By Gary Hatigeva

AMENDMENTS made to reduce powers bestowed on the Minister of Finance and Treasury over the operations of the re-establishment of the Development Bank of Solomon Islands (DBSI) was highly welcomed as its Act made it through Parliament yesterday.

During its consultation and inquiry stage, the DBSI Bill 2018 received strong opposition from those responsible. After scrutiny, with suggestions that the initial bill has seemingly given too much power to the Minister on the level of decision making and related functions over Development Bank’s operations.

This was also a matter the Chairman of the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) Matthew Wale, had continuously highlighted in his remarks during the Committee’s inquiry into the Bill.

With these concerns, the Committee in its report on the Bill, made around 15 recommendations, some of which were for amendments on sections within the Act that are said to have given direct powers to the Minister.

Members from both the Opposition and Independent benches when contributing to the debate session of the Bill, pointed out that such as highlighted in the recommendations, are some of the reasons why the former bank collapsed.

Many suggested that past intentions to include Ministers or Politicians in the institute’s core operation had resulted in bad influences and also lead to controversial decisions.

Meanwhile, in its recognition over the raised concerns and doubts, the government in its final Bill acknowledged the recommendations made by the BLC and agreed to amend various sections within the now DBSI Act 2018.

This includes the appointment of office holders, procedures and compliance matters.

The others includes Clause 36, which was amended, highlighting the need for the Minister to make approvals on terms and conditions, to be consistent with the requirements for government borrowing under the Public Financial Management Act 2013.

Other Clauses that give direct references to the Minister were also amended through the deleting paragraphs, but the others outlined that the Minister must table a copy of the statement and reports at the next sitting of Parliament after receiving it.

The Minister on the other hand, is given directives to ensure he maintains consultations with relevant institutes, which includes the Central Bank of Solomon Islands, for the purpose of auditing on the Bank’s accounts.

Clause 42 was completely deleted also at the Committee of the Whole House.

Sogavare had earlier revealed and assured that work on the initial establishment of the bank will start straight after the Bill’s passage, with projections for its full establishment activities to take place in the first quarter of 2019.

TWO fisheries specialist from Guadalcanal are in Guangdong Province in the People’s Republic of China for three weeks of specialized training in aquaculture.

In what was described as groundbreaking for the Guadalcanal-Guangdong relationship, Willie Kokopu and Francis Ratu are the first candidate selected to attend the second session of Fisheries Training Course for Pacific Islands in Guangdong, China.

The training is facilitated by Guangdong Provincial Vocational School of Oceangraphic Engineering. The training which shall be conducted entirely in English language will offer specialize lectures and hands-on-trainings in aquaculture techniques, aquatic product processing and fisheries management with related Chinese Culture.

On-site visits to farms, production facilities and research institutions are also part of the training.

During the handing over of their travel documents, both trainees thanked Premier Veke for his leadership in reviving the relationship between Guadalcanal and Guangdong which resulted in the opportunity to be trained in China. They hope such training will continue and more Guadalcanal people can receive specialized training from China in other fields.

In his reply, Premier Veke encouraged the two trainees to make the most of their training and return with their acquired skills and knowledge to develop the province in the area of fisheries and aquaculture.

“It has taken me years and couple of visits to China to realize this. I’m very happy that you two are fulfilling my dream whilst I’m still your Premier. And I can assure you two and my good people of Guadalcanal that many more such opportunities for our human resource development are forthcoming with our arrangement with Guangdong Province of China” Mr. Veke

Guadalcanal Province’s External Affairs Officer Mr Mcfaddean Aoraunisaka explains that the arrangement is done under the auspicious of the Guadalcanal Guangdong Frienship Association (GGFA). The Association is an integral part of Guadalcanal Province’s strategy to engage with mainland China.

The two trainees will return mid-December.

–GP MEDIA

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

WESTERN Provincial government intends to progress its education sector by providing accessible education and learning facilities for its young people in Western Province.

Hon Isaac Vula Tatapu, MPA for Ward three, Simbo and Provincial Minister for Trade, Commerce and Investment echoed this during the graduation ceremony of the St. Peter Urban Training Center in Gizo.

Tatapu said under its proposed policy statement 2018-2022 via its education portfolio, key goals include among others, ascertaining and reporting on the issues of school drop outs and its impacts on the communities.

Hon Tatapu said St. Peters establishment in the province is a fulfillment of a part of that policy.

“As a stakeholder you are helping us to fill a void which addresses access to quality education which is also provided at our very doorsteps”, Tatapu said.

He said, WPG also aims to formulate an ordinance to establish a ‘Western Solomon Polytech Institute to address the technical training needs of emerging industries such as tourism, fisheries, agriculture, forestry, mining, accounting etc.

“The view here is that often what is taught in schools and colleges do not harmonize with some of the specific skill sets and requirements of some of these emerging industries hence the vision is to provide an avenue whereby such skill sets can be identifies and provided to cater for the overall development aspirations of Western Province,” said Tatapu.

He said that with these policy goals and objective however, one thing is clear. WPG understands that it cannot achieve these aspirations on its own. It needs the support and close cooperation of its relevant stakeholders to realize these goals.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

NINE of the ten most obese countries in the world are from the Pacific with Solomon Islands is rapidly heading toward filling the 10th position.

Fifteen of the top 20 countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes in the world are from the Pacific. Solomon Islands might have already broken into this ‘top 20 club’.

During the round table meeting with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the World Health Organisation the dire issues of Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) had been deliberated on, with the Prime Minister saying that it is better to be late than never.

He said Pacific countries have a higher prevalence of ‘tobacco use’ than the global average of 23 percent.

“Solomon Islands’ average prevalence on tobacco use is almost double the global average at about 44 percent. The Pacific has been described as the ‘epicentre of the global diabetes epidemic’ and the world’s capital of NCDs”, PM Hou said.

He said it is a sad fact that if they do not address NCDs effectively now, there might be too many more people left to worry about when the worst effects of challenges such as Climate Change, finally catches up with the country.

In 2011, Pacific Health Ministers and Pacific Islands Forum leaders declared an NCD crisis in the Pacific.

In that regard, the Leaders are calling on governments, the private sector, civil society, regional and international organizations and development partners, to work together to address the rising rates of NCDs.

“It must be an all-of-government, all-of-society effort”, Hou said.

In July 2014, Pacific Health Ministers and Economic Ministers approved the Pacific NCD Roadmap, to guide each country’s efforts to reverse the trend of the NCD epidemic in the region.

“Sadly, 7 years after the declaration of the NCD crisis, and four years after the call to develop national NCD roadmaps to combat the NCD epidemic, very few countries heeded this call. And it is extremely disappointing that this is the case in Solomon Islands: where successive Governments – including my own government – had not given the serious attention this killer needed until now”.

“But better late than never”, PM Hou said.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

TEACHERS need to understand the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently a workshop conducted by SINTA is being held in Auki, with General Secretary of SINTA, Robert Lafisi saying teachers need to understand SDGs as they are implementers of some of the Goals.

Lafisi said secondly, teachers need to understand the prioritization and commercialization of education across the world.

He said the workshop dwells on three important areas where teachers were also made to understand the SDGs four, five and eight.

“We see these three areas as very important to connect with our teachers as there is a missing link from those at the top right down to teachers. The gap is where things only reach ministry and vanish or things only reach the Education Authority and stop there without reaching teachers. This is the reason SINTA came up with the idea to bridge the gap so that information especially on SGDs reach the teachers as they are also player in the SGDs,” he said.

Lafisi said third is to update teachers on the work SINTA is currently doing as a body representing almost half of the teacher’s group in the country.

Lafisi said SINTA is rolling this initiative which in a way is assisting MEHRD to get information right down to teachers.

He said the workshop started with teachers in the central region of the province and hopes to reach other regions in the province and other provinces.

The programme was funded by Council of Pacific Education.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE useful skills and knowledge gained by the 15 Correctional Service officers of the CSSI will now able to assist the institution in strategically addressing different issues within the organisation.

The officers have graduated with diploma in Correctional Administration and Certificate of attainment under the Queensland Correctional Services (QCS) Academy in Australia.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services Ms Karen Qalokale said the CSSI officers are so privileged to be part of this programme.

Qalokale said she acknowledges the officers commitment, passion and interest in undertaking this course.

She hopes the knowledge and skills gained from the training will help the officers to address issues within the institution.

“You are so privileged to have gone through the program as you would gain many useful skills and knowledge on how you will strategically address different issues within the institution,” Qalokale said.

She said it is quite tough to do studies whilst working and at the same time fulfilling family commitments. But the officers’ interest to study has demonstrated their aspiration to excel in academic development as well as the betterment of the institution CSSI.

On behalf of the Australian government, Counsellor Fiona Hoggart says the Australian Government is proud to support the partnership between CSSI and QCS. She said also in supporting this important learning opportunity that has allowed officers to strengthen their skills and knowledge, and make CSSI a stronger organisation.

Hoggart adds her government support CSSI because they believe that a strong and effective corrections system is necessary for Solomon Islanders to feel safe and to know there is a well-functioning justice system.