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Frank Short was embarrassingly short on facts

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR Editor,

I just want to make a few comments in response to Mr. Frank Short’s brief article in the Island Sun Issue, Monday 19th November, about the UNDP-funded Land Summit that was held in Auki last week, 13th-15th November. I attended the entire Land Summit, a great many thanks to the Premier of Malaita Province, Mr. Peter Ramohia and his staff and the Organizing Committee. I must admit that I do not remember seeing Mr. Short there.

Of course, the Summit was very well-attended and if Mr. Short was mostly sitting in the back of the Hotel Malaita large conference room or diving in and out of sessions then it might be the reason why I did not see him. It might also be that Mr. Short was in virtual attendance as the Summit, I was told, was broadcast live nationally and internationally.

In any case, whether Mr. Short was physically present or virtually present at the Land Summit, I strongly disagree with his allegations that the youth were not being paid attention to and left to fend for themselves. First of all, the very fact that the youth were invited in the first place to the conference as an important group besides the women and kastom chiefs, with all the expenses met by UNDP, was a strong indication that the Summit leaders and organizers had valued their presence and contributions. And, indeed, they were given every opportunity to participate fully in the conference and for the most part they did.

Much more than other scheduled presenters, the youth, women and kastom chiefs were also called upon all the time by session chairs to speak. I was sitting next to a youth who freely grabbed the mic every time he had something to say. And I do not remember an instance when a session chair had asked a youth to stop speaking because her or his time was up. The session chairs were relentless when it came to us older speakers! Moreover, I most certainly do not remember a single moment when a youth was asked to sit down because she or he was saying something which was politically, culturally or religiously out of context. The point session chairs kept emphasizing was that speakers speak to the point so that there would be time for others to speak.

One of the most impressive things about the Land Summit, Mr. Short, was that everybody was encouraged to articulate their views openly and freely; a fact which most certainly spoke to the inclusive and accommodating spirit with which the organizing committee had planned the conference. Admittedly, the Land Summit was high-powered in terms of the theme, the level of discussion and venting of stored-up emotions. It could not be otherwise. Yet at the same time it was also organizationally laid-back or flexible enough that there was plenty of space and time for each and every participant to speak if and when they wished to.

All this is to say, Mr. Short, that, while I value your public evaluation of the Land Summit, I am afraid your information fell embarrassingly ‘short’ of substance which did not surprise me given that, by your own admission, you had relied only on one, perhaps disgruntled, youth. I suggest that the youth be encouraged to send his or her comments to the Land Summit’s Organizing Committee to include in the final report. The Organizing Committee would be most delighted, I am sure, as this was the request it kept making throughout the conference.

By way of a brief conclusion, I would like to say that, while there were no doubt shortcomings, the Land Summit was a great positive learning experience given the topic. In Malaita Province, and I am sure the same holds true for other Provinces as well, when it comes to dealing with land issues the normal course of action is the courts. However, the Land Summit had unequivocally shown that the courts do not always have to be the only avenue but that there are other avenues through which solutions to land issues can be amicably pursued.

Thank you

Sincerely

David Welchman Gegeo

Alpha Meta

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

Dear Editor

THIS article is to clarify Alpha Meta or brown rice which the Ministry of Health describe as medicine that kills people.

In actual fact our products are not medicine it just a health product not to cure sickness but to keep one’s body healthy from sickness.

So we just want to clarify our product to the public that our product:

  • is a health product that keeps you healthy like the healthy food we eat

-this product is not a medicine like the doctor use to treat people

-it is certified by USDA

-this product is a health food which do not have any side effect like medicine doctors use to treat it to sick people.

-also these product is not a medicine to cure sickness but only to keep people healthy.

Kind Rgards

Ian Farobo

HCC celebrate Children’s day

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY GEORGINA KEKEA

TODAY marks International Children’s Day. In Honiara, the day will begin at the Art Gallery, with a parade of school children/Sunday schoolchildren down the main road to the Multipurpose Hall. In commemoration of this day, HCC is hosting the event at multipurpose hall with the support of stakeholders.

Representatives from schools, children’s groups and the National Police Band will parade to the Hall kick starting a day of games, cultural entertainment, speeches and competitions for the children of Honiara.

Honiara City Council (HCC) in commemoration of this day is having an event at the multipurpose hall. The Youth, Women and Sports Division of the HCC is coordinating the event with the assistance of stakeholders.

Children from schools and Sunday schools throughout Honiara have been invited to participate in the event. There will be speeches from the Deputy City Mayor of Honiara, the theme; ‘My country, my identity – we all belong’.

The Theme is about celebrating culture, connection to each other and the future together. Also it recognises those working with children and families across sectors, and raising awareness about critical issues impacting our children.

The Youth, Women and Sports Division of the HCC is coordinating the event with the assistance of many stakeholders, including Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family affairs, Save the Children, Solomon Islands Royal Police Force, World Vision, Teachers and many others.

Games, cultural performances and drama including art and lunch box competitions are the day’s activities.

HCC says the event is open for all children in Honiara and they invite children and parents to join in the celebrations to mark International Children’s Day.

Guadalcanal women welcome women caucus program

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY BEN BILUA

GUADALCANAL Council of Women has welcomed the Provincial Women Caucus Leaders initiative.

President of Guadalcanal Council of Women (GCW) Ms Alice Hou said the initiative paves a way forward towards building a greater benefit for Guadalcanal women.

She adds that the initiative will reinforce women participation in decision making on issues affecting women.

Hou said Provincial Women Caucus Leaders program will be an instrument that will link existing gap between women development aspirations and Guadalcanal provincial executive.

“This platform will boost women’s priority developments, agendas and other ambitions in the provincial level.

“Our provincial government will endorse the work plan as such it will be a legally sealed document, meaning the provincial government must bow to the agreement and do women a favor,” she said.

Hou said Guadalcanal Province Executive and Guadalcanal Council of women have set different footing when comes to women’s agendas and that the program will change for the better.

Facilitation of international maritime traffic seminar opens

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Resource persons for the National Seminar on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (left - right) Alper Keceli of IMOs, Sitalingi Pyne of SPC and Consultant Kate Mun.

By Alfred Sasako

Resource persons for the National Seminar on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (left – right) Alper Keceli of IMOs, Sitalingi Pyne of SPC and Consultant Kate Mun.

BENEFITS from the maritime trade facilitation in the economy of a country, a change from manual to electronic clearances of ships, cargo and passengers in order to save time, are expected to dominate a three-day national seminar which opens in Honiara this morning.

The seminar, jointly sponsored by the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA), the London-based International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the Noumea-based Secretariat of the Pacific Community, will also hear an introduction to the Facilitation Convention.

IMO representative Alper Keceli told Island yesterday the seminar would be in two parts. The first is to explain what the FAL Convention is all about and its importance to its 174 member states.

Solomon Islands is a signatory to the Convention but is yet to ratify it.

IMO consultant Kate Mun will on Wednesday give an introduction to the maritime single window system, integration of FAL Forms for clearance of ships, cargo and persons.

Ms Mun will also give an introduction to the single window and possible scope as well as the practical steps in planning the implementation of the single window, tools, examples and standards

She said the change from manual to electronic clearances of ships, cargo and crew and passengers saves money and time.

SPC’s Sitalingi Payne will give a talk on the Green Pacific Ports Initiative on Wednesday.

Women rally for greater participation in decision making

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Facilitators and participants who attend the two days workshop.

BY BEN BILUA

Facilitators and participants who attend the two days workshop.

WOMEN leaders of Guadalcanal, Western and Malaita provinces have joined forces to enhance women participation in decision making at provincial and national levels.

A total of 21 women representatives from respective provinces who are part of the Provincial Women Caucus leaders gathered at Mendana Hotel yesterday for a two days’ workshop to review their existing Terms of Reference (TOR) and also establish a strategic platform that would see the program roll out effectively.

UN Women Solomon Islands based representative; Ms Audrey Manu said the workshop is aimed at building skill and confidence among women caucus leaders to engage in policy discussion with executives, other government officials, traditional and religious leaders.

She said knowledge and skill obtain from the workshop will determine possible provincial caucus agenda items with timelines, in accordance with the national and provincial women’s policies and in view of the upcoming national election.

Manu said Women Provincial Caucus leaders will scrutinize the existing Women’s Caucus TOR today (Tuesday) and come up with the final document that will later submitted to respective provincial executive for endorsement.

She said women caucus provincial leaders with provincial government executives will then implement the work plan within the six months.

“UN Women through United Nation Peace Building Fund and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs will help the provincial women’s caucus assume their advisory role to the provincial executive in the implementation of respective provincial women’s Empowerment and Transformation Policies for development, the National Dialogue Resolution and the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security,” Ms Manu said.

UN Women Representative to Ethiopia, Ms Meron Genene said provincial Women Caucus leaders programs is very important in segregated society where decision making is male dominated.

She said Women Caucus leaders will be the voice of women and children in any decision making at community, provincial and national level.

“Women caucus program is a concept establishes to improve women representation in decision making.

“It will be a cross-party platform that will accommodate linkages between women, provincial and national government.

“This program will set a foundation for women to actively discus and advocate issues affecting women and children,” Genene said.

She said similar concept has been established in some African countries proved successful with better changes for women in the decision making environment.

The United Nations (UN) Women and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded the training in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Women, Children and Family Affairs (MYWCFA) and the Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace (MNURP) under the Women Peace Building Fund Project.

Lilo blasts government and commission

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Former PM Gordon Darcy Lilo

BY GARY HATIGEVA

FORMER Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo who brought the bill on the now PPI Act, suggested there is an oversight on the new Electoral Act that will likely undermine the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014, particularly, on the existence of the Political Parties Commission.

The former Prime Minister blasted the current government over what he described as a serious error from the Commission and the government’s part.

Lilo agreed that this is a serious oversight in the part of the government and those tasked with the responsibility over the new Electoral Act, including the AG Chamber.

“This is a huge error from the part of those responsible, a big mess done on in this important system

“There is no need for us to argue about that as it shows poor administrative performances and is a miss-courage in their responsibilities over this matter,” Lilo stressed.

He added that the repealing of Part 2 alone is a total negligence in the part of the responsible draftsperson and the relevant officers dealing with this important matter.

“Otherwise the intention to repeal is wrong and has no bearing in a policy rational in relations to elections and political parties,” the Former PM said.

He explained that the intention will discourage and weaken the roles and responsibilities of political parties and the system in an overall perspective, so as intentions to encourage good governance, and political stability.

When asked if he thinks the SIEC could well be the option to take up the Party Commission’s roles and responsibilities, Lilo clarified that nurturing political parties and the management of elections are two different matters, and should not be confused or put together.

Recently, the number of new parties launched has increased and many are waiting to be registered under the PPI Act’s Commission but, questions were also being raised as to whether the existence of the commission is legal, now that it was removed following the repealing of its establishing mechanisms.

Referring to the establishment of the Commission and the Act itself, Lilo further explained that the Party Commission through the PPI Act, was orchestrated to help facilitate and manage political parties while at the same time nurture their integrities and related matters.

Lilo then suggested that the only way out of this mess is for the government to quickly take up an amendment bill to amend or take out the section that repeals Part 2 of the PPI Act 2014.

He further added that its current status now can affect the next year’s national general elections, and there will be room for past political negativities to come back and haunt the system.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s attempts to get comments from the Attorney General’s Chamber was unsuccessful, but the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission when contacted, admitted to the error and confirmed that they will be bringing to parliament a bill, for amendments on the oversight.

Western province leads women caucus program

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY BEN BILUA

WESTERN Provincial Government has been the first province to endorse and accept the Women Caucus Leadership Program.

The province is waiting for the final Terms of Reference document with promise and throws more support towards the implementation of the program.

Earlier this year, women representing wards across Western Province highlighted key provincial women’s priorities and made recommendations on how to address the agendas during a dialogue with Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs).

The dialogue between the 16 women leaders and 26 MPAs centred on priority outcome areas of the Western Province Women’s Empowerment and Transformation Policy for Development.

UN Women, Honiara Based representative Ms Audrey Manu confirmed that Western Province has endorsed Women Caucus program with seven women already appointed to implement the program.

She said Malaita and Guadalcanal provinces are still in a process to formalize and endorse the Women Caucus Terms of Reference documents.

SIEC admits error

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

Political Parties Integrity Commission was supposed not to be removed

By Gary Hatigeva

THE current status of the Political Parties Integrity Commission was an error. This was confirmed by the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission Office (SIECO).

The error as highlighted was noted, as questions were raised surrounding the legitimacy of the Political Parties Commission. This was after it was suggested to have been removed following the repealing of Part 2 of the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014, which established it (Party Commission).

“Section 143(6) in the Electoral Act 2018 clearly notes that Part 2 of the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014 was repealed”.

Following the revealed error, a lot were directed at both the Attorney General’s Chamber and the SIEC for what was widely described as a serious oversight on their parts.

While critics were high, there were also strong recommendations for the government through the responsible bodies, to quickly bring in an amendment bill to reintroduce the repealed parts of the PPI Act, to give legitimate status on the Party Commission, fearing next year’s election could be affected if the matter remains.

But a follow up with SIEC yesterday revealed that the matter raised was justifiable, admitting that it was indeed an error.

“SIEC would like to clarify that it is an error. The Electoral Bill was amended at the Committee stage of its passage through parliament, and the decision was taken not to replace the Political Parties Commission,” SIEC officials explained.

Meanwhile, on the basis of suggestions that the error was intentional, SIEC clarified it was not as the section responsible for ‘the repeal of Part 2 of the PPI Act’ was supposed to be deleted in the committee stage to allow for the continued existence of the Part Commission, but unfortunately noted that it was overlooked.

The SI Electoral Commission further clarified that the error was identified and following its detection, it was rectified through an Amendment Bill, which is expected before the dissolution of the house.

However, due to what was termed as an unforced error, officials told Island Sun that the SI Electoral Commission is now putting together the amendment bill for the error, and is expected to be tabled when Parliament resumes.

SIEC officials then explained that the bill, which will be presented as the “Electoral Bill (Amendment) Bill 2018”, looks to amend Section 143(6) of the Electoral Act 2018, to correct the highlighted error.

Fish rockets in Auki

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

THE price of fish in Auki has said to soar in the past few days. In Auki, consumers are complaining about the increase of prices in fish, and are quite dissatisfied with the amount of fish they are getting for their money.

Auki Man Mr Henry Tuhu told Island Sun the current hike on fish price does not go down well with the consumers in Auki.

He said it is vividly clear on the price hike as it must be the law of demand vs supply.

Tuhu said the past couple of weeks, there has been a very low supply of fish stocks to the market resulting in the increase of the price, as demand for fish is quite high.

He said because the price of fish has gone up, processing market vendors selling fish and chips, barbecue fish among others are also placing an increase in their product prices.

Tuhu added that there are some who stick to their normal price but reduces the content of their product.

He said as currently experienced, tuna (bonito) and reef fish are selling in smaller volumes for the normal price. Tuhu said if small number of fishermen continues to supply the market, there’ll be no expected change on the price.

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