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Young people celebrate international youth day

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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HCC Youth Development Officers Mrs Mary Tuhaika d with young people from the communities within Honiara who marked the International Youth Day on Sunday.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

HCC Youth Development Officers Mrs Mary Tuhaika pictured with young people from the communities within Honiara who marked the International Youth Day on Sunday.

YOUNG people under the Youth, Sports and Women Division of the Honiara City Council have marked the International Youth Day 2018 in a consultation workshop with Child Fund New Zealand on Sunday.

Every year, International Youth Day celebrated on August 12 designed by the United Nation for young people globally to raise their voice under a specific theme.

For year, the theme is: “Safe Spaces for Youth”.

Under the theme, HCC-Youth Division and Child Fund New Zealand gathered young people within Honiara in a consultation workshop with aim to get their views about mental health.

Besides that, young people also have special time to commemorate the International Youth Day yesterday by expressing themselves about the theme.

The HCC’s Youth Development Officer, Mrs Mary Tuhaika said this year’s International Youth Day theme in Honiara’s context has set one big goal for Youth Division.

She said this year youth division aims at letting young people aware that HCC have spaces for young people to actually access services.

She adds the International Youth Day theme for this year is reflecting well the goal of their work relates to services and opportunities offer for youths within Honiara.

“Story of the young people today will tell partners outside about issues and factors contributing to families, friends, community and country,” she said.

“It’s just a way of young people saying what they want for the future and how we can create safe space for them,” Tuhaika said.

HCC-YD’s Youth volunteer Ms Reywin Aluta said the International Youth Day theme: Safe Spaces for Youth in a local context is about providing opportunities for young people.

“To me, Safe Space for Youth is about providing opportunities for us young people to speak freely and showcase the skills that we have in a freedom way,” Aluta said.

Hahe Alatala from the Music Gateway community youth group said Safe Space for Youth means, it’s an environment avail young people to make decision freely, inspired, nurture and empowered.

She adds, safe space for youth can defined place where young people have freedom to speak, access to trainings and workshops, involved in church activities, sports and opportunities.

Mr Cyrus Tonutangata from the CY youth group described the theme as it provide a space of recognition for young people to be able to participate within their communities.

“It is a space provides avenue for young people can fully express them emotionally, physically and spiritually, and also showcase what they capable of by contributing towards nation building,” Tonutangata said.

HCC-YD volunteer Mr Warren Jr Pugemoana said the theme for this year gives opportunities for young people to have their concern and voice heard.

“A safer space which young people can have safe and secured opportunities, job, education and pursued their dreams and live in a responsible person in the country.”

Tangarare ward celebrate GP 2nd appointed day

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Flag Raising.

PROVINCIAL Member for Ward 4 and Premier of Guadalcanal Province Anthony Veke hosted the event for his constituents. It was a day of festive social activities and celebrations.

Thousands of people turn out to celebrate Guadalcanal 2nd Appointed Day at Tulagi Primary School located in Tangarare Ward 4 over the weekend.

The day started off with processioning to the event grounds, official speeches, feasting, traditional and contemporary dancing.

A women representative delivering her speech thanked Premier Veke for his leadership and all that he has achieved and done for his people of Tangarare Ward, Guadalcanal province and the country as a whole.

“Mothers are the bedrock of societies, our struggles are real, our tears are real, our pains are real. We want to thank you (Premier Veke) for all you have done for us mothers one way or the other,” she expressed.

“We understand the limited financial resources at the disposal of provincial members, yet our Ward Member and Premier never failed to see to our needs.

Premier Veke and Community Chiefs.

“Most times he simply avail his time to listen and provide words of advice as mitigating strategies for our struggles, he does not believe in cash nor hand out cash as means to end our struggles. This is the kind our leader we want and need.”

In delivering his speech, Premier Veke thanked his people and their community leaders for the impressive turnout.

Veke then went on to highlight challenges faced and achievements attained by his current government.

“We – your government- are working hard to rectify these challenges within our means.”

In terms of successes, the results speaks for themselves, GPG send our people to Canada, GPG sponsored students at SINU, successfully hosted Guadalcanal Weaving Festival and other important leaders Summits and Dialogue to mention a few.

He then went on to highlight successful projects such as schools and clinics and programmes initiated for Ward 4 and encouraged his people to work hand and glove for more successes.

Flag Raising.

Chiefs, community elders, Church reps and youth reps all express gratitude to Veke for bringing the celebration down to the grassroots level.

Although some political rivals planned to disrupt the event, celebrations went well without any disturbance. The presence of Guadalcanal Police Officers ensures peace and order.

All 21 Ward members of Guadalcanal Provincial Assembly celebrated 2018 GP 2nd Appointed Day in their respective wards. This is to give them opportunity to report back to their people the successes of Guadalcanal Provincial Government before House dissolves at the end of this year.

–GP PRESS

Voters encouraged to go back and vote in their constituency

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY GEORGINA KEKEA

ELIGIBLE voters are encouraged to go back to their constituencies to vote for their leader.

A concerned man from North East Guadalcanal says he is making this this call because from information that he had gathered, many constituents from Northeast Guadalcanal are planning to move out to register elsewhere even as far as Malaita and Central islands province.

He said from what he gathered, people were not happy about the current leadership style.

He said they also alleged that there is discrimination in how projects are disbursed.

“I like to call on all eligible voters especially those who want to move out that to run away, will not solve our problem of developing our constituency.

“Because when you move out to register and vote in other wards and constituencies, firstly you are neglecting our place and constituency which we need to work together to develop.”

He says when the people go out to register and vote in other constituencies, they will delve into the shares of the people of the said constituency, causing inconvenience to the people there.

“And thirdly the Electoral law does not allow one to register and vote in another ward or constituency outside his/her principal place of residence. So if you break the law there are penalties.”

He appealed to all eligible voters of NE Guadalcanal that were not registered in the 2014 National General Election to come to their right mind and register in their principal place of residence.

The concerned man from NE Guadalcanal says there are also Members of Parliament from different provinces luring people from NE Guadalcanal with cash to go and register and vote in their constituency.

“If you are not happy with the current leadership, do not run away from our home constituency. We must come together to work out the best alternative leadership to work with in devising a new strategy to develop our constituency and shape our common future”.

The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) however has an Omission and Objection period whereby members of a constituency can submit a claim of objection to delete any name appearing on the voters list that they believe should not be on the list.

Public inquiries will be held to investigate claims of objection and these inquiries will determine whether to remove or retain names on the final voters list.

Votes are encouraged to claim objection if they see something not right in the voters list during the Registration period.

Voter registration exercise has been moved from August to September 2018.

Gizo welcomes Pacific Eden

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

WESTERN provincial capital town today welcomes the biggest cruise boats from Carnival Australia to the island capital.

The mega cruise boat, Pacific Eden which carries 2200 passengers for the seventh time will grace the shores of Gizo this morning with passengers expected to visit Gizo Island and other venues near Gizo during the ship’s eight-hour stopover.

Western Province Chief Tourism Officer Jefferson Patovaki yesterday said that today Gizo will witness the arrival of a cruise ship making its annual voyage again into our shores this year.

“We will close the section of road that begins here at the MSG building to the BSP building today, as it would only allow for pedestrians and a brief welcome ceremony will be stage here in front of the Gizo Hotel upon the landing of the first tender boat.

“Gizo Community High School students this year will highlights traditional shows includes Cultural and Modern, King and Queen Shows.

“Tomoko a traditional war canoe will escort the first tender to the shores at 8am to be greeted by warriors to welcome representative from the Carnival Australia.”

He said that other tourism sites that have been identify for tourists to visit is at Saeragi Village, Kennedy Island, Fat Boys, Njari, Imagination Island Resort, Oravae, Epanga and other tourism sites within Gizo.

He said that around 50 tour guides consisting of boat drivers, taxi drivers, volunteers, and craft vendors have prepared to accompany the visitors.

This is the seventh time Pacific Eden is visiting Gizo.

SINU’s Mandarin class learns how to sing in Mandarin and prepare Cong You Bing

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Madarin class group photo.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

ON August 6th, students of SINU’s Mandarin class not only learned more about Taiwanese culture but also how to prepare a popular Taiwan snack known as “Cong You Bing”, in other words, scallion pancake.

According to Taiwanese class teacher, Ms Kuei Mi Li, this was possible by Mr Shao-Chuan Yu, Mr Chia-Han Hou and Mr Chien-Jang Huang, Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) specialists who were invited to spend the day with her students.

She explained that day’s activity began with Mr Chien-Jang Huang introducing baseball to the students, a popular ball game in Taiwan.

Ms. Li with her guests.

Huang showed the students how to hit a ball with a bat and catch the ball with a glove before having them join him which Ms Li expressed as a first time experience, students found it funny but more exciting.

She said they later went into a singing session led by music loving Chia-Han Hou who told the students about Taiwan songs sung in Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka and aboriginal languages before singing a popular Taiwan song and a love song he composed by himself.

The students later joined him and Ms Li mentioned that it was impressive.

A step by step process of preparing a popular Taiwanese snack called “Cong You Bing” or scallion pancake then took place by Shao-Chuan Yu.

Ms Li expressed that students watched with interest and after sampling the snack, were all eager to prepare it themselves at home.

Madarin class group photo.

A quiz session with prizes from Taiwan farm was also part of the activity and favoured by the students.

As their sessions concluded, she said her students showed their gratitude by performing a Mandarin song for their guests.

One of the students, Mr Adrian Maneniaru referred to the activity as “very nice” and “educational”.

“I found it really refreshing to have this kind of activity as it really broadens our minds to new things,” he said.

Shao-Chuan Yu who specialises in nutrition stressed that although beginners, the students were active in learning Mandarin.

He said that every time they tried their best to pronounce the words in Mandarin he could see that they desperately wanted to grasp the language.

Chia-Han interacting with a student.

“My favourite moment is when Chia-Han tried to make students sing the last lines from the song he demonstrated which impressed me so much. It gave me a chance to witness that singing is the best way to learn a language and with Solomon Islanders’ beautiful voice, I really enjoyed the moment we had at that time,” he said.

Chia-Han Hou’s work at the TTM farm is to manage the farm and deliver fruits and vegetables to nearby schools.

Chien-Jang Huang on the other hand, helps provide qualified piglets and pig farm managing skills to local farmers to help improve the piggery industry in Solomon Islands.

Ms Li voiced that her students were very happy to have learned new things like Taiwan’s love for baseball, Taiwanese music and learning how to prepare “Cong You Bing” (scallion pancake).

“They a found the day’s activity not only exciting but informative and educational, helping them discover more aspects about Taiwan,” she said.

Students sample cong you bing (scallion pancake).

Audit and investigation needed in Tutu and Sariana ‘ghost projects’

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THE Auditor General’s Office and Police are urged to audit and investigate the two ghost Aid post projects of Tutu and Sariana Wards (12 and 11) at Northwest Choiseul.

Northwest Choiseul’s Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Ward 12 at Varisi Lavata Hon Nerio Ulemiki stressed that the projects were more than $100,000 each over which the people of these Wards inside Northwest Constituency want to know why, where and how the monies for these two ghost projects were spent during the period of the former Provincial Assembly of Choiseul Province.

According to Hon Ulemiki, a small Aid post building was completed at Tutu since 2014 when the project was hand-delivered to the former MPA for Ward 12 Mr Gideon Panisaga. However, Tutu community during all these times suspect that the money had not been fully utilized.

“This is why a project completion report is also needed for transparency as earlier called for,” said Ulemiki.

Gideon Panisaga the former MPA for Ward 12 at Northwest Choiseul could not be reached over the weekend to response over this issue but nevertheless, in response during a recent interview when he was still in power, he told Island Sun that the project over Tutu’s Aid post had already been completed and that the matter queried is confused for Ward 11’s Aid post in which during that time, he said he still kept the money for when until the right responsible people over the project from that Ward approached him before he will release it under the knowledge of their MP.

From Hon Ulemiki’s call now, it seems that the projects investigated into since last year is still in a puzzle causing fed-up and suggestion that it is now high time the Auditor General’s Office and Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) investigate the two ghost Aid projects.

The Aid post at Tutu is reported to stand idle to this day.

Gizo police to provide security for today’s cruise ship visit

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

POLICE in Gizo town will today mount a high-visibility operation ensuring that all goes well during Pacific Eden’s visit to the Western province capital.

Gizo Police Officer in Charge told Island Sun Gizo on Sunday that all the officers in Gizo will out in the street and communities to maintain a high level of security during the presence of tourists within Gizo town and surrounding Islands.

He confirmed that police will provide security for whole day within Gizo town, Saeragi Village and other tourist destination centres.

Public have been urged to respect visiting tourists and stay out from any troublesome activity so that everyone can enjoy the day peacefully to promote Western province cultures and identities.

Police will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour during the cruise ship’s visit.

“We need your support and working together so that we can achieve our day and enjoying peacefully to our beautiful Western province,” said the officer.

Awareness and understanding on death investigation process needed: Varley

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PC Mathew Varley

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

POLICE Commissioner Mathew Varley strongly appeals to Solomon Islanders to understand that during death investigations, police have the important role of conducting medical and post-mortem examinations.

He expressed this during last week’s police press conference at Rove Police Headquarters.

Varley said that in recent times, they have encountered a number of cases where they found it difficult explaining to family members through customary issues why they need to conduct medical examinations and post-mortem examinations on their deceased relatives.

He stated that this is a real challenge because they also understand that in many customs, families want to bring their loved ones back to the village for burial.

However, Varley stressed that it is essential that people understand that the police have an important role to play in carrying out investigations which include post-mortem examinations of the deceased so that they can give the best evidence to the Coroner’s court at a later date.

“So we are always negotiating with families to ask them to understand those reasons,” he said.

Varley appeals to the people across the country for awareness and understanding that when police investigation into a death is necessary, it is an important part of the investigation that post-mortem inquiries are conducted and carried out.

“That’s something that I’ve seen as a challenge in recent months and is something that I am appealing to the community for their support on,” he said.

More time in Committee stage on Strata titles bill: Wale

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Honiara is developing very fast.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

Honiara is developing very fast.

MEMBER of Parliament for Auki/Langalanga has called for more time to be allocated in the Committee stage for parliament to look into the Strata Titles Bill 2017.

Speaking last week in parliament, Matthew Wale says till now, they are still to grasp the Strata Titles Bill.

Wale says this bill is so technical that even those who will bear primary responsibility in this have expressed a lack of technical knowledge in it.

“And so I asked the Honorable Prime Minister to allocate more days than usual for the committee stage. Maybe all of next week. So that we can do justice to the parliamentary mandate for supervision, oversight and scrutiny of legislation.”

Wale says he is not sure whether this Bill had received any detailed review in caucus and/or in cabinet as he was absent during the inquiry of the Bill.

He said the bill went through the inquiry stage very quickly and so there is a risk because the bill has too many clauses and schedules but more so because it is technical and complex.

The MP for Auki Langalanga said this bill will not receive the proper due parliamentary scrutiny that the constitution expects of the MPs.

Strata Title is a form of land tenure that allows units in a building to be individually owned, while the “parent” land title is owned by all unit owners in common.

The concept originated in New South Wales, Australia in the 1960’s and has since spread around the world to places like Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Dubai, Fiji and Vanuatu.

Strata Title from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey is seen as an answer to the scarcity of land around Honiara and the high cost of rentals, as it would encourage more vertical development of land for medium and high-rise apartments.

It would also enable the development of more affordable units, in a city where land has become too expensive for average citizens.

The Strata Titles Bill 2017 is still in the Committee stage, currently.

TSL board must explain

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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KOSSA and Real Kakamora contest ends in a stalemate

“I think it was their strategy to disadvantage other teams” Wa’aria

By Taromane Martin

A frustrated Head Coach for the Real Kakamora Football Club Sam Wa’aria has called on the Telekom Soccer League board to explain Saturday’s incident at the Lawson Tama Stadium.

The incident happened during warm up for their 4pm match on Saturday against Henderson Eels FC where they suffered a humiliating 8-1 harrowing with Clement Baegeni, Bonny Pride and Bently Kelobi amongst the goal scorers for Eels.

Three of their players were asked by the TSL Competitions Manager to leave the field during the teams’ warm up for that match which Coach Wa’aria said was their downfall.

“No one is happy when they lose.

“I’m disappointed likewise for everyone in the team with the game. The score margin was very high but games are sometimes that way but that does not mean we conceded this many goals it is over for us,” he told SunSPORTS.

Eels lead 5-1 at the break and made it worse for Real Kakamora after theywere reduced to 10 men, Baegeni cooking up two yellow cards for defender Jeffery Wasi 78th minutes into the game.

“We cannot reverse the referee’s decision because he always has the upper hands and makes the decisions,” Coach Wa’aria said.

“What we are very disappointed with in preparation for this match was the last minute disqualification of some of our key players by the organisers of the competition during warm up.

“Our preparations were affected because of the actions of the organisers of this tournament which caught us by surprise us by disqualifying some of our players who were the key players for the team.

“The loss today comes as no surprise to us because already we were mentally defeated by the organisers for the tournament before the whistle blew.

“I think this was some sort of strategies by people to disadvantage other teams and it affected us all mentally for the match.

“However we are always prepared and will continue getting ready for our next match despite the sudden actions of the organisers today,” a frustrated Wa’aero said.

Meanwhile Solomon Warriors FC Head Coach Moses Toata also questioned the actions by the league organisers calling on them to explain their actions.

“The TSL is now a joke. Today, three Real Kakamora players were asked to leave the field by the competition manager during warm up and a Real Kakamora player was allowed to go in as the substitute goalkeeper without wearing a proper team uniform.

“This shows a very unprofessional conduct by the TSL League Organisers and this is taking our national league to a level lower than an amateur league.

“The question is, are we moving football forward? Yumi bara osem Village league more yia (We are now like a village league). Come on guys. We need explanation from the TSL Board,” Toata questioned.

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