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West Gizo celebrates culture and history with environmental theme

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

THE annual Ijo-Maringi Festival will be held in West Gizo commencing today October 12 – 14, at Saeragi Village.

The festival celebration aimed at raising consciousness among the community on the environment, livelihood and development.

With the theme ‘Conserved Culture Conserves Environment’, this festival will bring together communities from Gizo and surrounding islands to celebrate this event.

Ijo Maringi festival is a pride for the community as it celebrates their Culture and History.

Chief William Giroi said the highlights of the Ijo-Maringi festival will be a group parade, women cultural performances, sea games, sporting activities, men cultural performances; environment awareness program that includes environment events, information dissemination, and reef cleaning up program.

“Ijo-Maringi festival has grown so far since its introduction back in 2016.”

“It has been described as one of the successful event being organized till today which attracts a lot of participants, tourists and visitors around the globe,” said Giroi.

The festival will conclude with a combined ecumenical fellowship on Sunday 14th October.

Australia supports safer city approach for girls in Honiara

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Participants doing group discussions

BY ELLISON.T.VAHI

WITH its full support to produce a safer city for girls in Honiara, the Australian Government through Plan International have funded the International Girl Child Day on Safe Cities Dialogue that was held at the SIDT office.

Based on researches conducted by Plan, adolescent girls infrequently feel safe in cities, as they experience physical and sexual violence as well they are often excluded from decision making processes that impact their safety.

It also shows that there is a major gap in programming and research pertaining to adolescent girl’s safety and inclusion in cities, as many urban safety and crime targets young men, and many women’s safety initiatives focus only on adult women.

Honiara City Clerk (2nd right) with Plan Internationals and HOD for YSW Rolland Pauku.

With raising levels of gender-based violence and urban insecurity around the world, the programme is being implemented at a vital time.

The approach focuses on Safety and access to public spaces, increasing girl’s active and meaningful participation as well Safe and autonomous mobility. It also places emphasis to Influence Governments and Policy Makers to make laws and city services more approachable and broad to girl’s safety, Influence families and communities to promote a supportive social environment that promotes girls safety and inclusion in cities and Engage adolescent girls to be active citizens and agents of change by building capacities strengthening assets, and creating opportunities for meaningful participation.

Participants doing group discussions

Girls often face sexual harassment, exploitation, and insecurity as they navigate the urban environment, while on the other hand they are more likely to be educated and politically active and less likely to be married at an early stage.

Working in partnership to address these issues, is the Honiara City Council, Young Women Christian Association and MWYCFA & Other Stakeholders.

The HCC Youth Division and YWCA will function as the implementing lead parties with the support of PIASI and stakeholders. HCC and YWCA will work together with stakeholders to implement Safer Cities for girl’s activities in supervising sessional instructors and volunteers for the Safer Cities for Girls (SC4G) activities as well providing a capacity assessment for HCC and YWCA, a Partaking Approach.

Ace Fourth Taxi Service Owner Mr Rolland Wale

In the meantime, they, together with the stakeholders are putting on plans to Function as the lead object in contract management and negotiations, Responsible for reporting to donor and contract oversight, Engage and financially responsible for sessional instructors in program operations during day to day activities and programs, Responsible for project cost, this includes project items, activity and human resources as well Providing induction into SC4G tools that HCC/YWCA can use in their implementation of project activities.

Documenting and sharing of sexual materials on social media

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR Editor

The rapid increase in people documenting and sharing their sexual activities on social media is quite alarming, especially among young people and children. Though Solomon Islands do not have an independent mechanism, such as a legislation that prohibits the documenting of sexual Activities by any person on social media, there are other Legislations that prohibit sharing and importing.

It is very important that young people must know the consequences of their actions, some are very aware of the implications it might have, but tend to ignore the facts. It is high time that not only the government to impose hefty penalties and dictate a reasonable age of consent, but it is time; parents take responsibility to intervene and control what their children are doing on social media.

Other Countries Such as Australia, New Zealand and Fiji have Legislations that control and regulate issues of online sexting, documentation of sexual activities and other online materials, Solomon Islands, is in dire need of such, taking into account the growing number of social medial users and other online websites.

Social media is a growing problem especially among young people and children, it not only affects their social skills to communicate properly, it affects their education, their mental health and also can lead to suicide or social issues.

Therefore, it is time the government of Solomon Islands, responsible Ministries, stakeholders and non government organizations, religious groups and especially families, to take heed and tries to find a proper solution.

George Stanley

Proper database missing in labour mobility

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

LABOUR mobility has been occurring in the Pacific since the 19th and 20th century. Except that time, Pacific Islanders were tricked or stolen to work in plantations in Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Samoa and Peru as slaves.

This time however, times have changed. The current labour mobility scheme is no way near the black birding days. Pacific island countries together with Australia and New Zealand including other countries that have labour mobility programs with the pacific are collaborating more in how they can address the regional labour priorities together.

This week the third annual labour mobility meeting brings together employers, workers, government officials and stakeholders to discuss these issues together.

As part of their participation in this meeting, both New Zealand and Australia are bringing to the table issues of concern from all parties involved.

For New Zealand, while they share the same optimism as Solomon Islands and other pacific countries in providing employment, they are also wary in how this program is being carried out.

From 5000 in 2007, slowly the number has increased over the past decade. To date, there are 11,000 pacific seasonal workers in the scheme. Of this number 682 are Solomon Islanders. In comparison to Vanuatu’s more than 4000 workers, this number is very small.

Prime Minister, Rick Hou says, this number reflects the country’s inability to meet the standard expected.

“Why we have not been able to send more workers under the labour mobility scheme is that we are very dis-organized. I think a lesson everyone should learn is, don’t be disorganized”, Hou said.

He admitted that the government has to be on top of the labour mobility scheme. He said Solomon Islands lack the information needed to better the program. Hou said government should work on having a good database system so to help understand the human resources and the set of skills they have.

He said Solomon Islands population is growing at an alarming rate and he is concerned.

“I am looking at big numbers. I want within the next 10 years, I want 10,000 young people of Solomon Islands going out of the country to work”, Hou said.

At the same time, this annual meeting held in Honiara is looking at ways in which this labour mobility scheme can enhance the existing scheme and be a win-win situation for all.

Matt Hoskin from New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and New Zealand Government and Industry Panel said, “For argument sake, if you got 40 really good carpenters in the Solomon Islands and we came and took them to New Zealand. You are trying to rebuild your country. What will happen then?”

In a press conference Hoskin says they would like to see a better data of the labour market. This will help New Zealand understand the market better when they do recruitment. He admits this will be a big challenge for all the Pacific countries.

He said New Zealand prefer quality over quantity thus the recruitment process is an important component of the program. They currently recruit seasonal workers from Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

PM welcomes Cuba’s proposal for new medical lab

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

PRIME Minister Hon. Rick Houenipwela has welcomed proposals for the country to address the chronic problem of amputation and to establish a laboratory to produce plant based medicine in the country.

This was revealed during his meeting with two experts from Cuba, Dr José Montequin and Consultant Luis Silvagni and led by Solomon Islands Ambassador to Cuba, His Excellency Simeon Bouro early this week.

The treatment, Heberprot-P is a first class product developed by scientists at the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Havana, Cuba which contained human recombinant epidermal growth factor in an injectable formulation.

The injectable formulation is administered through intralesional infiltration directly into the wound for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer, to accelerate healing of deep and complex ulcers, either neuropathic or ischemic.

About twenty-seven countries have already registered Heberprot-P.

The Prime Minister said with the high rate of Non- Communicable Diseases in the country, this technology can save a lot of patients from amputation.

The Prime Minister after his meetings in Nauru recently, has expressed his desire for Solomon Islands to introduce this technology.

The meeting this week with the team from Cuba has confirmed and fulfilled his vision to have this technology available in the country.

Dr José Montequin, a specialist who started with the technology in its initial stages of development of the product, Heberprot-P, and has travelled to many countries establishing clinics and also lectures in universities in Havana.

He has also written articles in the International Medical Journals.

The second project is to establish a laboratory to produce plant based medicine in the country.

His Excellency Simeon Bouro stated, “Cuba has done extensive work in the area of plant based medicine and I believe that Solomon Islands with the wealth of knowledge of herbal medicine, and extensive range of plants already found in-country, will be able to produce medicine that can be readily available to the populace.”

Further, the Technical Institute of Malaita has shown interest in developing a close collaboration with Cuba to venture in the production of plant-based medicine.

The Ministry of Commerce is also eager to assist with this project.

The Malaita Province has also identified sites where this project can be based on.

According to findings, seventy percent of the plants used to produce medicine in Cuba can be found in the country.

The Director of the Technical Institute of Malaita, Mr Bernard Bakote’e, has been conducting research into herbal treatments that have already delivered encouraging results and is very willing and happy that he can be linked to the Cuban counterparts to develop this project further.

“The benefits from this project is huge considering that it will stimulate the agricultural sector in the rural areas in the country”.

The meeting was also attended by senior officials from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

–PM PRESS SECRETARIAT

Acquittal from past still relevant as monies not accounted for as yet

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

 THOUGH it might seem like ancient history, the CDF audit report of 2009 to 2012 is still said to be relevant. In his foreword address in the CDF audit report, Auditor General Peter Lokay says he appreciates the report though it might be out of date.

In his comments in the report, he said it is clear from audit work undertaken that transparency, accountability and governance of the RCDF falls well short of that expected with regards to public finances.

“I have decided to issue this report as I am convinced that the range of problems raised in this work still applies today”.

The report also shared by the Office of the Auditor General’s website summarises the results of the audit of the Rural Constituency Development Funds (RCDF) for the years 2010 to 2012 and also for 18 constituencies, from 2009 to 2011.

For the 18 constituencies audited from 2009 to 2011, it was found that of the total possible claim of SBD 109,080,000 only payment vouchers relating to SBD62,730,000 were sighted during the audit; 57.5 percent of the possible total.

Of the SBD62,730,000; only acquittals valued at SBD 53,474,417 (85 percent) were sighted at the ministry.

Thus, SBD 9,265,583 was not accounted for. A summarized detail of the 18 constituencies audited from 2009 to 2011 are as follows.

 

# Constituency Sum of entitled

funding (SBD)

 

 Value of

PVs sighted

(SBD)

 

 Value of

acquittals

sighted

(SBD)

 

 Percentage

acquittals

not sighted

 
1

 

 North East Guadalcanal 6,060,000 3,860,000 3,449,866 11
2

 

 North West Guadalcanal 6,060,000 3,720,000 3,126,181 16
3

 

 West Honiara 6,060,000 4,060,000 3,960,320 2
4

 

 Central Honiara 6,060,000 200,000 120,000 40
5

 

 East Honiara 6,060,000 3,050,000 2,661,825 13
6

 

 East Malaita 6,060,000 4,460,000 3,451,940 23
7

 

 Small Malaita 6,060,000 2,000,000 1,415,336 29
8

 

 Aoke Langa Langa 6,060,000 4,660,000 3,986,366 14
9

 

 Lau and Baelelea 6,060,000 4,060,000 3,444,877 15
10

 

 East Are’are 6,060,000 4,400,000 2,616,332 41
11

 

 Gizo Kolombangara 6,060,000 4,060,000 3,612,517 11
12 South Vella 6,060,000 2,560,000 2,164,618 15

 
13

 

 Marovo 6,060,000 3,460,000 3,260,688 6
14

 

 South New Georgia 6,060,000 2,060,000 1,989,800 3
15

 

 Gao Bugotu 6,060,000 5,000,000 4,293,492 14
16

 

 Hograno Kia Havulei 6,060,000 4,060,000 2,850,260 30
17

 

 Ngella 6,060,000 3,060,000 3,060,000 0
18

 

 Rennell Bellona 6,060,000 4,000,000 4,000,000 0
Total

 

 109,080,000 62,730,000 53,464,418
Total acquittals not sighted 9,265,582

 
Average % acquittals not

sighted

 

 15%

 

The CDF report states that transparency, accountability and governance of the RCDF falls well short of that expected with regards to public finances and that significant changes are required.

Another table in the CDF report consists of the audited reports of 32 constituencies from the years of 2010 to 2012. It will be published in another article at a later date.

True change must begin with us: PS Sisiolo

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
PS of the Ministry of Public Service, Mr Nego Sisiolo

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, Nego Sisiolo has highlighted that Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) change must begin with oneself before others can change.

He said the involvement of important stakeholders, both within and outside of government is a reflection of the commitment of the Ministry of Public Service (MPS) and the government to ensure that policies such as GESI are responsive to the needs and aspirations of not only the Public Servants but also the people they serve.

“There are also other valid reasons why we need a GESI Policy, by ensuring that men and women and persons with disability participate and have equal voices in decision making and policy implementation.

“GESI strategies promote the full use of the nation’s potentials to address its challenges”, Sisiolo said.

Furthermore, a gender equitable and socially inclusive workforce will be able to better understand and support the various needs of everyone in the community and nation, leading to improved service delivery.

Meanwhile according to the Public Service statement, developing a GESI policy is a bold step by the Ministry of Public Service towards fulfilling its mandate and new strategic thrust.

The policy is also aimed at setting out appropriate considerations on issues such as recruitment, leadership, strategies to address workplace/sexual harassment and the establishment of gender targets in the public service.

PS Sisiolo also acknowledged the support made by the Australian Government for the provision of technical assistance in developing the draft policy.

Sisiolo was speaking yesterday at a validation workshop on the GESI draft policy.

Reparation may not make it in the 10th parliament

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Gary Hatigeva

THE current Government’s efforts to put in place a new legislation on its reparation policy intent, may not make parliament for the last set of sittings when the house resumes at the end of this month.

The Reparation policy intention looks to provide a guideline for the national government to design an inclusive policy and legislation to address issues that gave rise to the ethnic tensions from 1998 to 2003 including impacts of the subsequence violence as well as the Bougainville crisis.

Reparation according to government officials comes as an important component of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report.

The Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government (SIDCCG) had initiated for this bill to be realised before the 10th Parliament House is dissolved, but insiders say this may not happen due to the little time in hand.

The SIDCCG was looking to introduce a legal framework on the reparation as an avenue to help those affected in the ethnic tension and Bougainville crisis, and bring a once broken society to live in genuine peace.

Only at its workshop and awareness stage and those responsible for coming up with a bill on it, are worried it may not be completed before parliament is reconvened.

They revealed that the team working on the reparation policy, was looking to bring a bill on it in for the November sitting, but shared that with the little time left, intentions for the proposed reparation legislation may likely be put forward for the next house.

They added that the issue surrounding allocations of funds for the bill to be realised particularly, in the phases involved, which includes it being put for consultation, and compiled, are but some of the factors

“These are some of the obvious factors that might not allow for this important bill to be put in for the last sittings of the 10th house”.

Insiders told Island Sun that the government particularly, the Ministry of National Unity, Peace and Reconciliation will require around $3 million to run the consultation phase of the reparation if it is drawn into a bill.

At its current phase, the awareness programme on this policy intent is funded by the United Nations Peace Building project through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the UN Women with the support of the Solomon Islands government.

Those involved in the policy were out in the Western, Choiseul, Malaita and Guadalcanal Provinces last month, holding awareness programmes on this bill, with hopes to gage people’s views on it, for the documentation of the proposed legislation.

Meanwhile, insiders also revealed that based on recommendations made, suggesting for the government through the responsible ministry, not to rush the bill and allow for it to be thoroughly covered and put together.

Around seven bills, including the 2019 Appropriation Bill are expected to be tabled when parliament resumes on the 31st of this month, which is expected to run through November and winds up in on the 17th of December.

However, some of the bills set to be put in for parliament’s deliberation are also in doubt due to what has been described as, lacking proper consultations.

RSIPF strongly remind sea travelers to think safety first

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) strongly remind sea travelers in the country to always think safety first when travelling in our waters.

This comes after Police at Yandina received a report about a boat which sank on 6 October 2018.

Director Police Maritime, Chief Superintendent Charles Fox Sau says, “On Friday 5 October 2018 a boat powered by a 40 Horse power Suzuki out boat motor engine, was travelling from Honiara to the Russell Islands when they encountered bad weather and capsized. There were three people on board including a female and two male persons.

Chief Superintendent Sau adds: “When the boat sank, one male and the female person swam to an island using floaters whilst the other male remained floating with the sunken boat.”

He adds: “The other two reached the island at night and the next morning they saw a boat travelling towards Guadalcanal when they waved for help. The boat assisted them to Yandina where they reported the incident to Police.”

Chief Superintendent Sau says, “A Police Maritime stabicraft and other marine vessels within the area were notified and a search was conducted by my officers. It was not until 7 October 2018 that the man was found holding onto the boat and was picked up by a pole and line vessel Soltai 105, 13.6 nautical miles from Langalau light, Russell Islands.

Chief Superintendent Sau emphasizes: “I would like to remind our sea travelers across the country to always think safety first when travelling on our waters. The most important thing is to ensure that you check the weather forecast issued by the Meteorology office broadcast by the SIBC daily. Ensure that your OBM works properly. Carry extra paddles water and fuel. And boat owners and skippers make sure you have proper life jackets in your boats.”

–RSIPF MEDIA

Suspect on murder and rape incident transported to Honiara

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE Commissioner Mathew Varley has confirmed during the police conference on Thursday that the suspect into the alleged murder and rape of a girl on Tikopia Island will be brought to Honiara.

Commissioner Varley said it is a very tragic and gruesome incident and police are condemning the incident.

“This is a very sad and tragic incident where a young girl innocent life has been gruesomely and tragically taken away”, Varley said.

He said police investigation has progressed very well and further updates on the case will be issued when the officers arrive back today.

The alleged murder and rape incident occurred in Tikopia on October 4 2018. Due to the seriousness of the issue, police have been deployed to Tikopia via the Police Patrol Boat with police officers investigating the case.

The young girl aged between10-12 was allegedly raped and subsequently murdered, her body found floating the next day in a lake near her village.

“This is a very tragic and confronting case once we heard the case last week we immediately dispatch the officers to travel down onboard the police patrol boat”, Varley said.

He said post mortem was also conducted on the deceased this week.

Varley said the suspect in this case was taken into custody by the village chief soon after the incident and was handed over to police before inquiry and investigations continued from there.

“As we said before, the rate of violence against women and girls in this country is high and needs to stop. And we will do everything in our power to continue investigate trace down and prosecute those who destroy women’s life this way”, Varley added.

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