LOCAL farmer in Honiara Central Market are feeling that current prices to their products are not benefitting them as they should.
In other words, the prices are ‘not profitable’.
On Tuesday, Island Sun interviewed several farmers, who all shared the same view – that they are not getting enough for their produce.
There are many farmers out there who are struggling to sell their crops at a standard price but due to the fluctuation in prices, it affects some sellers not to earn profits at all.
One farmer said, “For instance, one local farmer selling his/her potatoes for $15 per heap whereas most are 10, this fluctuation of price creates a competition amongst us but at the end of the day, only some of us will earn profits and some are not.”
One farmer, who wanted to be anonymous, said, “Competition in price here in the central market needed to be address, this is because most of us here are come from different areas in towns and meeting our expenses is another thing.
“The differences in the price is depends on the expenses we calculated. If some of us here selling their crops or cabbage at a lower price, at the end of the day.
“We receive money that not profitable at us. What we sell must meet our expenses and at least we earn some interest. This is the main reason why we here to sell our markets.
“All farmers need to work together on crop price here in the central market so that, everyone can earn enough profit to sustain their daily needs.
“If this issue is still continue, it will affects most local’s sellers here in the main town.”
Meanwhile, a market customer says because of the difference in prices on offer, they have to scour the whole market in search of a priced produce that accommodates the money they have in their pockets.
Outgoing PNG High Commissioner, Fred Yakasa, handing over documents
and signing formatities with the incoming acting High Commissioner, Joseph
Konu, at the PNG Chancery.
By Mike Puia
AFTER four years and seven months serving as Papua New Guinea’s High Commissioner to the country, Mr Fred Yakasa is preparing to leave for his country a satisfied man.
Yakasa handed his responsibilities to Mr Joseph Konu who will be acting PNG High Commissioner until someone takes up the post.
The handing over of responsibilities was done at a brief ceremony held at the PNG High Commission Chancery on Tuesday.
Outgoing High Commissioner Yakasa said the incoming acting High Commissioner, Konu, is not new to the role.
He said Konu has been acting High Commissioner for sometimes.
Outgoing PNG High Commissioner, Fred Yakasa.
Reflecting on the assignment he has completed, Yakasa said he took up the High Commissioner’s post in January 2014 at a “challenging time”.
It was a time when at least one PNG High Commissioner makes headline for the wrong thing. There was also this issue of the uncompleted PNG Chancery office in Honiara.
Prior to coming to the country, Yakasa said PNG image in the country went down to an unexpected level.
And so, Yakasa said his first task on taking up the post was to restore the integrity and reputation of his country.
He admitted it was a “big task”.
Outgoing PNG High Commissioner, Fred Yakasa, handing over documents and signing formatities with the incoming acting High Commissioner, Joseph Konu, at the PNG Chancery.
Yakasa said he is happy that he has done what he had aimed to achieve well.
He said a lot has been done to date ranging from signing of agreements, attending meetings, completion of the Chancery office, meeting important dignitaries, restoring respect to connecting with people on a personal level.
Yakasa said restoring PNG’s image has been his key focus adding he is happy that PNG’s image is now at a good level.
He urged his successors to look into trade as there are potentials PNG and Solomon Islands can benefit from this area.
Yakasa said he also wanted to see PNG investments increases here.
At least 25 PNG investments are in Honiara. One notable PNG investment is the capital is the Heritage Park hotel.
In response, the incoming acting High Commissioner, Konu, said he will continue with what the outgoing High Commissioner had left.
Yakasa will be given a farewell dinner on Friday.
Outgoing PNG High Commissioner, Fred Yakasa, signing formatities with the incoming acting High Commissioner, Joseph Konu, at the PNG Chancery on Tuesday.PNG Chancery office in Honiara.
DEAR EDITOR, I write to support the Island sun newspaper headline written by former MP Mr Alfred Sasako dated Monday 09th July 2018 concerning the above headline subject.
It is really sad and shocking to see these hidden transactions by our honest members of parliaments I applaud Mr Sasako and his team for a job very well done, for informing the public at large, nation and the whole world that we are still way back in our fight against corruption.
Those transactions have been on the table for the past 5 years and the responsible authorities have done nothing about.
Without Mr. Sasako these unlawful transactions would be stay hidden forever.
Let’s review ourselves of the words of a former Priminister and speaker of parliament once said during his term in office;
“No one is above the law
Government by the people and for the people
Without people there is no Government.
Solomon Island is an independence state with its legal system, I want to ask hence, it is our legal system functioning?
Or just for the ordernary citizen and not for the MPs this is disgracing and unbelievable.
We call on the current Government the MCC unite in the Priminister’s office and POLICE JANUS taskforce to forcefully and thoroughly investigate these serious allegations and severely deal with those responsible they must be brought to justice and punished like any other citizen of the happy isles
We want to take this opportunity to call on all eligible voters of this nation to be responsible in your voting, take note that some of our current MPs are selfish and worried only of building their empires.
We feather call on the Government to do away with RCDF and other funds and redirect through responsible ministries, so that the Rural People can benefit from what is really theirs.
Our good lord once said – ‘return unto Ceaser what is Ceaser’s.
Give back to the rural people what is theirs and not feed the MPs pockets.
THERE’S one thing Solomon Islands is known for – getting things down even at the last minute.
The recent two-week MACFEST event is a case in point. Work did not start until two weeks before the $7 million cultural bonanza begun. Perhaps it was not the best, but it took place.
Many visitors from our Melanesian neighbours were delighted. It is the way to be. So congratulations to all who helped contribute to its success. I am sure there have been lessons learned for the next one.
So well done for a great job.
In a way it was a relief that our visitors left before the drugs shortage debacle hit us.
Given there were no outbreak of some sort, we can assume the situation would be handled without any difficulties.
The drugs crisis provided an opportunity to begin the soul-searching within. How did it start? Was it allowed to reach the point we were in before authorities were aware of it?
In many countries, the situation would have been unforgiveable. Heads would have rolled, a massive clean would have ensued and total respect for patients’ well-being would have been slowly but surely restored.
It reminds me of a story I read a long time ago. A large company in Europe bought an engine which was installed in a factory. Sometime later the engine broken down, causing a lot of anxiety amongst staff.
There were exchanges of letters between the company and the head office of the firm that sold the engine. After searching the company records, the name of a young man came up as being the person responsible for installing the engine.
He was sent to fix the engine. But his arrival did not get the sort of reception expected. Many were asking how this tiny little fella was going to repair the engine.
Within days, the engine was firing.
There is a lesson in all of this. It’s no good rushing with the blame game, although I must admit, I was among those who were calling for the head of the Minister of Health and others.
In my mind, how could they allow such a situation to develop to saturation point? We had never ever experienced drugs shortage in this country before.
Naturally, the first reaction is to show the individuals the door. On second thought, it was good to give the guys who were responsible for the life-threatening situation to deal with it.
They know what to do. They know where to get it. They know what is needed, some urgently, others not so urgently. So there are merits in keeping them.
However, they must be given a clear and precise instruction as to what needs to be done to avoid a repeat in future. It is important that those on the frontline of defence, in this case in our healthcare system, must be sharp and clear about why they are there in the first place.
The terrifying ordeal which has been linked to some deaths at our National Referral Hospital must never be allowed to happen again ever. It merely shows lack of planning on the part of those dealing with the procurement process.
There’s disturbing reports that alleged theft of drugs from the Medical Store and the hospital pharmacy contributed substantially to the shortage. If there are merits in this rumor, it must be investigated.
Thieves should never be allowed to work in important institutions such these, especially institutions that are dealing with life and death. If anyone who deserves to be given the marching orders, it is those found to be stealing the drugs.
IT seems as if the health crisis is a result of communication breakdown or people not doing their job.
More than $900 million had been pumped into the health sector through external donors including government’s own budget for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).
Now that we have hit a crisis stage before we start communicating with each other.
Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, Senior Public servants all summoned to engage in a dialogue on the best way forward.
Do we have to wait for such crisis to happen before we communicate with each other?
Shouldn’t the Prime Minister have a meeting with his Ministers occasionally to be kept updated on issues and developments happening within each government Ministries?
Most often it seems as if issues and developments happening within the Ministries are not communicated properly through the right channels.
The Prime Minister should be well informed of what is happening in each and every government Ministry.
He shouldn’t be reading or hearing such occurrences through the Media or news outlet. In fact he should be well versed to respond to questions from the media on activities within the government Ministries.
What are we hiding or why are we withholding information?
Now and then we see developments popping up everywhere, media digging out stories unbeknown to our top leaders.
This is not the way it should be.
Communication is a vital tool and it should be utilised properly in its full sense so that we see less occurrence of such incidences and blame playing.
Let us not be complacent but serve our country to the best of our abilities.
SOLOMON Islands is still experiencing an increase in non-communicable diseases (NCD) but it can be controlled, it is reported.
Two specialists from Taiwan, Dr Li Cheng Yu and Dr Liu Kuan Fu have been helping the National Referral Hospital, Kukum Clinic, Rove Clinic and clinics in the Western province.
Both are supporting the health centre for four months.
During their service, they have found that NCD is an increasing burden in Solomon Islands similar to malaria cases.
Picture of a recommended healthy diet.
They say that in the four health centres they have worked in, they observe that majority of patients suffer from hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
Patients include people above 40 years old and even children.
The challenge is more Solomon Islanders turn to ready-made foods rather than local foods; and adequate exercise is rarely promoted in societies while smoking and betel-nut eating can be seen among children.
Dr Yu said during their four-month they provided health awareness on NCD prevention, healthy diet and tobacco control to patients at clinics and helped review current referral protocol of diabetes and hypertension.
Dr Yu and Dr Fu explaining the diabetes disease.
To manage cases of NCD, Dr Yu and Dr Fu encourage citizens to do their shopping at the Honiara Central Market for garden foods rather than going to the shops.
Recommended steps to fight against diabetes include a 30 minute walk each day and drink more water and drink less soda.
Recommended healthy diet—amount per serve vegetable should half the plate at least two kinds, 1/4 starchy food such as rice, potato, bread and cassava etc.
Other 1/4 should include protein foods such as fish, lean meat, chicken and beans, etc.
“Do not forget to include low fat milk and fruits in your serve.”
PREMIER of Makira/Ulawa province has warned investors to go through the provincial government before pursuing development in the province.
Premier Stanley Siapu made the statement following a postponement in a MOU which was supposed to have been signed between landowners of Nafinua Island in Star Harbour and investors from Australia for a tourism project.
He said two months ago the MOU was prepared between Australian investors and landowners for tourism development in the area.
Unfortunately, Siapu said the MOU signing was rescheduled for a later date.
He says the province’s main concern is for investors who are interested in doing business in Makira-Ulawa to first consult with the provincial government.
Siapu said his government encourages development in the province, but there are processes to channel those development aspirations through before it can happen.
He appeals to landowners of Nafinua Island to understand the meaning behind his call on investors to first consult with the provincial government.
He explains that investors should not only consult landowners only, but must also consult with the provincial government.
Submarine cable linking Vanuatu to Solomon Islands.
BY GEORGINA KEKEA
Submarine cable linking Vanuatu to Solomon Islands.
THE Government is not aware of the private undersea cable to be pulled from Vanuatu to Solomon Islands.
Upon his return from Australia last week, Prime Minister (PM) Hou made an announcement to the media on the ‘private sea cable’ status. PM Hou says government have not had any consultations with the private firm nor been informed by the company running the cable from Vanuatu.
“So far we are not aware. We don’t know where it is. We don’t know who’s doing it. I’ve raised this matter with those in Papua New Guinea and Australian counterparts.
“Papua New Guinea in no uncertain terms will reject this. Australia of course said they’ve been approached but they’ve decline it. So we only have this one cable.”
Hou says anyone or anybody wanting to do anything of this sort must take the right protocols and take the right channels, if they want government to be involved.
However Island Sun understands that Interchange, a private owned company, based in Vanuatu has a valid licence to operate in Solomon Islands since 2013.
In an earlier correspondence to Island Sun, Interchange’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Simon Fletcher says this installation of the undersea cable from Vanuatu to Solomon Islands will cost them USD30 million.
But Hou says what they are concerned about is how government is kept in the dark on such development activity.
“The issue I have here is that government is hearing this through the news. That I don’t like. They should come straight to the government,” he said.
“Maybe some officials in government know about this, but for me, I don’t know.”
He said for the three countries that have signed the agreement last week, there is only one cable that they know of and will support. It is the Coral Sea cable.
“We have not been informed of it from the people running it or the Vanuatu Government,” Hou says of the ICN2 Cable.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Interchange Company, Simon Fletcher says he will be much honoured to meet with Prime Minister Hou and to present their project to the government of Solomon Islands. However he says there was no invitation extended to Interchange.
“We hold a valid telecommunications license, Foreign Investment Board Approval, Environment and Construction permit. Our supplier TE SubCom has commenced the construction phase of the project,” Fletcher says.
He said they are proceeding with the ICN2 cable as construction phase has commenced and they expect the cable to be brought into commercial service on 9th November 2019. In February this year, Vanuatu’s Daily Post reported they are worried Australian security concerns might be used as an excuse to sideline or even stifle Melanesian-owned and operated businesses.
Nevertheless they say they want to see the cable move ahead as it would effectively close the loop in a genuinely trans-Melanesian network. The ICN2 link from Vanuatu to Solomon Islands is designed to provide initial 200G high-capacity access.
Vanuatu’s National Provident Fund holds 37.5 percent shares of Interchange Ltd, with Vanuatu’s Government and Post holding 6.25 percent respectively and the other 50 percent privately held.
In February this year, Government of Vanuatu was presented its first dividend cheque of VT21 million by Interchange Cable.
Interchange limited have had their first cable ICN1 linking Fiji to Vanuatu in 2014. It was only last month that TE SubCom has won a contract to construct the ICN2 submarine cable that will connect Port Vila, Luganville (Vanuatu) and Honiara.
TE SubCom is highly reputable as they were also selected to supply the North Atlantic Hafvrue cable system which will connect mainland Europe to the United States.
THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) has convened an urgent meeting yesterday involving all key stakeholders within the ministry.
The meeting was convened following the emergency Government Caucus meeting over the weekend.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Health Dr Tautai Agikimu’a Kaitu’u which was also attended by his Permanent Secretary and Under Secretary, the Ministry’s procurement team; the NRH Medical Superintendent, Heads of clinical Departments at the NRH, heads of the Allied Health Services, Nursing, Hospital Pharmacy, the NRH Procurement services; the Director and staff of the National Medical Stores; the Director of the Honiara City Council Health Services and the team from the OPMC.
The meeting purposely sought to ensure that all the stakeholders came together to:
Discuss and have the same understanding on the current shortage of drugs and supplies in the country and;
Agree on the best solution going forward.
It was also noted in the meeting that;
There are critical shortages in many essential drugs and supplies at the NRH;
Two provinces had adequate supplies for up to 2 months (Malaita province) and 3 months (Temotu);
Many other provinces have stocks in some items and low or zero stock on other items;
Replacement stocks of some of the items have started arriving in the country from last week and are being shifted to NRH,
All the orders of drugs and supplies have started arriving with the last lot expected to arrive in October 2018;
The meeting also acknowledged a comprehensive matrix on the status of drugs and supplies conducted by the NRH.
It has also requested the pharmacy and procurement staff with assistance from the clinical departments to include information on the National Medical Stores holdings as well as all provinces to ensure it presents the full picture of drugs supply available in the country.
The meeting will reconvene today afternoon to review the status of the national drug supply which will determine whether additional measures are required to ensure essential drugs are made available as soon as possible under other possible arrangements.
The OPMC and MHMS will provide further updates following tomorrow’s joint comprehensive assessments on the situation.
A 30-year-old woman has been arrested and charged for allegedly assaulting her 62-year-old mother-in- law at Halavo Village, in Big Ngella, Central Province on July 10, 2018.
Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Central Province Superintendent Patricia Leta says, “The victim is currently admitted at the Tulagi Hospital with swollen ribs, hands and face.
“My officers received the report on July 10 and they attended to it on the July 11, 2018.
“It was alleged that the victim arrived home after been to the garden when she was accused by the alleged suspect as to why her son (her brother in-law) charging his battery using her (the suspect’s) solar.
“The suspect was reportedly very angry and allegedly bashed her mother in-law and damaged her properties.
“She also damaged her brother in-law’s properties.
“I wish to remind all good families of Central Province not to resort to violence if there is any disagreement within the family.
“There are peaceful ways to address problems.
“I also wish to thank my hard working officers for attending to the report in a timely manner.”
The suspect will appear in court at a later date for her trial.
