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PCDF benefits Isabel children

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Mike Puia

THOUSANDS of children from Isabel Province are benefiting from school projects delivered under the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF).

The PCDF is administered by the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS).

A summary of the PCDF projects that have been completed in the province shows early childhood education, primary and secondary classrooms completed and an increase number of children having access to these facilities.

Among these projects is the Buala Station Kindergarten. This kindy has been completed with 55 young children admitted to this class this year.

Before this project, children in and around Buala station stay at home or walk long distance to access kindy. Now, these children can access kindy next door.

Other Kindergarten classrooms that were completed under this PCDF programme include the one in Kia and Tataba. Over hundreds enrolled to these kindy classes.

The project also supports the extension of a primary school at Kolomola. The enrolment has increased as a result.

Another Kindy constructed and completed at Taligu, in Gao/Bogotu, also enabled children from Taligu to access kindergarten education.

The completion of a new classroom building at Jejevo community high school to accommodate forms one to three pupils. Previously these classes used the school’s primary classroom building which used to disrupt primary school classes. The school enrolment has expanded significantly.

Works on some of the schools constructed under the PCDF program are still progressing. Among these schools is the Zuto Kindergarten in Triotona at Hagrono/kia/Havaki. Zuto community is a new settlement that has seen a fast growing population. Children from this village walk to a nearby village to attend Kindergarten.

Gurena Kindy in Koviloko at Maringe/Kotota is another ongoing project that replaces the leafhut building used for kindy classes.

The PCDF program is implemented in most provinces. It has benefited different sectors of the provinces including the renovation of school staff houses, classes and dormitories, rehabilitation to office buildings, clinics and aid posts, renovation to fisheries centres, improvement to water supply and sanitations, improvement to roads, footpath, bridges and jetty etc.

New 40HP to serve Qaloe Community blessed

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

A new 40 Horsepower Outboard Motor (OBM) engine to service Qaloe Community at Northwest Choiseul was blessed this week.

Doing the blessing was Fr Henry Paroiop of Christ the King Parish at Voruvoru.

According to report, the 40HP OBM engine will be used to serve the community in terms for transportation and marketing having the understanding that an OBM is the main means of transport around Choiseul Province having no vehicle road around the island.

Chief Michael Gadole on behalf of Qaloe Community thanked Fr Paroiop for blessing their 40HP engine as it is a first means of achievement for them giving back all honour and glory to God in their small success.

“We plan to manage well the OBM engine in order to achieve greater things from it also in the future,” said Chief Gadole.

Pacific Games prep has no political will: PM

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Hon Rick Hou

Prime Minister clarifies political involvement in PG2023 preparations

BY GARY HATIGEVA

CABINET has made this decision and concluded that the political will, the undivided attention, the focus and the added weight that is required in this project, would be better achieved when the project is reassigned in the Office of the Prime Minister, says Solomon Islands Prime Minister.

Prime Minister, Rick Hounipwela says the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) has decided to take on the responsibility of running all necessary preparations of the Pacific Games 2023 due to time limitation and low output in works.

The Prime Minister made this clarification when responding to the Leader of Opposition and Member of Parliament for East Malaita, Manasseh Maelanga, who on the floor of parliament yesterday, questioned the PM over initiatives to take over from the former games taskforce.

“Can the Prime Minister explain to Parliament why the Prime Minister’s Office has taken over responsibility for the 2023 Pacific Games from the Ministry of Home Affairs?”

The Prime Minister explained that there are a number of concerns but pointed out that the government caucus has been concerned over what it has perceived as very slow progress by the ministry and the taskforce the former DCCG had tasked to oversee the preparations of the games, which is to be hosted in Solomon Islands less than five years away.

“As you know, the bid to host was won in 2016 and by December 2017 which is a year on, there was very little shown in the work of preparations,” Prime Minister Hou explained.

He said the new government saw this lack of significant progress in the games preparations and saw that there is a lack of determination by both the ministry of home affairs, which oversees sports, as well as the taskforce, and had to take the steps

He added that the decision to host the 2023 pacific games is a political one the government had taken.

“The government I meant was an inclusion of all including the opposition leader and independent groups, all went that time, and that being the case, it requires a clear display of political will”.

Hou further added that at the time when the government made the decision to re-assign the responsibility of the pacific games 2023, because the ministry was also loaded with charge to run a number of very important events and projects.

They include the initiation of the national futsal stadium, the recently celebrated 40th independence anniversary this year, as well as preps for the 2018 Solomon games.

“And apart from that, the ministry will be tight up in its preparations for the 2019 national general elections, and having seen that, the government caucus saw that the ministry could not should all the projects along with the pacific games as time is not on the country’s side,” the Prime Minister further explained.

He also added that as a matter of policy choice therefore, the government had strongly felt that re-assigning the responsibility of the 2023 pacific games under the Prime Minister’s Office would provide the added weights which are necessary in the project.

However, intentions to take over control of responsibilities from the originally designated body had also been questioned as it was seen as a political involvement, which many thought should have never happened.

But the Prime Minister clarified that the following two meetings held with the Pacific Games Council, the political involvement is not an issue to them (Council) and only wanted to see that the country does deliver as the winning bidder to host the 2023 games in Honiara.

Surgical ward urgently need wheel chairs

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, sometime last week I raise the issue on wheel chairs for the surgical ward and may be for other wards as well, hoping that someone out there, whether the Ministry responsible, State Owned Enterprises (SOE) or any genuine company willing fully got the message and came to our rescue, however, nobody take heed of the message or perhaps have not seen the small appeal I was trying to put across on behalf of the 50 or so patients at the Surgical Ward.

Please note that at the Surgical Ward it accommodate and caters for our brothers/sisters patients whose legs and foot being amputated, serious accidentals cases with fractured legs and skulls and many more.

As you are reading this letter, the situation at the Surgical Ward regarding movement of Patients to and from their bed is becoming a terrible and chronic issue for the patients here. You seen patients barricade themselves with blankets to either pass urine or in serious case release his or her waste matters on his/her bed. This is very unhygienic and sometimes culturally sensitive, but these occurrences are natural and normal at the Surgical Ward.

Therefore, I am putting this appeal again to you all good business Houses and companies, State Owned Enterprises out there, or even the Ministry of Health & Medical Services to seriously consider purchasing at least 5 to 10 Wheel Chairs for the Surgical Ward or in the case of genuine companies to DONATE Wheel Chairs to these very poor and sick patients. If one Church could donate a few some 15 years ago why not the money making machines, you companies who’s making millions of money from our resources in the country donate something back to the community such as our Surgical Ward at the National Referral Hospital.

This is a very genuine appeal and challenge to all of you out there, whether you have a genuine heart towards and for our Patients at the Hospital.

God bless our Patients and Hospital.

Star Dora

Bed 24, Surgical Ward

National Referral Hospital

SICCI tell the world “We’re ready for business investment”

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, “SICCI’s Chair, Mr Jay Bartlett reportedly told the 2018 Papua New Guinea investment conference which concluded on Tuesday in Brisbane, Australia, that Solomon Islands has much to offer in terms of business investment.

Mr Bartlett told his audience about the Solomons niche market for tourism, speaking of the country’s unique history, flora, fauna and bountiful scenery and beaches.

He was also quoted as saying, “As a chamber, SICCI is driven by our vision to create jobs and improve welfare of Solomon Islanders.”

I wholly support what Mr Bartlett said and stand ready to help promote SICCI’s aims in encouraging and promoting business and investment in the Solomon Islands.

My existing website – www.solomonislandsinfocus.com can be used as a convenient vehicle to tell the world of what great business investment opportunities exist at home.

I will look forward to being able to help SICCI and should say my website will very soon be modified with new technology to further help all in the Solomon Islands.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

Taiwan embassy to support 2019 KMUH projects with NRH

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
NRH CEO, Dr Steve Aumanu delivering his remarks.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

NRH CEO, Dr Steve Aumanu delivering his remarks.

THE Republic of China (ROC) Embassy’s Deputy Counselor, Oliver Weng has assured that the embassy will support Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital (KMUH) and cooperate with the National Referral Hospital (NRH) on programmes projected for next year.

He was speaking at a ceremony attended by delegates of the Solomon Islands and Taiwan Health and Medical Services Cooperation Inspection Mission, NRH CEO, Dr Steve Aumanu, heads of departments and MHMS (Ministry of Health and Medical Services) Under Secretary.

In initial remarks, Weng commended the medical hospital for having carried out a series of projects over a 10-year period at the National Referral Hospital, clinics and provinces.

He expressed that the hospital through it’s projects have done a lot and referred to the sending mobile medical teams to all nine provinces, including Honiara as an example.

Addressing delegates which included Ministry of Health and Welfare CEO of Hospital and Social Welfare Organizations Administration Commission, Dr Hsu Yuan Nian, Oliver lauded KMUH for the work.

“I have heard about their stories and even experienced the work they have done this year. So I just want to highly recommend to the ministry of health, for the cooperation delivered by KMUH,” he said.

In relation, Weng also spoke highly of the support from the National Referral Hospital.

“Without the CEO, Dr Steve Aumanu, the cooperation here, and the projects here cannot be delivered so smoothly,” he said.

Weng then emphasised that the embassy and Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will support KMUH’s projects and cooperate with NRH.

“I’ve also heard KMUH has announced several projects for next year. So I on behalf of the embassy and on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would like to assure you that those projects and cooperation mentioned by Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, our embassy will take good care of that and will cooperate with the National Referral Hospital,” he said.

Further expressed, Weng stated that they hope to have the assistance and support of the ministry of health and the National Referral Hospital and wish that the cooperation between Taiwan and Solomon Islands will sustain.

Solomon Islands and Taiwan Health and Medical Services Cooperation Inspection Mission in country to inspect THM operations

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
A group photo outside the National Referral Hospital.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

THE Solomon Islands and Taiwan Health and Medical Services Cooperation Inspection Mission donated medical supplies and toured the National Referral Hospital yesterday.

A formal ceremony was held for the delegation in the morning at the Taiwan Health Centre which was also attended by NRH CEO, heads of NRH departments and Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ Under Secretary.

The occasion began with a presentation from one of the delegates, Mr Wei-Chou Chang, a senior specialist from Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital who delivered a rundown of the progress of projects the Taiwan Health Mission has carried out over the years at NRH and in the provinces.

Delegates and NRH heads of divisions inpsecting the THC timeline posters.

Remarks were later made by Taiwan’s CEO of Hospital and Social Welfare Organisations, Administration Commission of Ministry of Health and Welfare, Dr Yuan-Nian Hsu, NRH CEO, Dr Steve Aumanu and Deputy Counselor of the Taiwan Embassy in Solomon Islands, Mr Oliver Weng.

This was concluded with the presentation of gifts and a tour around the National Referral Hospital.

Members of the mission of from the Ministry of Health and Welfare are Dr Yuan-Nian Hsu CEO of Hospital and Social Welfare Organisations, Ms Wen-Li Yang, Chief Strategic Officer of Taipei City Hospital and Ms Wen-Chu Yen, a researcher from the Office of International Cooperation.

A group photo outside the National Referral Hospital.

Delegates from the Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital are Mr Chao Yuan Wang, Vice Superintendent / Professor, Mr Wei-Chou Chang, Senior Specialist and Mr Yu Chau Lin who is a nurse.

The purpose of the trip is to attend a workshop at NRH, donate medical supplies and inspect Taiwan Health Mission operations.

Dr Rooney Jagilly, NRH Medical Superintendent explaing the Surgical ward board.
Visiting delegates inspecting the Pathology lab.
Visiting the diabetes temporary ward.

No ‘Out-Of-Constituency’ voting

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Electors look for their names in front of Gizo B polling station.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THERE will be ‘No Out-Of-Constituency’ voting in the upcoming National General Election (NGE) for 2019.

This is a good reminder for many in Solomon Islands who are from observation, have the idea that they can only cast their votes from the main Capital, Honiara.

According to the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) on their social media page, this method needs proper planning, resources and budget.

“There are also issues such as risk of double voting associated to such system, if not well planned.

“SIEC acknowledges the need to have this system in place and is working to ensure this is possible in the future.

“For the 2019 NGE, voters are informed that there will be no out of constituency voting therefore, they have to return to their constituencies to cast their votes,” posted SIEC.

Bloody ridge signifies world peace: PM Hou

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
PM Hou delivers his speech during the occassion marking the 76th anniversary of WWII at Bloody Ridge.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

PM Hou pays tribute to the war heroes of WWII at Bloody Ridge.

BLOODY Ridge stands as a significant symbol of World Peace.

This was said by Prime Minister Rick Hou on the occasion of the first anniversary celebration since the area became a National park.

Speaking on Wednesday, PM Hou says the word ‘peace’ transcended all historical animosity and today Solomon Islands enjoy unity and friendship with the world.

“That is why this site has now become known as ‘Bloody Ridge National Peace Park’.   Therefore, today’s event is again very special as this marks the 1st Anniversary of the establishment of ‘Bloody Ridge National Peace Park.”

The 25-hectare park currently holds a US Marine Raider’s monument, a Solomon Islands Government monument and also a Japanese monument.

PM Hou says these monuments signify the importance of this place in history of the War to all of us.

“This place is important to the Solomon Islands as part of our history that shaped our society today.

“Not only for Solomon Islands, this site is significantly recognised by the world for the historical events that took place here 76 years ago.

“For us, announcement of the Bloody Ridge as a National Peace Park was made accord this site with the honor and respect it deserves.”

PM Hou delivers his speech during the occassion marking the 76th anniversary of WWII at Bloody Ridge.

He said once the fiercest battleground in World War II, this site is now an icon for peace, unity and friendship.

Hou says from our collective past, this will be always be our collective future and this is what he wants the world to see.

“The message is let our past be where it should be; in the past.

“Whilst we continue to respect and protect our collective past, the future is what we want it to be.”

PM Hou pays tribute to the war heroes of WWII at Bloody Ridge.
(Left to Right) MFAET minister Milner Tozaka, Tourism minister Bartholomew Parapolo, PM Hou and Japanese
ambassador to Solomon Islands.

Nine people missing at sea found safe and well

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

THE nine people missing at sea while travelling from the Russell Islands in the Central Province to Honiara on August 2, 2018 have been found safe and well.

The boat, which had drifted for five days, went ashore at Gizunalapu Island, near Babahaero Village, in the Isabel Province at about 3am in the morning of August 7, 2018.

It is not clear at this stage what happened to them that led them to drift as far as Isabel

Director Police Maritime, Chief Superintendent Charles Fox Sau says, “Later on the morning of August 7, the missing people saw a man paddling out at sea and waved to him for help with a piece of cloth.

“They asked him to assist them to any nearby village. They were taken to Babahaero Village and arrived there at 12 noon.”

“At Babahaero Village the survivors were assisted by the community there and were later taken to Kia Village where they were checked at the local clinic and declared in good health.

“The people at Kia are looking after them while arrangements are being made to take them back to Louna in the Russell Islands.

“While it is not clear at this stage what happened to the boat and engine that led to the nine people drifting, I want to remind our good people travelling on banana boats in our waters to always think safety first.

“Try and have the right equipment including a compass or a GPS. Properly check your engine before travelling.

“Ensure you have fuel, paddles, water and food. Do not over load your boats before traveling. Remember if you are unsure, stay ashore,” says Sau.

–POLICE MEDIA

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