of violence against women and girls is an issue that we cannot be silent about. It is happening every day in our communities.

“As you look around in our communities today, domestic violence at homes, offices, streets and elsewhere is a big concern for the police. Based on police daily reports of crime, sometimes up to 90 percent is related to domestic violence matters. This is an alarming rate,” says Commissioner Varley.

He adds: “In the four months up to end of October this year, 12 alleged rape incidents were reported to the Police. Last week in three separate incidents, the RSIPF arrested and charged five more males in relation to rape allegations. The victims of these offences were young women and girls.”

“In the recent past police arrested even family members of young girls all allegations of rape. The lives of our young girls are being destroyed inside their own homes – a place that should be the safest haven for them has become a crime scene. We cannot allow this to continue,” says Commissioner Varley.

He asks: “What is going wrong in our communities?”

“To men in our communities, these women and girls who face sexual abuse are members of your own families or a relative. They look to you for protection and security. Please protect them,” says Commissioner Varley.

He continues: “I want to encourage all good and honourable men across Solomon Islands to come out in great numbers and condemn this violence. Stand up and be counted. Use your leadership and your strong voices to say ‘enough is enough’ and educate your people and followers on the respect and good values of this community.”

Commissioner Varley concludes: “Men must make a positive difference in the lives of women and girls in this country.”

–RSIPF MEDIA