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RSIPF female officer receives award from regional police organisation

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PC Mepirke proudly displays her Award.
PC Mepirke proudly displays her Award.

A female Police officer of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has been awarded a ‘highly commended’ award in the Excellence in Law Enforcement in the Asia Pacific Region by the Australasian Council of Women and Policing Awards.

The award was presented to Police Constable Annette Mepirke in front of her colleagues during the Commissioner’s weekly parade this morning (20 September 2018).

The nomination reads: “Annette is nominated for her excellence in tactical policing and public order management practices, and is inspirational for women to push limits and boundaries. She is the only female operational member of the Police Response Team, where she has worked since her basic course in 2016. Her display of mental and physical strength and determination in passing the course and maintaining her competencies as an operation member is a true inspiration to all women. Annette has shown that statue and gender is no limitation to what can be achieved by women in a specialist policing role.”

Speaking at the parade Commissioner Matthew Varley says, “This is an outstanding award and on behalf of all officers of the RSIPF I want to congratulate Police Constable Mepirke on her fine achievement.”

“It is indeed a proud moment for the RSIPF to be recognised at this level. Your team has helped you come this far and I want to encourage all RSIPF members to excel in your carrier.”

This is the second consecutive award received by an officer of the RSIPF from the Australasian Council of Women and Policing Awards, following Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Central Province, Superintendent Patricia Leta last year.

–POLICE MEDIA

Numbu chief encourages women to save money

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

CHIEF Benjaman Samanea of Numbu community in North East Guadalcanal has encouraged women and girls of the community to save money whenever they can save.

He expressed this statement in a recent visit made by Mrs Gale Commence, president of the Women of the World’s Pacific Region, to the women of Numbu and Marava communities.

Samanea urged all women and girls of his community to save money as they are vulnerable to ‘several hazards’, for instance the pest African snails, climate change, cyclone and earthquake.

Samanea said with the introduction of this saving scheme he has seen with his own eyes and come to realise that women and girls of his community can also make money to save to secure the future of their families.

“This because in today’s world, money is the most important resource which gives strength and confidence in any situation which you are not fully prepared for it,” he said.

SI improves in child health care: Report

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Solomon Islands childrens

By Ezekiel Talatau

STATISTICAL health data reports show that Solomon Islands is improving in children health care, since 2017.

It is also highlighted that the recent issue of medicine shortage in Solomon Islands did not affect children’s health statistics.

The significant improvements are categories under the five mortality rates between last year and this year.

Reported through NZ herald, the United Nation International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reveal that other Pacific countries such as Vanuatu, Marshall Islands ,Palau, Nauru and the Federal state of Micronesian have also improved in child health in the past years.

The global children mortality agency added that the improvement in the children’s health care resulted from increased immunisation rates, more government health spending and donors supply.

Ghiro congratulates Western province assembly

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

THE Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS), Nestor Ghiro has congratulated the new Western provincial government at the provincial conference room in Gizo, Western province.

Mr Ghiro offered words of congratulations to newly elected Premier David Gina and his Executive members and MPAs yesterday.

Ghiro is on a courtesy visit to the newly formed Western province assembly and government this week.

He said the national government is happy that Western province has managed to pull through a smooth election of its provincial assembly, and the successful formation of a new government.

Permanent Secretary of MPGIS, Stanley Pirione, told Western provincial MPAs that the ministry is committed to ensure that services continue to flow in the province.

Mr Pirione adds that the visit is an opportunity for the ministry to renew commitments with the Western province and to discuss programmes pertaining to the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF).

Premier David Gina on behalf of the provincial government and assembly, assured the MPGIS Minister and his staff of Western province’s continued commitment to work alongside the ministry.

Provincial Secretary Geoffrey Wickham told the visiting dignitaries that a number of important briefings for the new Executive and MPAs have indeed much of the first three months in office fully engaged.

He also highlighted that a lot of work yet still to be plan out if the Western Provincial Executive had to put value on leadership.

Wickham said in the Western Province development is catching up on the Government and this was evident from a full Executive official visit to Noro a week ago. “A lot of use were quite surprised on the level of development Noro town today is hosting.”

World teachers day to be hosted in Auki

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

THIS year’s world teachers day will be hosted in Auki following arrangements made during last year’s event marked and hosted at Tatamba in Isabel province.

According to chairman of the local organising committee (LOC) Mr Ronny Butala, this year’s event will be historical because they anticipate hosting a huge number of teachers from across the country for the annual event.

“For Malaita teachers itself will be estimated around 2000 teachers that will be available for their special day and we will be expecting another 2000 teachers from other provinces throughout the country will make their way also to Auki where the number of teachers expected will be around 4000 teachers in total.

This year’s event will be celebrated on October 5 at the Hotel Malaita in Auki.

Preparations organised by the local organising committee (LOC) is currently underway in Auki where the LOC will involve some bigger activities towards hosting the programme.

ADB has plans for expansion in the region, including Solomon Islands

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an Asia regional development organization dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific.

A late evening news bulletin from Radio New Zealand, last night, Thursday, heralded some good news and I would like, if permitted, to share the announced proposals.

Quoting from Radio New Zealand – September 20, 2018. “Health and education in Pacific island countries is in line for a boost under the Asian Development Bank’s plans for expansion in the region.

“The bank, which provides loans, grants and other help to its member countries, has announced plans to set up seven new offices around the region.

“Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Nauru, Tuvalu and Kiribati will all have an ADB mission by the end of next year according to the ADB’s Paul Curry.

“The ADB is also beefing up its presence in four other Pacific island countries – Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

“Mr Curry, the ADB’s Principal Operations Coordination Specialist for the Pacific, said the bank hoped to grow its existing portfolios in the region around transport, energy, water and public financial management.

“A regional vaccination programme is also to be approved this year, he said.

“On the education side we’ve done a lot of work in the north Pacific on enhancing teacher training and curriculum so I think we’ll continue to build on those successes and expand where there’s a need.”

“The ADB’s portfolio of work in the region had grown to around $US700 million according to Mr Curry.

“When we have ADB staff on the ground it just ensures that we’re able to work more closely with the government, with other development partners, to understand the country context and the development challenges the country faces and to work with other donors in a coordinated fashion,” he said.

“Mr Curry dismissed suggestions the scale-up was to head off other players keen to boost their influence in the increasingly-contested region.

“It’s not a reaction to any short-term issue. It’s been something that we’ve been looking at for a long time, at least a year or two under the pilot project and so it’s not a reaction to any kind or emerging issue. It’s about a long-term commitment that we have to the region.”

“It had become much more of a challenge for the ADB to remotely manage the substantial infrastructure projects it had in the region and it made sense to be on the ground, Mr Curry said.

Amid concern the region’s vulnerable economies are at high risk of debt distress in the push for development, the ADB representative said the bank was “very sensitive” to the question of debt sustainability over the long-run.

“We only provide grants or concessional loans where it’s appropriate.”

“Seven countries, including Tonga, are recipients of ADB assistance which is strictly in the form of grants, he said.

The ADB’s overall assistance to the Pacific has doubled every five years since 2005, and now stands at $US2.9 billion.

“Total assistance is expected to surpass $US4 billion by 2020.

“The new offices will complement regional offices in Fiji and Australia.” Copyright @ 2018, Radio New Zealand.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

Japanese volunteer raises the need for improvement in MET service

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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MET staffs demonstrate their electronic wiring chip projects after completed it

By Ezekiel Talatau

SOLOMON Islands weather monitoring system has been described as being in need of improvement.

Former Toshiba electronic specialist, Mr Yusuke Okuyama, a Japanese volunteer completing his two-year contract with Solomon Islands MET Service, revealed this to Island Sun in an interview earlier this week.

He said during his two-year voluntary work with the MET service and the ministry of environment (MECDM), he has had the opportunity to train a handful of local MET staff on repair and maintenance of existing weather system devices in the country.

Okuyama says an area needing improvement is the type of technology used.

He makes an example of the need to have sensory devices in the MET service’s weather monitoring system, and the latest software to operate new technology equipment.

He shares that his time here in the Solomons has been memorable, adding that he enjoyed training the staffs from Honiara, Malaita, Taro and Munda.

Staff taken initiatives to complete electronic practical projects
Mr Yusuke Okuyama demonstate sensor signals to MET staffs
MET staffs demonstrate their electronic wiring chip projects after completed it

Finding independence through hardship

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ELLISON VAHI

HAVING felt bad to depend on relatives to assist them and their children, as they to have a lot of their own problems to deal with, is where many people throughout Honiara and out in the provinces, would find ways to generate money by using skills that they have or skills they acquired through workshops.

Despite losing her husband many years ago and having felt bad to depend on relatives to assist her, Mrs Rosalie, through her hard work full of determination and trust to herself, Sasali is now one amongst the very hard working women’s, though having no formal job but is really sup portative in assisting her children as well for herself.

Mrs Rose Sasali, who comes from Small Malaita, Malaita Province said she started her business when she became a member of SIWBA (Solomon Islands Women in Business Association).

Mrs Sasali lost her husband many years ago, and without any financial help, she began to attend workshops and trainings organized through SIWBA.

“I went to all the trainings on offer because it was free for members, I learnt how to dye cloths such as lava lava print, print t-shirt to sewing dresses, to hand made necklaces, ear rings, and false flowers made of plastic foam, and bangles.

“I started by selling to friends and family, they became popular, so I built the courage to go out to the market as a vendor, the sales really encouraged me.”

Mrs. Sasali said that she used to be shy selling to tourists but “they have been very supportive, always curious to know more about my craft and myself.”

Mrs. Sasali started building her own network of suppliers, sourcing from trusted individuals, and from the provinces where some of the raw materials such as shells were a lot cheaper.

“I had to really teach myself everything, because it is more than just being able to make handicraft, I had to also understand the business side of it.

“You have to smile even though things are hard, you have to build good relations with people you depend on for supply of what you need, that is all very important.”

Mrs. Sasali says that while her initial motivation was to support her children and grandchildren she now sees it as a business, “so I try to teach myself the business side of things every day and whilst, it has been fun and very rewarding.”

Siale happy with registration in West

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

THE Western Province Registration Manager Christian Siale has commended the smooth registration in the province.

He remarks that it is a sign of an informed populace and good awareness of their rights.

“At this point, I now call upon my good people of the province who are yet to register to please go to the nearest registration centre within your constituency to register yourself.

“The final date of registrations will be on September 27. Please know that this is the only key for you to exercise your democratic right as an eligible citizen in the upcoming national general elections.

“I’d like to thank my hard working Registration Officers and your respective teams for your willingness and patience in undertaking this national duty you are being assigned with.

“Also, my gratitude to the responsible authorities of the various communities in hosting and looking after the registration teams.

“More so, I’d like to acknowledge and thank the Western Provincial Executive and Provincial Secretary for the understanding and support rendered especially in permitting the officers involved in this registration exercise.”

Siale then extended his gratitude to the Chief Electoral Officer, Operations Manager and Staff of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission for their continuous administrative and logistical support.

“Without the tremendous support rendered by everyone, we would not have reached this far. We look forward to receiving the same as we are now gearing towards completion.”

Tourism Solomons and Solomon Airlines – key partnership

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SOLOMON Airlines has been working closely with the national tourist office in promoting the country as a tourism destination which shows progress in international and domestic flights.

Recently, Solomon Airlines signed a deal with national tourism office which resulted in airline operating an Airbus A320 on its four weekly services between Brisbane and Honiara and to Nadi, Fiji; Port Vila, Vanuatu, and Tarawa in Kiribati.

Furthermore, major developments taking place within last 18 months have included signing of watershed codeshare agreements with Qantas Airways, Air Niugini and Fiji Airways.

According to the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau such gives Solomon Airlines access to a huge international network encompassing Australia and New Zealand, Asia, North America and Europe.

The national carrier also provides a vital domestic air lifeline for some 600,000 Solomon Islanders living in this archipelago of some 990 islands as well as ease of access for the 25,000 or so international visitors Solomon Islands attracts every year.

This extensive domestic network is operated by a Dash 8 – 102 between the nation’s capital of Honiara to Seghe, Munda, Gizo, Kira and Santa Cruz while Twin Otters operate to all other ports.

Meanwhile, a new development for Tourism Solomons and Solomon Airlines is Solomon Airlines to operate Airbus A-320 into Munda.

It said Solomon Airlines’ decision to fully incorporate Munda as a main port of entry for the Solomon Islands has seen the Western Province airfield transformed into the country’s second major air gateway.

Also the national carrier expected to commence a Brisbane-Munda-Honiara-Brisbane service operating on Saturday’s before the end of 2018.

The improvements to the Munda Airport are intended to bring a range of benefits, it said.

This is particularly from increased passenger movements, increased tourism to the Western Province and points beyond, improved safety for larger aircraft, increased aviation freight and further government revenue from the aviation sector.

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