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Far from a paradise

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, for many people dreaming of a Robinson Crusoe lifestyle or a long wished for holiday on a Pacific atoll, spending time on Lord Howe atoll in Solomon Islands waters would seem to be the answer to their long awaited dreams.

In reality the situation on Lord Howe atoll would be far from their expectations if current reports of the lack of health care for 3000 people is to be truly believed.

When I say “truly to be believed,” I find it very hard to accept that a community of 3000 at Luaniua has been essentially denied health services for as long as two years due to an unfinished health clinic and when, reportedly, both the responsible MP and Provincial MP had been made aware of the dire situation.

From a humanitarian viewpoint, I would urge the responsible authorities to investigate the serious reports that have emanated from David Gapani, the Chaiman of the Luaniua Clinic Board, as soon as possible in order to ensure medical health services are restored to the people without further delay.

Quoting from what Mr Gapani has said of the situation in his village one will have to agree the facts he has reported need immediate responses.

“Because of a lack of medical services some of the people died due to lack of treatment and medication.

“It is a sad situation because sick patients lack access to medication to treat their sickness.

“Most times they depend on herbal medication and simple home treatment to cure their sickness but it’s not enough for other major diseases or even during birth.

“My village lacks medical services and it’s really sad because some of our people died due to lack of medical services.

“Mr Gapani said only Pelau has a clinic which can be reached by travelling on an outboard motor (OBM).

”It takes two or more hours to reach Pelau but lack of fuel is a setback for my people.

“Ships normally travel to MOI once a month and that’s when fuel supplies are brought in, yet it did not last for a month due to demand.”

Mr Gapani said he has sought assistance from the Member of Parliament (MP) and the Provincial Member to seriously address the situation by completing their clinic. However, there was no response from them, he claimed.

“If the clinic project is not considered by our two leaders then the lives of our people will still be at risk.

Luaniua has a population of more than 3000 residents and this requires the presence of a running health clinic.”

“Our plea is for the MP and the provincial member to visit us and find ways to complete the building before the next general election,” Mr Gapani said.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

North East Guale leaders discuss Traditional Governance Bill

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Leaders from NE Guadalcanal listens to presentation

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

Leaders from NE Guadalcanal listens to presentation

THE Member of Parliament (MP) for North East Guadalcanal is currently holding a workshop for Chiefs, Traditional leaders, women and youths of Tathiboko and Paripao.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, Dr Derek Sikua says what he is doing now is to bring to light the current Traditional Governance Bill to his people to get their views on the Bill.

He said the outcome of this workshop will form the basis for him to either go for or against the Bill in parliament.

“Also other Bills going before parliament now are the Reparation Bill, going through the ethnic crisis, as well as the Electoral Bill which has been passed already. We will also discuss these Bills and Act as well in our session here.”

He said it is important for him to seek his people’s views before they debate the said Bill in parliament.

At the same time, Sikua says women shouldn’t feel that they are being left out in the Traditional Governance bill.

He said the Bill is not gender specific but allows chiefs to exercise their duties.

“I don’t think the Bill restricted women to participate. Because the way I see it, it is not gender specific. But it does allow for the chiefs to make decisions whether they want a woman traditional leader not necessarily a chief. Especially for us in Guadalcanal, we are a matrilineal society. A traditional leader could be a woman too.”

Sikua said this is the first time for him to carry out such awareness for his people.

He said that he had not been able to carry out this sort of activity previously because most Bills passed and enacted already are too technical for the rural people to understand.

“These current bills before parliament are the ones directly affecting our people. Especially traditional governance, that deal with customary land, ethnic tension, those ones are the issues affecting my people.

“Thus I feel it important that I seek their mandate. Finance is another reason. This session I have to include in our constituency budget so that we can be able to carry out this workshop,” Sikua said.

He said consultation programs carried out by government on the Traditional Governance Bill does not include every chief from Tathiboko or Paripao.

More than 150 people from North East Guadalcanal attended the workshop.

Sikua challenges MPs over luring voters

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Leader of Parliamentary Independent group Hon Dr Derek Sikua.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

DEREK Sikua question his Parliament colleagues over what they are afraid off after hearing reports of people being lured to register and vote in other constituencies under their influence.

When asked over such in an interview yesterday, the Member of Parliament for North East Guadalcanal replied with this bold question challenging his Parliament colleagues of the national government.

“What are you afraid off? If you are doing the right thing for your people then what are you afraid off? I am very surprised with my colleagues over such reports and they should be ashamed of themselves. That is what I want to say to my colleagues.”

Mr Sikua commented over reports of the cross border registration for voting currently occurring as well explained from his believe that it is a direct result of the amendment recently passed having broadening the definition of ‘ordinary residence’.

CSM household temporarily closed

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE Pogo Household- lower vavaya ridge of the Community of the Sisters of Melanesia is closed temporarily as of yesterday to allow the Police Explosive Ordinance team to remove an unexploded bomb found at the area.

The CSM admin said the closure will be temporary for the police to carry out their work.

A notice from the CSM admin said a construction team from Advance Technology currently working on the sisters’ fence have found one live ordnance which needs to be carefully removed by the explosive team.

And they are taking extra precaution and limiting visitors to have easy control measure to temporarily vacate the site as of yesterday.

The CSM admin said they will further notify everybody when the response team successfully remove the unexploded bomb.

Police Media unit in their media confirmed that the Render Safe Procedure task will be activated between 8am and 12pm today and they are urging the general public and those living within the area of the road block points to the coastal side along with the areas of Advanced Technology, ITA Hardware, Rock Haven Inn, United Church Rest House, and the line of shops on the western end of ITA hardware are kindly warned to keep out while the operation is in progress.

Prosecution to update court on police investigation

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PUBLIC Prosecution is yet to update the court on whether or not the investigation into an alleged rape incident has been completed.

Yesterday the court was told that the prosecution in carriage of the case was busy on another trial and the prosecutor who appeared cannot assist court in regards to the outstanding issues relating to investigation.

Meanwhile defence said that partial disclosures were already served and they are waiting on the prosecution for full disclosures.

This is the case against an accused who is charged in relation to amendment (SEXUAL OFFENCE) ACT 136F (3)(a) Sexual Intercourse or Indecent Act – Child under 15.

On the previous occasion the prosecutor who appeared told the court that the only outstanding issue is the investigator’s statements, in which the court raised disappointment over the delay of the police investigators statement.

The case yesterday was adjourned to September 26 for prosecution to update the court on the status of the investigation.

Attempted murder case adjourns to September 19

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of a man convicted of one count of attempted murder is adjourned to September 19 to appear before the presiding Magistrate.

The case was called before Principal Magistrate Tearo Beneteti and since the case was presided by the Deputy Chief Magistrate, Ms Beneteti adjourned the case to allow the presiding Magistrate to hear the case.

The Deputy Chief Magistrate is currently in Buala, Isabel province, and will be back at the end of this week.

This is the case against an accused man Rex Langoni who pleaded not guilty to the charge and a trial was conducted on his case.

After the trial was completed the accused was found guilty and the court convicted him of his charge.

The case is for sentencing and mitigation submission.

The case then adjourned and to be heard before the Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea.

Challenges reported in Malaita registration

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

REGISTRATION in Malaita province is reportedly faced with several challenges.

Information obtain by this paper says huge numbers of border crossers are causing confusion and frustration among residents of constituencies which they are moving to.

There are also reports of people being forced to register against their will.

The information reach this paper also highlighted that even the under age children

Individuals below 18 years of age are also reportedly forced to register by their relatives, parents or peers.

Registration clerks and the ARO data clerks have to stand on their ground and based their rulings according to the registration act.

Island Sun has also been reliably informed that school teachers and principals have also joined the fray by bringing with them lists of names of their students, to which registration officers have reportedly had to filter out under-age names.

SICCI announces new CEO Elect

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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SICCI CEO elect Ms Atenasi Ata and outgoing CEO Dennis Meone at the 10th Australia-Solomon Islands Business Forum in Brisbane.
SICCI CEO elect Ms Atenasi Ata and outgoing CEO Dennis Meone at the 10th Australia-Solomon Islands Business Forum in Brisbane.

THE Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) has announced it has a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elect.

She is Ms Atenasi Ata.

Ms Atenasi will replace outgoing CEO Mr Dennis Meone who will be leaving the Chamber in December this year.

SICCI Board Chairman, Jay Bartlett made the announcement at the 10th Australia-Solomon Islands Business Forum today in Brisbane, Australia.

“It’s always encouraging to see women take up leadership roles and I believe Atenasi will add great value to the future of the Chamber,” he said.

The SICCI Secretariat, on behalf of the Chairman, also on Wednesday August 12, 2018 circulated an email to its members announcing the recruitment of the new CEO Elect.

“After a very lengthy and competitive interview process I am pleased to inform you that we have a new incoming Chief Executive Officer, Ms Atenasi Ata,” the SICCI Chair said.

Atenasi joins the Chamber with wide experience in the development sector working with Government on programs supporting systems strengthening in elections, human resource management, parliamentary democracy.

In Solomon Islands Atenasi worked with UNDP and UN Women, and before that, from 2006-2013 with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as part of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

Her work has taken her to Kiribati to work on education initiatives and to Vanuatu to manage grants that support ending violence against women.

Atenasi recently completed a Master in Law and Development through Melbourne University’s Law School. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Studies from the University of the South Pacific.

Atenasi will officially take over from current CEO Meone in December, and in the next few weeks there will be a handover period.

“I would like to thank the Board and the Panel members for undertaking what has been a very enriching process and going beyond the call of duty to finalize the interview and selection process,” the SICCI Chair said.

Meanwhile, Mr Bartlett thanked outgoing CEO Meone for his commitment, hard work, and passion for not only the Chamber but as an emerging young leader in the country.

“Dennis has a genuine heart for the country and is a true patriot. It has been a great pleasure to work alongside him over the last 2 and a half years.

“We share the same beliefs that what we do is greater than who we are as individuals and the stakes are far too high for us to be bystanders in our development efforts.

“Thank you Dennis, I know you will go on to do great things and we wish you and your family all the best,” Bartlett said.

–SICCI PRESS

Police arrest man for attempted murder in Central Guadalcanal

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

POLICE officers in Guadalcanal province have arrested a man for the alleged attempted murder of his wife on September 9, 2018 in the Tenaru area of Central Guadalcanal.

Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Guadalcanal Province, Superintendent Nixson Manetoga says, “On the morning of Sunday September 9, 2018 the couple was arguing over an incident whereby the victim saw the suspect talk to a young girl.

“During the argument the suspect locked the victim inside their dwelling house and he took dried coconut husks and placed them underneath their house while the victim was locked inside and he lite the coconut husks. The smoke circulated inside the house affecting the victim’s breathing.

“The victim called for help but no one responded. She then called her uncle who is a police officer and informed him about her situation.

“My officers received the report and we called the Fire and Rescue Services and they quickly responded to the incident.

“When the suspect realised his wife contacted police he quickly poured water on top of the fire. But then at the same time police officers arrived at the scene.

“My officers opened the door, rescued the victim from the house and brought her to the National Referral Hospital for medical attention.

“The suspect has been arrested and charged for attempted murder under Section 215 of the Penal Code.

“My investigators are today [yesterday] working on an application to remand the suspect,” says PPC Manetoga.

–POLICE MEDIA

‘Smoking Pilot’ continues duty, CEO Gebers urged to carry out discipline

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Smoking pilot

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA & ALFRED PAGEPITU

REPORT has it that the request by the Western and Choiseul Province Premiers for the ‘Smoking Pilot’ to be dealt with after the ‘U-turn’ incident at Taro airfield has been ignored by Solomon Airlines Management.

Instead of carrying out some measures of discipline, the Smoking Pilot now having a colourful record of involvement in issues against aviation laws in Solomon Islands, the Smoking Pilot has only resumed back to normal duties, reliable sources within the airlines informed.

Over such ignorance revealed, Western Province Premier Hon David Gina in support with Choiseul Province Premier Hon Watson Qoloni state that they do not accept the ‘Smoking Pilot’ to operate in Solomon Islands posing threat to the safety of their travelling passengers flying down to Western and Choiseul provinces.

Hon Gina expressed that the travelling passenger’s safety on board SolAir’s planes is very important as the type of attitudes now displayed is risky to lives.

“Western Province has many airstrips and our request for Solomon Airlines must be seriously considered and addressed. Our province continues to develop in terms of tourism and this is an area Solomon Airlines must seriously think on.”

Hon Gina urges SolAir’s CEO to must discipline pilots who do not abide with Aviation rules in the country and for a foreign pilot who is employed in Solomon Islands is no difference or above the law to not face disciplinary actions.

An attempt contacting Choiseul Province Premier yesterday was not possible however, it is understood that Choiseul is in line demanding Solomon Airlines to seriously deal with the ‘u-turn incident’ at Taro Airfield and if appropriate to remove the foreign pilot heading the Twin Otter during then risking lives of passengers.

This is before any more serious incident may occur in the future that will involve people’s lives after seeing that the dubbed ‘Smoking Pilot’ continues to be involved in serious incidents of the airlines being reported by the media.

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