BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

MR Munro Dalisaru a youth leader and on behalf of market vendors at Taro Market makes a strong call for the Taro Station public to stop disturbances for market vendors.

Mr Dalisaru says it has now become an unusual practise for drunkards with no respect to humanity always causing disturbances for the Taro Market vendors which also includes abusing of women at night and even causing unnecessary fights with the male vendors.

“I question the reasons for such bad activities and bad actions towards market vendors who usually provide a good service for the public at Taro Station. They give back revenue for the Province while at the same time struggle to make money in order to meet their basic needs seeing they should be well protected, “expressed Mr Dalisaru.

In light of his complain, Mr Dalisaru calls on the Choiseul Provincial Government and Taro Police to provide security inside Taro Market in order to arrest those causing disturbances and fights.

Just from recent report, a male market vendor was also flown over to Honiara for medical treatment after being bashed in Taro Market too for no good reason.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

INVESTING in Early Childhood Development (ECD) is the best chance for Solomon Islands to build its cognitive capital.

This is according to Ministry of Finance and Treasury’s Undersecretary, Norman Hiropuhi.

Hiropuhi said that a child born today will be playing a critical role for the development of Solomon Islands thus the country needs to invest on children to be able to tap into the demographic dividends in 2050 and beyond.

In the case of demographic dividends potential for Solomon Islands, he said 2100 projections have a greater share of the working-age population (15 to 64) than the non-working age group that is less than 14 years of age or more than 65.

Hiropuhi said demographic dividends are created through labour supply, savings, human capital and demand.

“This potential depends on the ability of the country to utilise its working population. The country needs to prepare its cognitive capital now,” he said.

Regarding conditions for demographic dividend, Hiropuhi stressed that there needs to be understanding on how this growing working population can be made productive and be efficiently used for economic growth and development.

Hence, he said building a formidable cognitive capital maybe the most viable option for Solomon Islands in preparation.

However, Hiropuhi pointed out that other areas are challenged such as industrialization and overdependence on natural resources.

He emphasised that industrialisation may not be a viable option due to power/energy issues and geographical isolation (access to markets) and overdependence on natural resources maybe too risky with climate change being a threat to these resources.

Hiropuhi stated that while 85 percent of a child’s core brain structure is formed by age 3, less than four percent of public investments in education and development reach children in their first few years.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

ONE of the achievements Central Islands province health authority has accomplished so far in its Village Healthy Setting (VHS) programme is registering zero dengue cases.

This is according to a report compiled by the Tulagi mini-hospital on the VHS programme for the province.

The report stated that in implementing the programme, a total of nine healthy village sites and three Healthy Setting Schools were established between 2010 and 2018 in the province.

The programme was facilitated by various health centres in the province for villagers and some health issues so far targeted under the programme include, malaria, TB, diarrhoea and skin diseases.

The report furthered that the current stage reached was on monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the action plan under the programme.

Achievement so far was there is no dengue cases recorded at the health setting villages and there was a reduction on malaria cases and other communicable diseases in the province.

The report stated that this is a positive feedback for the programme in the province and as they continue they will look at addressing some of the pressing health issues in the province.

However, it was stated that despite progress on the programme, there were challenges continue to hold-back the implementation of the programme.

The report stated that one obvious challenge was the scattered geographical location of the islands.

And resources hold the biggest proportion of challenges faced for the effective implementation of the programme.

Thus, the report stated that progress continue to prevail these challenges as they are moving with the programme.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands Electoral Commission Officer Taeasi Sanga has encouraged the 50 Revising Officers (ROs) of the 50 constituencies to recognise the values and principles underpinning good electoral practice.

Mrs Sanga said this at the opening event of the four-day training of Revising Officers in preparation for the Omission and Objection phase.

She said these are values such as integrity, impartiality, fairness, accuracy and respect for the law.

“I’m sure as part of your training and your own beliefs these values will be discussed and focused on as part of good electoral practice,” she said.

Sanga further encouraged the ROs to set the tone for their staff as leaders and role models.

“It is important that you are acting responsibly and setting that tone for all your staff so they can follow,” she said

Sanga uttered the public inquiry teams are small and must work closely together with you for successful outcomes.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of a man alleged to have involved in corruption activities has adjourned to November 19 for mention.

Public Prosecutor Freliz Fakari told the court yesterday that the matter as set for trial yesterday but since she has other cases as well for trial, prosecution intends to vacate the trial date to next year.

She said that she had consulted the defence lawyer in regards to the issue raised in court.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea then adjourned the case to the next 14 days for setting new trial date.

This is the case against Eddie Paohawe alleged for misusing huge amount of money worth SBD$400,358.

The allegation was in relation to incidents occurred on dates between 2013 and 2014 was employed by Bemobile Company

The prosecution alleged that it was during his employment he has taken for his benefit by transferring P2P credits worth SBD$400,358 from the P2P data system to his work mobile number and sold the credit belonging to the said public company.

Freliz Fakari of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution prosecutes the case in court.

THE Principal Magistrate at Kirakira in the Makira Ulawa province on November 2, 2018 sentenced a 40-year-old man to 16 years imprisonment after finding him guilty of eight charges of incest.

The man was found guilty of having sexual intercourse with his biological daughter on eight separate dates in 2011.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Makira-Ulawa Province, Superintendent Peter Sitai says, “The convicted man from Tawaiabu Village in West Makira was found guilty of eight charges of incest by male.

“He is serving his sentence at the Kirakira Correctional Centre.

“The public must be reminded that the crime of incest is serious one under the Penal Code of Solomon Islands. It carries a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment.

“This Crime has two parts – incest by a male and incest by a female.

“Incest by male is when any male person has sexual intercourse with a female person who is to his knowledge his granddaughter; daughter, sister or mother.

“Police will not tolerate such acts.

“I would like to thank police officers involved in the investigation in getting the man convicted in court despite challenges during the course of investigation.

“I extend the same sentiments to the chiefs and family members of the convicted man for their understanding and supporting the police,” says Sitai.

–POLICE MEDIA

POLICE in Central province have arrested and charged a Form-Three student of McMahon Community High School at Tulagi for allegedly causing an indecent act to a seven-year-old girl at the same school on November 1, 2018.

Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Central Province, Inspector Hugo Maelasi says, “The victim was having morning break with her friends at the School when the suspect allegedly came and tied both the hands of the victim and her friend with a skipping rope. The victim’s friend managed to escape.

“The suspect then tied the victim’s hands and the rest of her body including her legs with the rope.

“The victim tried to take out the rope from her legs but she could not do so because the suspect was very strong.

“It is further alleged that the male suspect then grabbed the victim and poked his finger into the victim’s private part.

“This is a really sad incident which occurred at a school, a place where parents send their children to get an education.

“But instead the victim experienced something that will affect her for the rest of her live.

“I advise older students to have some respect towards the little children and take extra responsibility in caring for them.

“Teachers are also reminded to keep an eye on the students as the parents entrust their children under their care.

“Police will not tolerate such an indecent act to such a little girl and will investigate and prosecute accordingly.”

The suspect has been formally charged and released on bail to reappear in Court at a later date.

–POLICE MEDIA