PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has arrived in New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

On Monday (NY Time), the Prime Minister will hold discussions with other world leaders at the Concordia Annual Summit held in New York.

The leaders discussions will be based on the theme “Transforming Vulnerable Small Islands toward greater economic Resilience through Innovative financing and strategic Partnership”.

Prime Minister Houenipwela is expected to share with other leaders the current reforms the Government is undertaking to explore innovative investment opportunities.

Later on Monday evening, Prime Minister Houenipwela and Madame Rachel Houenipwela will also attend a reception hosted by United States President Donald Trump.

The Prime Minister will also briefly meet with President Trump.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Houenipwela is invited to deliver a statement on strategies to eliminate Malaria in Solomon Islands and the Melanesian region.

US President Trump is also expected to address world leaders at the UNGA on Tuesday morning.

On Thursday this week, the Prime Minister will also deliver another statement at the High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases in the pacific region.

The Prime Minister will then deliver the country’s national statement at the UNGA on Friday evening next week.

Prime Minister Houenipwela will also be having several bilateral meetings during the margins of the UNGA.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Milner Tozaka will also be delivering a statement at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, Climate Change and Security Dialogues on Monday (NY Time).

Minister Tozaka will also be involved in other bilateral meetings this week.

–OPMC PRESS

THE National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) continues its efforts in ensuring all relevant partners and stakeholders both at the national and provincial level, know and understand the new NDMP-2018.

An NDMO team last week successfully conducted a roll out and disaster plan development workshop for Malaita province. Now the Malaita Province will lead the development of its Provincial Disaster Management Plan.

This week, the NDMO furthers its efforts in rolling out the 2018 Plan and supporting the development of the Provincial Disaster Management Plan for Guadalcanal Province. Participants are drawn from all government departments and private sector, which are establishing or established within the province.

Malaita and Guadalcanal Provinces will lead the development of their respective disaster management plans, with guidance provided by the National Disaster Management Office

This government led workshop to continue the advocacy of the Plan, is on the run again after few months of delays due to financial constraints.

The NDMO acknowledges the cooperation of Oxfam Solomon Islands, SIDT, the UNDP, Guadalcanal Province and the Solomon Islands Government for supporting the workshop for Guadalcanal Province.

–NDMO PRESS

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

A new portable sawmill recently handed over to landowning tribes of Tutu Zone at Northwest Choiseul is part of agreement between landowners and Treasury Timbers logging company.

This is according to Choiseul Province Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Ward 12 at Varisi Lavata, Hon Nerio Ulemiki, who explained that the portable sawmill is to assist landowners to cut timbers for their houses and also to earn income from for other purposes needed.

“The portable sawmill was blessed by the Parish Priest of Christ the King Parish at Voruvoru, Fr Henry Paroi, before it was handed over to landowners at Buronga by the Manager of the company,” explained Hon Ulemiki.

Treasury Timbers Ltd had handed over the portable sawmill on the 31st of August.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

NGELLA’S famous Forum (NGF) again remind Ngella Constituents to be mindful of the fact despite registering in another Constituency being not qualified to register in, the objection period is coming up.

From reports by observation, Ngella Constituents are leaving their Constituency because of many reasons that only they themselves can explain why they are doing such.

Still, NGF urges Ngella Constituents to remember that under the law, anyone can object to their registration for the Electoral Commission and if proven right, they will be disqualified to vote in the National General Election (NGE) for 2019.

“Please members make our people to be aware of this rule,” urge NGF.

One particular main highlighted reason for current cross border registrations to take place too according through interviews is many have pointed that people are fed up of the types of leadership over the past years in their Constituency (Ngella). This falls back to the question according to many questioning “Why did you vote for them in the first place”.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

POLICE at the Honiara Central Police Station have attended a report on September 20, 2018, of an alleged break-in at the Ports Authority area, Point Cruz, Central Honiara.

The break in happened at a Government building in the Ports area in which the Bio Security office, Customs and Excise, Ports cashier office, container service room, Finance office, HR office, Training managers office and the paymaster office are located in.

Police are yet to identify any suspect as investigations continue into the matter.

Details of any items or goods that may have been stolen are still not known, as work progresses to gather more detail.

Police say the break-in may have happened around 2.30am.

“I appeal for assistance from members of the public, who may have been in the Ports area and nearby to come forward with information to assist the investigation,” says Provincial Police Commander Honiara City, Chief Superintendent Alfred Uiga.

Information can be passed to Honiara Central Police Station by contacting the phone numbers: 22999 (24 hours), 23304 (Monday-Friday from 8.30am – 4.30pm.

Or contact Honiara Police Communication Centre on phone numbers: 23666 or 999 (free toll line).

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

PLOTS of lands allocated for Smoking residents at Tulaghi further uphill is being done because a new domestic wharf development is planned to be built at Smoking’s seaside.

It is not of political interest being stated by the Premier of Central Islands Province (CIP) Hon Patrick Vasuni making clarification for more than once now after learning that there are different perspectives from people as well towards the Provincial Government’s move to make way for the new development to be built.

Many families settling at Smoking area are islanders too from different provinces such as from Temotu, Makira, Malaita and Isabel who went to work at Tulaghi during when Solomon Taiyo and the National Fisheries Development (NFD) were operating in CIP.

The islanders ever since then to this present living amongst indigenous Ngella people call CIP as their very own home. They continue to live and generate from inter-marriage and such at Tulaghi amongst the former fishing companies left areas after they were being relocated to Western Province.

To note, Hon Vasuni also stressed that the relocation of residents from Smoking area at Tulaghi is part of sympathy that the province has for the people.

“Residents at Smoking area have always been effective participants in the province activities so they deserve too to be relocated in a suitable environment for their livelihood.

“Many amongst the elders there have lived almost throughout their entire lives at Tulaghi seeing them being no stranger to the province and as already part of CIP’s family and citizens,” said the Premier.

CIP’s Premier and his Executive Government has already met and passed the area (plots of lands) for relocation which is just inland (upper hill) of Smoking area.

Smoking residents from report over the weekend have it that they have already received offer letters from the provincial government to start planning on the surveying and registering process of their plots of lands.

On the other hand, the recently announced Tulaghi Domestic Wharf made known by the Provincial Government of CIP has not yet started on construction.

CIP’s Provincial Secretary (PS) Mr Alan Christian Siale clarifies that the cause of the delay is the technical design to be adjusted and the inclusion of gender infrastructures as a component to the project.

Despite doubtful concerns, PS Siale confirmed that there is yet such a project for CIP called the “Tulaghi Domestic Wharf” which is under the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID).

“I have met with the International Consulting Engineer attached to MID and there were already a number of consultations held here in Tulaghi.

“They should have started in June and July however, the cause of delay is the technical design to be adjusted and the inclusion of Gender Infrastructures as a component to the project,” clarified CIP’s PS.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THERE is report that sterile water is in shortage in the area health centres in Honiara.

Speaking to Island Sun, a concerned security guard who wishes anonymity raised the matter, explaining that he has missed his second dose of vaccination due to lack of sterile water.

He said that he was then sent to Kukum clinic but was also sent home due to the same matter.

He wants the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to clarify the current status of medicine shortage in the country.

He urged authorities to let the citizens of this country know so that they too can be aware of the current situation that the country is facing.

“This is in terms of what medical drugs we do have and what is out of stock.”

He said sending patients home without giving him/her medication indicates that the issue is still stand.

“With that I hereby call on the responsible authorities too please settled this situation properly before declaring and describing it a calm situation,” he said.