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Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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SIEC CEO Moses Saitala (left) with Our Telekom’s CEO Loyley Ngira exhibit the MOA after the signing ceremony.

Voters can see registration details using mobile phones, thanks to SIEC & Telekom MOU

 

SIEC CEO Moses Saitala (left) with Our Telekom’s CEO Loyley Ngira exhibit the MOA after the signing ceremony.

VOTERS can easily access all their registration details by using their mobile phones, thanks to an MOU signed between SIEC and Our Telekom.

The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission Office (SIEC) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Our Telekom aimed at collaborating to enhance voter information accessibility.

Chief Electoral Officer Mr Moses Saitala on behalf of SIEC signed the MOU with the Our Telekom’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Loyley Ngira at the Our Telekom Haus, Point Cruz.

The MOU facilitates the sending of mass SMS broadcasts to Our Telekom subscribers on important electoral matters.

The agreement also allows both parties to jointly develop and implement an interactive system that will be offered to voters early next year where people can enquire about their registration details.

This new initiative, using a free call number, is aimed at providing a high quality information service to registered voters, using up to date information, to let voters know where they are registered and exactly where they need to go and vote on polling day.

For example, a registered voter can simply dial a three digit number, and go to number of options provided, to check their registration details, polling station etc.

Mr Saitala said this is a huge breakthrough in ensuring people easily access their voter registration details at the tip of their fingers wherever they are.

“Previously, people have to travel to polling stations to check the voter list for their names and polling stations.

“Pinning up of voter lists will still be maintained, but SIECO would like to make this information more accessible, apart from checking online,” he said.

He said with the increasing number of cell phone users even in the most remote areas throughout the Solomon Islands, it is only wise to engage existing platforms that are readily available to people.

Mr Saitala expressed appreciation to Our Telekom for facilitating the service and hopes this initiative alleviates the trouble registered voters experienced in the past in searching for information and their voter details.

Mr Ngira expressed the same sentiments, and acknowledges the significance of the initiative.

“This initiative is necessary and will be very helpful to people,” he said.

Meanwhile, SIEC encourages electorates to continue to follow instructions being disseminated via mobile texts, in order to partake in the upcoming phases of the Voter Registration process.

–SIEC PRESS

Take My Hands in NZ sending more medical equipment aid to the Solomon Islands

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, Take My Hands Charity Trust in New Zealand (my partner charity) has confirmed that a container of some 50 hospital beds and two ultrasound machines was loaded on a vessel which left Wellington today.

The vessel is expected to arrive in Honiara on 16 November 2018.

A second container with 50 more hospital beds and some 30 wheel chairs is expected to be shipped soon.

Meanwhile, Take My Hands is to send a container of medical equipment to the Namunga Hospital in the Solomon Islands.

The Rotary Club of Levin arranged for the container.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

Applause to the Friends of the City

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, I’d like to express my appreciation and support for the work the Friends of the City had done to keep our capital as well as educating our fellow citizens to be responsible to throw rubbish in the right place. This kind of voluntary group shows that Solomon Island citizens could still improve and have the potential to develop our country.

I could still vividly remember one Saturday, I went down to town and saw that the streets of Honiara was adorned with red t-shirts of all ages, men and women, from different ethnicity all working together sweeping and picking up rubbish along the Point Cruz area, and distributing drums along the streets for the public to use. I was beyond impressed that I called my friends and told them about what this group was doing, and we decided that after the December break we would consult and join the group to do whatever work they come up with to keep our City clean.

Most of the time, people talked and talked about keeping our capital clean but nothing was ever done to put their plans into actions, but now Friends of the City have taken the initiative to put this into action. I urged fellow citizens who resides in Honiara to come out and give a hand when the Friends of the City conduct a clean-up campaign. And to the organizers of this group, you all deserve a standing ovation for the amazing job you have put forward, may God bless the Friends of the City.

Brenda Tavake

Emalus Campus

USP

Unprofessionalism of nurse in Labour Ward

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, being on September 23, 2018 I could remember well sitting in the Labour ward at the National Referral Hospital waiting for my wife to attend labour and saw the unprofessional behaviour shown by the nurses in the labour ward towards the pregnant female (patient).

Flash back in early 2000 Midwifes are so kind to pregnant mothers which they show respect and comfort to patient.

Nowadays there were too many new Registered Nurse which they do not treat patient well in the labour ward.

They also mention unprofessional statement by saying to the pregnant mothers with pain, that’s what you people wants!

They even make fun of the mothers that fill with pain and even do not have heart to comfort the mothers but oppositely sit back in their office and making fun to the pregnant mother using Medical terms.

Also when mothers crying with pain they shout angrily to them saying shut up, you make too much Noise with realising that there is another life and it’s not a play.

I was standing and saw this happen.

In result of their delay and attitude there were 4 incident happen, two (2) mothers lost their twins, the other lost her baby after seizer and the other mother delivered her baby on the walk way in the labour ward.

All this incident show poor nursing which should be removed or else go back to attend school for another ten years.

It is a problem for us to day and for mothers that attend labor at National Referral Hospital where you will definitely face irresponsible nurses.

Responsible authorities should enquire in to this issue and remove those type of nurse out or should discipline them for their action (negligent of duty).

That kind of ward should need right people who have brain and can help others.

Lastly I just want to applaud the doctors in charge for that ward for their good work showing real professional duties towards patients (a female and a Male doctor) this what junior nurses (diploma) should do, following the example of the PHD people.

Samson Kele

Tasahe Bee

West Honiara

Atoifi Hospital urgently in need of medical supplies

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, in the September 21, 2018, I wrote the letter, below; to Honiara newspapers in the form of an appeal in the hope that the then reported urgent need for medical supplies at the Atoifi Hospital might be relieved.

I have returned from Singapore to learn that no help for the hospital has been forthcoming and I would again, please, request some help is quickly rendered to the hospital by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services, if possible, or by one or more of Solomon Islands traditional aid partners or international agencies such as those operating under the auspices of the UN.

The Atoifi Hospital in Malaita, although an Adventist Hospital serves a population of 80,000 people and has provided skilled medical services in a Christian environment for over 36 years.

The hospital has an operating theatre which performs around 600 surgical operations each year.

“While the National Referral Hospital is said to be gradually returning to normal after comparatively recently running out of essential medical drugs and supplies and then getting help from regional donor partners and several members of the public and organisations, news has reached me that the situation at the Atoifi Hospital in Malaita regarding medical supplies is rather critical.

“In writing this letter, by way of an appeal, I would ask for help in supplying the Atoifi Hospital with either the medical supplies said to be urgently required at the hospital’s pharmacy department or donations to help the hospital acquire the necessary needs.

“It is my understanding the medical supplies listed are urgently required at the Atoifi Hospital (although the list is by no means conclusive) and more information of needs can be obtained by contacting the hospital

“May I thank all those willing and able to assist the Atoifi Hospital in advance of help that might be given.”

Adrenaline 1mg/ml ( 30amps)

Oxytocin 5units (30amps)

Ceftriaxone 1gr ( 30vials)

Ferrous sulphate tabs (2000)

Indomethacin 25mg ( 2000)

Benzhexol 5mg tabs ( 500)

Haloperidol 5mg tabs ( 500)

Depo inj 150mg/ ml (50vials)

iodiene 10% solution ( 10bottles)

Zinc sulphate 20mg ( 500tabs)

Plaster rolls ( 36)

 

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

Paraguayan connection

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Angel Chamorro, a futsal specialist from Paraguay will assist the national under-18 futsal team during next week’s campaign in the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina

South American appointed to assist under-18 futsal squad during Youth Olympic Games

 

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Angel Chamorro, a futsal specialist from Paraguay will assist the national under-18 futsal team during next week’s campaign in the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina

PARAGUAYAN futsal specialist Angel Chamorro was appointed to assist the Solomon Islands national under-18 futsal squad for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games.

Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) confirmed on Wednesday.

Chamorro will assist head coach Stanley Puairana during the Games which will run from October 6 to 18 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The South American was called into the squad to stand in for the absence of assistant coach Dickson Kadau, who could not be able to travel with the team.

SIFF will foot the expenses for the Paraguayan’s service to the team.

Junior Kurukuru manager Nacanieli Seru discussed the appointment terms with Chamorro during the official draws of the Youth Olympic Games futsal tournament held during the month of August in Argentina.

Chamorro is an accredited FIFA Futsal Instructor for South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and also the President of the Futsal Coaches Association of Paraguay.

SIFF believes Chamorro will contribute vitally towards the young lads’ performance in Argentina since he has experience at the highest level.

Chamorro will meet the team upon arrival in Buenos Aires on Friday.

The junior Kurukurus will depart Honiara this afternoon along with the rest of the Solomon Islands delegates for Buenos Aires via Brisbane and Auckland.

They are placed in Pool A alongside Brazil, Russia, Iran and Costa Rica in the men’s futsal competition of the games.

Their first match is scheduled for Monday 10am (Solomon Islands Time) against Iran.

Fingers crossed

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Hon. Minister for Culture and Tourism, Bartholomew Parapolo.

Hopes high for Anuha airport re-opening as Gov’t dialogue with landowners

 

ANUHA Island, known as the Pearl of Solomons, may spring back to life as the government sets to re-open Anuha airfield.

After 30 years of negligence after the resort closed in 1988, there is renewed hope as the Government has continued talks with landowners of the area.

A high-level government delegation led by the Minister for Culture and Tourism (MCT) Bartholomew Parapolo, Minister for Communication and Aviation (MCA) Peter Agovaka, Minister for Lands, Housing and Survey Hon Andrew Manepora, PS of MCA Moses Virivolomo, PS of Lands Stanley Waleanisia, PS for Ministry of Infrastructure and Development (MID) Stephen Maesiola and Director (acting) Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands Mr Brian Halisanau and other government officials, travelled to Anuha Island on September 23.

The delegation had a fruitful dialogue on the ground with the landowners which both parties agreed to redevelop the island and bring back economic activities to the island to benefit the landowners, the people of the province and Solomon Islands as a whole.

“There is now renewed energy from the landowners and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to have the airport open and later invite investors to redevelop the resort,” a government statement highlighted.

The statement adds the government through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Surveys had reached an agreement with the landowners in 2009 to lease the Island for tourism activities.

The lease was never executed which clouded the initiative which raised a lot of questions amongst landowners as to what went wrong.

“Despite the stall in executing the lease, the landowners, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Central Islands province maintained dialogue to reopen the airport and redevelop the resort,” the Government statement said.

As a result of the meeting, a plan of action has been agreed on and includes securing and executing the lease signed in 2009; and that the landowners to request and allow the government to enter the island in the last quarter of 2018 for purposes of survey and produce costs for airport redevelopment starting 2019.

“The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and the Ministry of Communication and Aviation will together implement the airport redevelopment plan with the support of all government agencies, the province and the landowners,” it said.

The government has thanked the landowners for their cooperation to work with the government to have the Island redeveloped.

“The government is keen and will deliver the required infrastructure in 2019 to revive the Anuha Island and regain its status as the pearl of Solomon’s,” the statement said.

–MCA PRESS

Solomon Islands gear up for Hong Kong clash

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Solomon Islands national rugby league coach John Jewiss.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Solomon Islands national rugby league coach John Jewiss.

THE national rugby league side will take on Hong Kong in their second Group B of the Rugby League Emerging Nations World Championships currently underway in Australia.

This match is scheduled for this Sunday 2pm at the New Stadium Cabramatta in Sydney.

The national side played Turkey in their first match on Monday and went down by close 30-22 margin.

During the first match, Solomon Islands left their comeback too late as they conceded the first try of the game in the second minute and trailed 20-6 at half-time.

Turkey extended their lead to 24 points early in the second half before Solomon Islands crossed for three tries in the final 11 minutes to show a glimpse of what they’re capable of.

Head coach John Jewiss said a poor start proved costly.

“There were actually four guys making their debut at any international level for them, which was a bit tough, and I think they got a little bit overawed by the situation – a little bit nervous,” he said.

“We made a lot of what you call nervous errors in the first 20 minutes, dropping balls and probably not reacting to what we should do, but at the start they scored some good tries with some positive play.

“But you can’t compete if you give them 70 percent of the ball in the first 20 minutes, it’s very hard to compete.”

Solomon Islands are using the Emerging Nations event as preparation for the rugby league nines tournament at next year’s Pacific Games in Samoa.

Jewiss, who first worked with the team in 2015, said the squad is made up entirely of local players.

“Our whole team bar one player, who has been in the Solomons, everyone in the squad is homegrown,” he said.

“There’s no overseas players at all in our team so it was a pretty good effort against a team from Turkey which had I think only five players that came from overseas.

“The rest were from Australia so it was a pretty good effort for our guys.”

Solomon games taskforce calls for support

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Gongona rugby field will host the rugby competition of the upcoming Solomon Games

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Gongona rugby field will host the rugby competition of the upcoming Solomon Games

THE Rennell and Bellona Solomon Games Task Force Committee calls for a wider support from their own citizens as they take on a challenging task to prepare for the hosting of the country’s biggest sporting gathering during November and December.

The call was made by the taskforce committee’s Vice-Chair Nick Hatigeva following the recent decision reached by the national government last week where they gave Rennell and Bellona Province the nod to go ahead with the hosting of this year’s event.

Hatigeva said the recent announcement is good for development of sports in their province and on this note, called on their people to leave their differences aside and start plan on how to make this event a successful one.

“Renbel Province has retained the right to host the Solomon Games this year, so I call on our people to leave our differences behind and start planning on where we as a people can contribute to make this event a successful one.”

Hatigeva added that there are numerous ways in which people of their province can give hand toward the hosting.

He said: “That said, I wish to call on our people to do or consider the following, which are part and partial of the scheduled games, 1. Our traditional dancing groups, tamure groups, contemporary & free style dancing groups, and our music artists to submit their names to the LOC for auditioning to be included in the ceremonies and entertainment programs; 2. Our local farmers, fishermen and bread baker’s to submit their names to the LOC along with what they have on offer for interview and selection to the group that will supply part of food for catering during the SG; 3. Individuals to submit their names to the LOC to be interviewed for the team of volunteers who will work as liaison personnel’s, drivers, cleaners, venue assistants, tour guards, MCs, etc during the course of the games; 4. Our sports men and women to continue/start with their training and preparation, and; 5. Our good people to start planning their holidays or leaves for Nov and Dec to be part of this huge event.”

The event is scheduled to run from November 26 to December 7 in Rennell and thousands of delegates including athletes and officials from the other nine provinces are expected to take part.

Hatigeva stressed that this will be the biggest event ever to be hosted in Renbel Province.

“So let’s work together to host and deliver a successful game that will be fair, enjoyable and highlights the true spirit and attitude of Avaiki that had been wrongly perceived or interpreted by outsiders through our confrontational attitude on various issues and the shortcomings of a few programs that had been poorly organized in our province in the past.”

While the event is due to be hosted by Renbel, all the technical aspects of the games will be organised by the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) through its affiliated sporting federations.

Therefore on this note, the taskforce committee’s vice-chair further stated that the upcoming games is important not only for Renbel but also does for the entire country.

“The international sporting bodies such as the Oceania National Olympic Committee and international sporting federations are watching us. They are slowly monitoring our ability to organise big sporting events.

“We must host the Solomon Games and make it happen. If we fail to host the Solomon Games then what ability do we have to be able to host the upcoming Pacific Games 2023? We might end up giving those from outside a wrong perception about our ability.”

PS Rodie lauds teachers for choosing profession

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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MEHRD permanent secretary Dr. Franco Rodie deliver his speech

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

MEHRD permanent secretary Dr. Franco Rodie deliver his speech

MINISTRY of Education and Human Resource Department (MEHRD) permanent secretary Dr Franco Rodie has saluted teachers for choosing the teaching profession as their career.

He this during the official opening of the world teachers day programme in Auki yesterday.

He said on October 5 each year teachers and key education stakeholders worldwide celebrate the unique and the vital role of teachers in every country of the world.

“Today we are celebrating this occasion here in Auki because teachers in the country hold a special place in the lives of students.

“For 2018 world teacher’s day theme ‘The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher’ has adopt by UNESCO.

“We should celebrate the world teacher’s day because there are over 8,908 teachers in our country today who are dedicated to help students learn.

“I am obliged to acknowledge and thanked teachers for choosing the teaching profession to help our citizens learn and the daily work in ECE centres, primary schools, secondary schools, rural training centres and in higher education institutions such as the Solomon Islands national university (SINU).

“Teachers your daily work is founded on hard work, patience, commitment and dedication usually under difficult environments and limited resources, to ensure that your students can become the best achievers they can be.

“On behalf of my Ministry I would like to thank you every teachers in the country for everything you have done to help our students learn and become the persons they are today.

“Today we celebrate the teaching profession and to acknowledge teachers who have continued to make tireless efforts to help generations of Solomon Island learners realise their potentials, hopes and dreams through learning.

“Teachers play a very important role in shaping our nation’s future by guiding their students in becoming ideal citizens.”

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